Ashland City’s Gate Precast Company recently received the Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program award (SHARP). On March 1, 2018, employees and state officials gathered at the plant located at One Bluegrass Drive to accept the prestigious award and celebrate the company’s SHARP nomination for the second time in the past eight years.
SHARP recognizes small employers who operate an exemplary safety and health management system; recipients of the award are afforded a reputable status of achievement and professionalism, allowing them esteemed recognition amongst their peers, employees, and community.
The award is administered by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
To participate in SHARP, companies must be thoroughly and vigorously inspected, maintain a safety and health management system that, at minimum, addresses OSHA’s guidelines, have a lost workday and injury and illness rate that is below the national average, and comply with various other conditions and stipulations.
“Gate could not be more proud of this continued SHARP recognition. Having a safe and healthy work place means that each valued employee is given the opportunity to return home to their families, which is the of the utmost importance to us,” says Sarah Parker, the human resource and safety director.
Originally opening as Bluegrass Art Cast in the mid-1980s, Gate Precast was acquired in 1996 and currently makes its home inside a large-scale, enclosed production plant located on 24 acres of land off of Highway 12 near Walmart.
Currently, Gate Precast provides employment for 110 people who work to produce concrete architectural precast panels that are used for high-end buildings such as schools: stadiums, hospitals, hotels, and parking garages. Notable customers are the Indianapolis Colts and the prestigious St. Regis Hotel and Residences in Atlanta.
Employee longevity, a safe and drug-free environment, and above average benefits are some of the keys to their many successes over the years.