Waco Composites, manufacturer of fiberglass ballistic resistant materials, was recently recognized for the company’s safety program by the U.S. Occupational Safety & Health Administration.

With recognition through OSHA’s Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP), Waco Composites remains one of only two companies in Waco with this designation.

SHARP is an on-site consultation program recognizing small employers who operate an exemplary safety and health management system. Acceptance of a worksite into SHARP from OSHA is an achievement of status that recognizes a business as a model for worksite safety and health.

Upon receiving SHARP recognition, OSHA exempts worksites from OSHA programmed inspections during the period that the SHARP certification is valid.

“As manufacturers of ArmorCore®, a bullet-resistant panel, we are aware of the need for workplace safety and protection,” said Wayne Hampton, President of Waco Composites

”It’s at the heart of who we are.”

“We have been working with OSHCON, a consultative service through the State of Texas since 2004, and of the 58 different criteria that OSHCON considers, our company has consistently achieved high scores in all areas.”

The company is continually striving for improvement in safety and health programs, according to Hampton. “Kaizen,” the concept of continuous improvement, has been a major focus for Waco Composites since the company obtained ISO 9001-2008 certification three years ago.

“We invite our insurance underwriters, the fire marshal, outside vendors and other organizations in to look at our operation and provide suggestions for improvement, look for hazards, and perform testing for dust, noise and vapor hazards,” Hampton said. “We have been continually praised for the cleanliness of our operation.”

“The SHARP recognition validates our dedication to providing a safe and healthful workplace for our employees, and represents a great deal of hard work on the part of our management and staff to make safety within our facility a priority in all we do.”