MI Windows and Doors Gratz, PA Plant Receives SHARP Award From OSHA

GRATZ, PA, May 18, 2012 (Press-News.org) MI Windows and Doors, Inc., and its Gratz manufacturing facility received a Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP) award from OSHA in recognition of its safety and health management systems.

The SHARP award is presented to employers who operate an exemplary safety and health management system facility. Acceptance into SHARP by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) qualifies MI Windows and Doors as a model amongst its peers for work site safety and health. Out of 7 million US work sites, less than 2,000 have earned OSHA SHARP Certification.

To qualify for SHARP, companies must undergo a comprehensive audit, correct all identified hazards, demonstrate that effective safety and health programs are in place, and maintain injury rates below the national average for the last three years. The MIWD Gratz manufacturing facility's final day of full inspection occurred on February 1, 2012.

Some of the safety improvements that the team at Gratz made to quality for SHARP included: improvements to machine guarding to prevent all types of injuries, designing processes and jobs to be ergonomically friendly, cross training and job rotation, creation of safety teams for more awareness and team support, and training new and existing employees of all types of hazards.

One additional objective was to keep the team aware of their surroundings and continually improve all aspects of the program for the best environment for the team.

Founded in 1947, MI Windows and Doors manufactures energy efficient windows and patio doors and serves the new construction and replacement window industry. MIWD's focus on safety, quality and accuracy is enhanced by the principles of lean manufacturing, a practice MIWD has been using for a number of years.

MI Windows and Doors, Inc is one of the nation's largest manufacturers of vinyl, aluminum, and composite windows and doors. With plants across the country, MIWD provides energy efficient windows and doors tailored to individual regions throughout the United States. For additional information about MI Windows and Doors, visit http://www.MIWD.com.