Raleigh, N.C. — North Carolina Labor Commissioner Luke Farley delivered a heartfelt message this week honoring workers across the state who were injured or lost their lives while on the job. The tribute, part of the Department of Labor’s continued focus on workplace safety, underscored the human cost of occupational accidents and the agency’s commitment to preventing them.

“Everyone deserves to go home safe at the end of the workday,” Farley said in his address. “Despite our best efforts, we know that accidents still happen sometimes. And today, we pause to honor the workers in North Carolina who were injured or lost their lives on the job.”

Farley emphasized the personal impact behind each incident, noting that “behind every name is a life… a story… a family that’s been changed forever.”

The commissioner reaffirmed the Department of Labor’s mission to create a statewide culture of safety, holding negligent employers accountable while also working closely with businesses to build effective safety programs. “Safety isn’t just a policy — it’s personal,” he stated.

Under Farley’s leadership, the department has continued efforts to balance enforcement with partnership, aiming to prevent workplace tragedies before they occur. “Our vision is simple,” he said. “To make North Carolina the safest place to work in the country.”

Farley concluded with a call to action and a moment of remembrance: “Today, we remember the fallen workers. And we honor them by fighting for a safer future — for every worker, for every shift, and for every job site.”

The annual observance serves as both a solemn reminder of the risks many workers face and a renewed commitment to making workplaces across North Carolina safer.