**Works with USF SafetyFlorida Consultation Program
As safety standards on construction sites grow more stringent, one company is leading the way with top honors from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Stiles Construction, the construction management division of full-service commercial real estate firm, Stiles, announced today that OSHA has awarded the company the pilot Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP) Award for record safety at its newest construction project, the Residences at Las Olas. Stiles Construction is the first company in Florida to receive this award. Representatives from OSHA will be at Stiles’ headquarters in downtown Fort Lauderdale tomorrow, Friday, August 2nd, to present the award.
Stiles Construction worked closely for several years with University of South Florida SafetyFlorida (USF) to conduct on-site safety consultation visits on multiple projects. Due to the high safety records on Stiles Construction’s projects, USF encouraged the company to apply for the SHARP Award, which they did on the Residences of Las Olas, a 380-unit luxury apartment tower located at 323 SE 3rd Avenue directly on The New River in downtown Fort Lauderdale. The project is on pace to top-out by Fall 2019.
The SHARP construction designation recognizes companies who have used OSHA’s on-site safety program and operate an exemplary safety and health management system. Acceptance into SHARP by OSHA is an achievement of status that identifies the facility as a model for worksite safety and health.
“We are incredibly proud to be recognized by OSHA for maintaining the highest standards of safety,” said Paul Ortolani, Safety Director, Stiles Construction. “Not only does this award further validate our commitment to the program, but also the rigorous application process on its own along with USF’s consultation has strengthened our program overall.”
As a result of USF’s consultation program, potential safety hazards were identified and addressed immediately and Stiles Construction increased on-site employee safety training in disciplines such as rigging, aerial lifts, fall protection, and signaling. From the time the Stiles Construction team began working with USF, illness and injury rates progressively decreased, and from January 1, 2019 to present, the rate was zero at the project.
“The knowledge and expertise provided by USF personnel has proven invaluable,” said Ian Schwartz, Vice President of Operations, Stiles Construction. “Our experience with USF SafetyFlorida has been nothing short of positive. In fact, on-site consultation has been fully integrated into our Safety and Health Management approach,” said Schwartz.