On Dec. 9, 2024, Superior Linen Service, Tulsa, OK, achieved a remarkable milestone by earning an OSHA SHARP (Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program) award. Only a select group of businesses nationwide have received this recognition from the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Superior Linen Service is now one of only 14 Oklahoma companies with OSHA SHARP certification. The OSHA SHARP Certification highlights our company’s exceptional commitment to workplace safety and health.
At a ceremony held at our plant on 534 South Rockford Ave., Tulsa, Leslie Osborn (R), the Oklahoma commissioner of labor, presented the award to Laura Waldman, a fourth-generation owner and an industrial engineer. Osborn praised Superior Linen Service’s dedication to creating a safe, efficient and productive work environment. She also commended the company’s leadership and collaborative safety practices. “Superior Linen Service has set a high standard by empowering its employees to take an active role in their own safety and well-being,” Osborn said. “Their exemplary management and unwavering dedication to workplace safety serve as a model for the industry.”
Jason Hudson, director of OSHA’s Consultation Division, underscored the significance of Superior Linen Service’s SHARP certification by highlighting the critical components that led to their success. “Earning SHARP certification is no easy feat,” Hudson said. “It starts with management’s unwavering commitment to safety, which sets the tone for the entire organization. Superior Linen Service has clearly demonstrated that leadership, coupled with active employee involvement, that forms the foundation of an exceptional safety and health program.” He added that OSHA looks forward to continued collaboration with the company, encouraging us to “keep up the good work” as we build on our already strong safety culture.
Waldman commended the staff for their efforts, saying, “I am incredibly proud of all the Superior employees that worked toward attaining SHARP Certification. This whole effort is led by employees at all levels, and is not possible without employee buy in. Receiving SHARP Certification is an honor for our company, and a recognition of our employees who work together to take care of their peers, and to continuously improve Superior Linen Service.”
This achievement not only reflects the company’s leadership in the linen, uniform and facility services industry but also underscores its role as a standard-bearer for safety excellence in Oklahoma and beyond.
Dedication to a Safer Workplace
Earning the OSHA SHARP award signifies our company’s commitment to exceeding industry safety and health standards. This designation is reserved for employers who maintain exemplary safety programs that go well beyond regulatory compliance. For Superior Linen Service, attaining SHARP certification reflects years of dedicated effort to cultivate a culture where safety transcends being merely a priority—it has become a core value that is seamlessly woven into the fabric of the company’s daily operations. This milestone underscores our company’s ongoing mission to ensure a safe, productive environment for all of our employees.
The SHARP journey began with a companywide commitment to improving safety practices and fostering an environment of continuous improvement. Many years ago, Superior Linen Service partnered closely with OSHA consultants to identify areas for improvement, conducting detailed evaluations of Superior Linen Service’s operations. These assessments covered everything from machinery safeguards to ergonomics, chemical handling and personal protective equipment (PPE) usage. Superior Linen Service implemented tailored safety solutions and launched robust employee training programs to ensure that every team member was equipped with the knowledge and skills to maintain a safe workspace.
One of the cornerstones of Superior Linen Service’s success was our proactive approach to hazard prevention. By empowering employees to actively identify and address potential risks we were able to establish a dynamic feedback loop between management and staff through our behavior-based safety program. This collaborative effort ensured that safety improvements were not just policy-driven but also deeply integrated into daily operations.
Moreover, achieving SHARP recognition required a demonstration of consistent excellence. OSHA consultants worked with Superior Linen Service over several years to verify that our safety protocols were not only effective but sustainable. Regular audits, inspections and employee-engagement initiatives kept safety at the forefront, resulting in significant reductions in workplace incidents and increased overall operational efficiency.
Through hard work, dedication and an unwavering focus on the well-being of our employees, Superior Linen Service rose to meet OSHA’s high standards. The SHARP award serves as a testament to the company’s leadership and innovation in workplace safety.
A Team Effort in Achieving Excellence
Behind every safety milestone is a team of dedicated individuals, and Superior Linen Service’s achievement of the OSHA SHARP award is no exception. At the heart of this recognition lies the unwavering commitment of our employees, whose active involvement and adherence to safety protocols were instrumental in fostering a safe and efficient workplace.
From the very beginning of our SHARP journey, Superior Linen Service emphasized that safety is not just a top-down mandate—it’s a shared responsibility. The company’s leadership worked diligently to involve employees at every level, creating a culture where safety was viewed as an integral part of daily operations rather than an afterthought.
Rusty Thomas, safety manager, created regular training sessions and interactive toolbox talks that equipped team members with the knowledge and skills needed to identify and mitigate workplace hazards. He oversaw and worked to improve the behavior-based safety program, and he created an employee-driven safety committee. All these efforts have improved Superior’s employee engagement, which has helped the company realize a substantial reduction in claims.
Superior Linen Service’s success story demonstrates that workplace safety is not achieved in isolation—it’s a collaborative endeavor that thrives on the active participation of every employee. The SHARP award serves as a powerful reminder that when individuals come together with a shared purpose, they can create meaningful, lasting change.
Setting the Bar for the Industry
Superior Linen Service’s OSHA SHARP recognition places the company among an elite group of businesses that lead the way in workplace safety and health. In an industry where efficiency and safety must go hand in hand, this award underscores the company’s ability to balance the demands of a commercial laundry operation with a steadfast commitment to our workforce.
The linen, uniform and facility services industry is uniquely challenging, with hazards ranging from heavy machinery to chemical handling and ergonomic strain. By achieving SHARP certification, Superior Linen Service has proven that safety is not just achievable—it’s essential for long-term success, showing how proactive safety measures can enhance productivity, improve employee morale and reduce workplace incidents.
Beyond accolades, the benefits of the SHARP designation and Superior Linen Service’s safety-first approach has resulted in tangible improvements. These include reduced injury-related downtime, lower insurance costs and higher employee retention. These outcomes have positioned the company as a model for others in the industry, demonstrating that investing in safety isn’t just a regulatory requirement but a strategic advantage.
As we at Superior Linen Service look ahead, we remain committed to maintaining our SHARP status and further strengthening our safety culture. This means continuing to invest in employee training, upgrading equipment with the latest safety features and staying ahead of regulatory requirements. Additionally, the company plans to share our best practices with other organizations in the textile rental industry, fostering a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement.
For us, the SHARP award is not the finish line—it’s a starting point. Our goal is to not only sustain our high standards but to push the boundaries of what safety and operational excellence can look like in this industry. We want to lead by example and show that a commitment to safety benefits everyone—employees, customers and the community.
A Proud Moment
From the dedication of our employees to the leadership’s vision for a safer workplace, this achievement reflects our company’s values and its pivotal role in the commercial laundry and textile rental industry.
For the employees, the SHARP recognition is a source of pride, validating their hard work and shared responsibility in creating a culture of safety. For the company, it’s a milestone that underscores our leadership in a highly competitive field. And for the industry as a whole, it is a testament to what is possible when safety and operational excellence go hand in hand.
The SHARP award is a badge of honor. But for Superior Linen Service, it is also a call to action—a reminder that excellence is not a destination but a journey. With our eyes on the future and safety at the core of our mission, we are poised to remain a leader in the industry, setting the bar for others to strive toward. TS
RUSSELL HOLT is chief compliance officer for Superior Linen Service, Springdale, AR. Contact him at 479.725.4889 or r.holt@superlinen.com.
