Alaskan Physical Therapy In Soldotna, Alaska Is Sixth Employer To Receive Sharp Designation

Nov. 29, 2002
No. 02-69

Alaskan Physical Therapy Inc. is the sixth company to be recognized by the Alaska Occupational Safety and Health (AK OSH) Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP). The award ceremony took place November 26 at the company site in Soldotna. Cliff Hustead, Assistant Chief of Consultation and Training for Alaska OSH, presented the award on behalf of Ed Flanagan, Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development, and met with Jill Skidmore-Erickson, owner and president of the corporation.

The program is designed to recognize and promote effective safety and health management. In SHARP, management, labor, and Alaska OSH establish a cooperative relationship at a workplace that has implemented a strong safety and health program. Participation in the program is voluntary and does not exempt the worksite from OSH enforcement activities in case of employee complaints and accident investigations. However, the worksite is removed from general scheduled inspections for the approved period of time (from one to two years).

Alaskan Physical Therapy is a small private sector corporation located at 36275 Kenai Spur Hwy., Soldotna, Alaska. The corporation currently has only three employees. The employer provides a comprehensive safety and health program for its employees, exceeding minimum standards set by OSH regulations. The site is a good example of how an employer working together with Alaska OSH Consultation and Training Section consultants can achieve and maintain a high level safety management program.

For more information about the SHARP, contact Krystyna Markiewicz, Health Consultant and VPP/SHARP Coordinator for AK OSH, at (907) 269-4958, or krystyna_markiewicz@labor.state.ak.us.

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