Today, North Carolina Labor Commissioner Luke Farley announced the return of the Carolina Mining Star Program, a voluntary workplace safety and health initiative that recognizes mine and quarry operations demonstrating a strong commitment to protecting workers and continuously improving workplace safety.
The program’s return builds on a strong year for mining safety in North Carolina. No fatal injuries were reported among North Carolina’s mine and quarry workers during the 2025-2026 state fiscal year, and the industry’s nonfatal injury rate remained well below the national average.
North Carolina recorded 1.33 nonfatal injuries per 200,000 employee-hours, compared with the national average of 1.62 during the same period.
“North Carolina’s mining industry has shown that a strong commitment to safety can save lives and prevent injuries,” Commissioner Farley said. “By bringing back the Carolina Mining Star Program, we can recognize the job creators who are leading by example while helping mine and quarry operations across our state identify practical ways to make their workplaces even safer.”
The Carolina Mining Star Program is administered by the N.C. Department of Labor’s Mine and Quarry Bureau. Participation begins with an application to the Department. After reviewing an application, NCDOL will work with the operation to schedule a pre-site visit and begin the program’s evaluation process.
The program is designed to help participating operations:
- Increase employee participation in workplace safety and health;
- Strengthen communication of safety policies and standard operating procedures;
- Identify opportunities to improve existing safety and health programs;
- Reduce workplace injuries and their associated costs; and
- Earn recognition for an exceptional commitment to protecting workers.
The evaluation process looks beyond written policies to examine how an operation’s safety and health programs work in practice. Areas considered include hazard assessments, employee training and involvement, emergency procedures, accident investigations, contractor safety, and management leadership.
“This program is about more than recognition,” Farley said. “It is about bringing management and workers together, identifying hazards before someone gets hurt, and building a workplace culture in which everyone accepts responsibility for safety.”
The Mine and Quarry Bureau supports safety at North Carolina’s 243 active or intermittent mine sites through education and training, technical assistance, on-site consultations, safety and health evaluations, and accident and complaint investigations.
Mine and quarry operators interested in participating in the Carolina Mining Star Program may contact the NCDOL Mine and Quarry Bureau at 919-707-7932 or visit www.labor.nc.gov/safety-and-health/mine-and-quarry for participation requirements and application information.