Enterprise company earns a really SHARP award

By Kelly Tabor

Published: July 17, 2008

A small Enterprise business that started out in a Ouida Street office more than 10 years ago was honored with one of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s highest honors.

OSHA has admitted Communications and Ear Protection, Inc. into the Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program. SHARP recognizes small business owners who run an exemplary safety and health management system. Being singled out means the worksite is exempt from OSHA inspections during the period that the SHARP certificate is valid.

This is the first SHARP certificate awarded to a company that employs more women than men.

The national award focuses on zero workplace accidents and having a good system in place in case of illness or injury.

CEP, which holds a patent to design and manufacture the foam earpieces used by aviators, is run by Barbara and Ben Mozo and their son Scott. The communications earplugs are unique in that they provide the protection of noise reduction, but use a transducer in a threaded hollow tube to deliver quality speech sounds.

“We just signed a contract with the Navy,” said Barbara Mozo. “But our devices are used in Australia, Germany. All over the world.”

Mozo said that word of mouth is responsible for the success of their business.

“These guys from the National Guard would come and be using our equipment, then go home and tell their unit they wanted them,” she said. “You know how men are. If one has a new toy, they’ve all got to have it!”

OSHA has a branch at the University of Alabama. Dr. William H. Weems, director of environmental and industrial programs presented the Mozos with the SHARP award and a University of Alabama football signed by coach Nick Saban.