Tapped for Safety: Del-Co Water Ralph E. Scott Water Treatment Plant Joins the OSHA Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP)

Del-Co Water

 

The Del-Co Water Ralph E. Scott (RES) helps provide water to Del-Co's eastern service area, serving customers in residential, commercial, medical, and manufacturing businesses. With the responsibility of staffing 11 employees and operating the treatment plant 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, Del-Co RES is always looking for ways to improve safety for its staff and better serve its customers.

Del-Co RES learned about the Ohio OSHA On-Site Consultation Program services through the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation. They had their first On-Site Consultation visit in 2020. The safety and health visit focused on confined spaces, chemical hazards, and fall protection. It included geospatial (GIS) mapping to identify all confined spaces at the plant. Since their visits with the Ohio OSHA On-Site Consultation Program, Del-Co RES has maintained no injuries or illnesses by:

  • Allowing Del-Co and emergency response partners to identify all hazards and corrective measures prior to entering spaces.
  • Improving labeling and signage used to inform of the presence of chemical and physical hazards.
  • Fixing ladders being installed throughout the facility to mitigate fall hazards.
  • Replacing ninety percent of the ladders used.
  • Sharing pertinent safety and plant information on an electronic communications board that is continuously updated and monitored.
  • Increasing workers' awareness and fostering a sense of personal ownership are critical in an environment where workers often work independently.

Del-Co RES received OSHA's Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP) in October 2023, as it provided a new structure to being safe and continuously looking for ways to improve their overall safety and health program.

SHARP acknowledges small and medium-sized businesses that have used OSHA On-Site Consultation Program services and operate exemplary workplace safety and health programs. Small businesses that achieve SHARP status receive a deferral from OSHA or the State Plan programmed inspections for the period that the SHARP designation is valid.