WILMINGTON, N.C. – North Carolina Labor Commissioner Luke Farley celebrated exceptional workplace safety achievements among Wilmington-area businesses during the N.C. Department of Labor’s annual Safety Awards Banquet on Wednesday, June 25, at the McKeithan Center at Cape Fear Community College.
The ceremony, co-hosted with the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce, recognized companies that have demonstrated unwavering commitment to injury prevention and fostering robust safety cultures within their organizations.
Commissioner Emphasizes Shared Safety Responsibility
In his keynote address, Commissioner Farley underscored the collaborative nature of workplace safety, highlighting the joint responsibility shared by employers, employees, and the Department of Labor in protecting North Carolina’s workforce.
“As Labor Commissioner, my top priority is ensuring North Carolinians go home safe and healthy at the end of every workday,” Farley stated. “It’s a privilege to recognize businesses that don’t just talk about safety — they lead by example, day in and day out.”
The Commissioner emphasized that earning a Safety Award communicates a powerful message to both workforce members and the broader business community, demonstrating that safety represents a fundamental organizational value rather than merely a regulatory compliance requirement.
“When you earn this recognition, you’re showing your team that you care — and you’re helping set the standard for others to follow,” Farley added.
Rigorous Award Criteria Based on 2024 Performance
The recognition reflects exceptional on-the-job safety performance throughout the 2024 calendar year, with all honored employers based in Wilmington and the surrounding region. To qualify for consideration, businesses must have maintained a perfect safety record with no workplace fatalities at the award site during the calendar year.
Award Categories and Standards
The program features two distinct recognition levels based on measurable safety outcomes:
Gold Awards are presented to businesses achieving DART rates (cases involving days away, restricted duty, or job transfer) at least 50% below their respective industry averages, demonstrating superior safety performance across multiple injury categories.
Silver Awards recognize companies with days-away-from-work rates at least 50% below industry standards, specifically focusing on the most serious workplace injuries that result in employee absences.
These rigorous benchmarks ensure that recognized organizations have achieved meaningful, quantifiable improvements in workplace safety performance.
Statewide Recognition Initiative
The Wilmington ceremony represents one component of an extensive statewide recognition effort, with the Department of Labor conducting over two dozen safety awards banquets across North Carolina this spring. The comprehensive program honors more than 2,000 employers statewide for their dedication to workplace safety excellence.
Additional Information and Resources
Organizations seeking additional information about the Safety Awards Program can access complete recipient listings and program details at https://www.labor.nc.gov/.
For specific inquiries regarding the program, interested parties may contact the Department at 919-707-7855 or reach out to Program Coordinator Kiley Willard at kiley.willard@labor.nc.gov.
