Taco Inc. has received the Safety & Health Achievement Program (SHARP) certification award granted by the U.S. Department of Labor in conjunction with the Rhode Island Dept. of Health and the RI OSHA Consultation Program. SHARP certification is granted to companies that operate exemplary safety and health programs.

The certificate award was presented to company president and CEO John Hazen White, Jr. and assembled Taco employees Jan. 16. “SHARP certification tells the world that Taco is a safe workplace, and that Taco is a company that cares about the safety and health of its workers,” said White in accepting the award.

To receive SHARP certification, companies must meet specific safety and health requirements, including maintaining less than national average lost workday injury and illness rates, an in-place comprehensive safety and health program, and exemplary efforts in employee safety and health protection.

The RI OSHA Consultation Program, which is co-managed by the U.S. Dept. of Labor and the RI Dept. of Health, provides free safety and health assistance to small and medium size companies, and provides on-site consultation aimed at improving a company’s safety and health management system.

In conjunction with the RI OSHA Consultation Program, Taco applied for SHARP certification. Activities and requirements for both programs, including correcting all identified hazards, were expected to take 24 months: in Taco’s case all necessary requirements were met within a year. As part of the consultation process and SHARP certification Taco has been granted a two-year exemption from OSHA inspections.