Minova USA Inc. Recognized with National Safety Award

SPRINGFIELD --The Illinois Department of Labor has announced that Minova USA Inc. in Marion has received the national Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP) designation.

The firm, which provides ground-support products for the mining, construction and energy industries, earned SHARP status after completing a thorough health and safety evaluation by Illinois OSHA's On-Site Consultation Program.

"Minova has gone above and beyond to prove its dedication to workplace health and safety," said Michael Kleinik, director of the Illinois Department of Labor. "They earned this prestigious designation and have set an example for health and safety that other Illinois businesses should follow."

The company, which began its SHARP journey with the help of IDOL's Illinois OSHA division, is just the 40th Illinois business to earn the recognition. By earning SHARP status, the 100-employee Marion facility is exempt from routine OSHA inspections while the SHARP certification remains valid.

Bill Bolinger, the safety, health, environmental and security advisor for Minova, said the facility is part of a global company owned by Australia-based Orica.  The Minova facility in Marion makes roof bolts and roof plates for the mining industry to strengthen and secure mines.

Bolinger says safety and productivity can co-exist and make a company stronger. "We push safety as an important part of our workday."

Minova has made great strides in recent years in safety. Bolinger said the company used to average from 15 to 18 OSHA-recordable incidents per year. Bolinger said the firm appreciates the expertise that was shared by the Illinois OSHA On-site Consultation Program staff.

"We had a lot of cooperation from the Springfield (IDOL On-Site Consultation) office. They were very helpful and there is absolutely no way we could have done it without their expertise," said Bolinger.

Illinois OSHA offers free and confidential safety and health onsite consultations for employers with up to 500 employees. The Illinois On-Site Safety and Health Consultation Program can help Illinois businesses meet the federal OSHA health and safety regulations and can assist those companies interested in pursuing SHARP status.

If you have questions about Illinois OSHA's on-site consultation program, you can call 800-972-4216 or visit www.labor.illinois.gov for more information.

The On-Site Consultation Cooperative Agreement is funded by a federal grant which constitutes 90 percent of the overall budget. Ten percent is financed by state funds.