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The North Carolina Department of Labor recognized area employers and employees at the agency’s virtual annual safety awards banquet held last month.

“In an especially challenging year, these employers and employees have shown us the true importance of a strong commitment to safety and health,” Labor Commissioner Josh Dobson said. “North Carolina has experienced a continuously declining injury and illness rate, which remains at an historic low. These businesses’ dedication to safety is the reason why North Carolina is one of the safest states in which to work and they deserve this distinguished recognition.”

The awards honor outstanding on-the-job safety achievements of each recipient during 2020.

Kevin Beauregard, deputy commissioner for the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Division, provided keynote remarks at the virtual meeting. The event was co-sponsored by the Ahoskie Chamber of Commerce.

The local recipients have met the stringent requirements necessary to receive a safety award. Local recipients include:

Gold Awards:

Criteria: Rate of days away from work, job transfer or restriction must be at least 50% below the industry average.

First Year

City of Elizabeth City, Central Receiving Warehouse

City of Elizabeth City, Water Treatment

City of Elizabeth City, Water and Sewer

Cozy Home Custom Cabinets, Cozy Kitchens

Town of Nags Head, Facilities Maintenance

Second Consecutive Year

City of Elizabeth City, Finance Department

City of Elizabeth City, Fire Department

City of Elizabeth City, Waste Water Treatment Plant

DHHS Division of Vocational, Rehabilitation Services Elizabeth City

Gregory Poole Equipment Co., Wanchese – Marine Branch

Town of Nags Head, Fire Rescue Division

Town of Nags Head, Sanitation Division

Third Consecutive Year

City of Elizabeth City, Central Maintenance/Fleet

City of Elizabeth City, Inspections

Sixth Consecutive Year

Town of Nags Head, Office of the Town Manager

Seventh Consecutive Year

Town of Nags Head, Department of Planning and Development

Town of Nags Head, Maintenance Garage Division

Town of Nags Head, Public Works Administration

Town of Nags Head, Septic Health Initiative

Town of Nags Head, Water Administration

Town of Nags Head, Water Operations Division

Eighth Consecutive Year

City of Elizabeth City, Customer Service

City of Elizabeth City, Personnel

Ninth Consecutive Year

City of Elizabeth City, Public Works Department

11th Consecutive Year

City of Elizabeth City, Administrative

12th Consecutive Year

City of Elizabeth City, Energy Division

16th Consecutive Year

City of Elizabeth City, Planning

18th Consecutive Year

Piedmont Natural Gas, Elizabeth City Resource Center

Under program rules, companies must have been free of fatal accidents at the site for which the award is given to be eligible. The gold award criteria are based on a DART rate that is at least 50% below the statewide rate for its industry. The rate includes cases of days away from work, restricted activity or job transfer. The silver award is based only on cases with days away from work. They are recorded when the worker misses at least one full day of work, not including the day of the injury. The applicant must attain an incidence rate for cases with days away from work that is at least 50% below the rate for its industry.

More information on the N.C. Department of Labor’s Safety Awards Program is available by calling 919-707-7855 or emailing Meredith Watson at meredith.watson@labor.nc.gov.

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