Juneau Brewer Commended For 90% Alaska Hire, Earns Second Sharp Employee Safety Recognition

Dec. 11, 2003
No. 04-20

JUNEAU – A capital city microbrewery launched 17 years ago has grown into a major regional U.S. brewer and was commended by state labor officials today for its pledge to fill most jobs with resident Alaskans and a commitment to safe working conditions for employees.

Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development Greg O’Claray praised the Alaskan Brewing Company of Juneau for meeting the Murkowski administration’s target of 90 percent resident hire.

Governor Frank Murkowski launched the Alaska hire initiative in a November address to the Alaska General Contractors meeting in Anchorage. The governor encouraged employers statewide to pledge to achieve 90 percent or higher resident hire.

In addition, Alaskan Brewing has received its second Safety and Health Recognition Program (SHARP) award from the labor department’s Division of Labor Standards and Safety. Division Director Grey Mitchell presented the award recently to Alaskan Brewing plant manager Curtis Holmes and safety officer Heather Conlin.

Alaskan Brewing began as a microbrewery in Juneau in 1986. Today the company has a year-around payroll of 57 employees and hires three additional workers during the spring-fall season to accommodate cruise ship groups and other tours as well as independent visitors.

O’Claray said Alaskan Brewing’s resident hire and occupational health and safety programs should be a model for employers statewide: “They clearly recognize that hiring Alaskans and maintaining an enthusiastic, proactive health and safety program is a win-win opportunity for workers and their bottom line as well.”

“Reducing on-the-job health and safety risks increases job performance,” O’Claray added. “It strengthens the relationship between labor and management and pays dividends in lower insurance costs and increased efficiency.”

Mitchell said improvements in workplace health and safety are documented and companies that win or renew SHARP recognition are not subject to generally scheduled AKOSH enforcement inspections for two years.

Mitchell added that SHARP companies receive free consultations with the division’s Alaska Occupational Safety and Health (AKOSH) Section. He encouraged Alaska employers to contact the Labor Standards and Safety Division at 907.465-6006 to schedule a SHARP consultation visit.

SHARP information is also available from Krystyna Markiewicz, SHARP Coordinator, Alaska Occupational Safety and Health (AKOSH) Section, Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development, 907.269.4958 or by email at krystyna_markiewicz@labor.state.ak.us .

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