Press Releases

The N.C. Department of Labor has deployed occupational safety and health professionals to counties hardest hit by Hurricane Florence to assist the public and businesses during the dangerous cleanup phase. The Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Division has converted to consultative mode in those areas impacted by Hurricane Florence to help prevent injuries and illnesses that often spike during natural disasters.

Struck-by incidents followed by falls caused the largest number of work-related deaths statewide in 2017 based on preliminary information released today by the state Department of Labor. Struck-by incidents accounted for 14 work-related deaths while falls accounted for 13. There were 40 total work-related fatalities that fell under the jurisdiction of NCDOL’s Occupational Safety and Health Division in 2017, 10 fewer than there were in 2016.

The N.C. Department of Labor has begun accepting applications from businesses that qualify for a workplace safety award. Safety awards are presented to companies throughout the year that have demonstrated above-average worker safety and health programs.

Labor law posters provided by the N.C. Department of Labor have been updated to include the required information pertaining to the N.C. Employee Fair Classification Act, which became effective Dec. 31. The new information is included on the Wage and Hour Notice to Employees section of the labor law posters. Labor law posters are available from NCDOL free of charge.

New figures show North Carolina’s workplace injury and illness rate for private industry in 2016 was statistically unchanged from its historic low in 2015. The 2016 rate is 2.5 cases per 100 full-time workers, compared to 2.6 in 2015. The Tar Heel state remains one of the safest states in which to work with a rate below the national average of 2.9 cases per 100 full-time workers.

As the calendar officially turns to summer, the N.C. Department of Labor is urging businesses and employees who work in hot and humid environments during the summer months to be cautious and know the signs of heat stress. The N.C. Department of Labor has partnered with The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and OSHA to promote OSHA’s original Heat Safety Tool, a downloadable app for cell phones.

As pools across the state begin to open for the summer season, the N.C. Department of Labor is urging residents to make themselves more aware of potential life‐threatening electrical hazards around pool areas. To help increase public awareness of this issue, the department issued a pool safety hazard alert to the public.

The N.C. Department of Labor is urging businesses across the state to be on the lookout for suspicious correspondence, after the department recently received multiple reports of persons using scare tactics or threatening language in an attempt to sell labor law posters to employers.

Falls and struck-by incidents continue to cause the largest number of work-related deaths statewide based on preliminary information released today by the state Department of Labor. Struck-by incidents accounted for the most work-related deaths with 19, while falls accounted for 12 deaths. The department’s Occupational Safety and Health Division inspected 48 work-related deaths last year.

The N.C. Department of Labor is now accepting applications from businesses that qualify for a workplace safety award.

Safety awards are given to companies that have above-average worker safety and health programs.

“A safety award shows employees and the community that you are committed to a safe work environment,” state Labor Commissioner Cherie Berry said. “A good safety record is something to be proud of, and businesses deserve to be recognized for their efforts.”