Whitson Lumber Receives Workplace Safety Award

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development Commissioner James Neeley announced that Whitson Lumber in Clarksville was chosen to receive the SHARP (Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program) award.

“Whitson Lumber has met the evaluation standards required to receive this award by proving their ability to uphold an excellent safety record,” said John Winkler, Administrator of Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration, who presented the SHARP award to the company today at the company’s facility located at 2110 Coke Road, Clarksville. “It is evident that Whitson Lumber is extremely dedicated to maintaining a safe and healthy workplace.”

The SHARP award, designed for employers with fewer than 250 workers in high-hazard industrial classifications, is one of the state’s highest honors for workplace safety and health. The main incentive for participation in the SHARP award program is the desire by employers to promote a safe and healthy workplace. The program also allows employers to be removed from programmed compliance inspection lists for a period of 12 months.

Whitson Lumber was established in 1913 and currently employs 60 people. The company is a lumber manufacturer and log yard. This is the company’s second SHARP award; they received their first SHARP award in April of 2007. Whitson Lumber was the first rough-cut sawmill in the state to receive the SHARP award.

“Our company is dedicated to protecting the safety and health of our employees,” said Al Whitson Jr., owner of Whitson Lumber Company, “Employee involvement at all levels is critical for us to continually be successful in this effort. I would like to commend our employees for their hard work and dedication. We want to thank the Tennessee Department of Labor for time spent with on-site observation and training.”  

For more information on the SHARP award program and other TOSHA award programs contact TOSHA’s Consultative Services office at (800) 325-9901.