2021 - Safety Awards

The N.C. Department of Labor Safety Awards Program recognizes private firms and public agencies throughout the state that achieve and maintain outstanding safety records. The program is designed to stimulate interest in accident prevention and to promote safety in the workplace by providing an incentive to employers and employees to maintain a safe and healthful workplace.
 
In continuous operation since 1946, the program extends to all North Carolina employers, and more than 3,000 awards are presented annually. The Safety Awards Program is operated within the Education, Training and Technical Assistance Bureau of the Occupational Safety and Health Division.
 
This year’s banquet will take place at Cape Fear Community College’s North Campus located at 500 Blue Clay Rd., Castle Hayne, NC 28429 in the BB&T Auditorium in McKeithan Center. The program is scheduled to begin at 5:30 pm and includes a delicious southern buffet from Middle of the Island Catering.
 
There are two levels under the annual safety awards program, gold and silver. The award level is determined by the qualifying criteria.
 
To qualify for an annual safety award a firm must meet the following requirements:
(a) It must have had no fatalities at the site during the calendar year for which the award is given.
(b) It must have maintained either a perfect safety record for that year, or an incidence rate at least 50 percent below the average for its particular industry group.
 
Gold Award Criteria
This award level is based on the DART case rate or cases with days away, restriction or job transfer.
 
Silver Award Criteria
This award level is based on the cases with days away from work rate. These are recorded when a worker missed at least one full day of work, not including the day of injury
 
Million-Hour Safety Awards
Million-hour safety awards are given to firms that accumulate 1 million employee hours with no case of injury or illness involving days away from work. Subsequent awards are given for each additional 1 million safe employee hours. Million-hour awards are presented during the local annual safety awards ceremony. Special arrangements can be made to present million-hour awards to the firm at its place of business at any time during the year.
 
How to Apply
Applications for annual awards are mailed to participating firms in January of each year. These are filled out by the applicants and returned to the safety awards office by mid-February. Million-hour award applications are mailed at the firm’s request and can be processed at any time the firm reaches 1 million employee hours. Applications for annual awards and million-hour awards can be accessed, completed and submitted via the Internet at the Department of Labor’s website: www.labor.nc.gov or by contacting:
 
Safety Awards Coordinator
Occupational Safety and Health Division
N.C. Department of Labor
1101 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699 -1101
Phone: 919 -707 -7855
Fax: 919 -707 -7968
E-mail: safety.awards@labor.nc.gov