Forum Scheduled to Prevent Deaths in Construction Industry

Greenville — The N.C. Department of Labor will hold the first construction forum in Greenville Friday to help curb fatalities and injuries in what is some of the most dangerous work in North Carolina.

"We’re getting ready for construction season to kick into high gear," Labor Commissioner Cherie Berry said. "We want to reach as many construction workers with our safety message as we can in an effort to save lives.”

Labor officials began the forums in 2003, but this year’s forum is the first scheduled in Greenville. In 2005 the department investigated 80 workplace fatalities, including 27 in the construction industry. The industry recorded 37 deaths the previous year.

Forums are scheduled in both English and Spanish. State and industry experts will identify trends in the construction industry that are most likely to represent lethal dangers, including falls, electrical hazards and trenches.

The labor department has intensified its efforts to provide free consultative services and free training to employers and employees to help fight workplace fatalities.

The forums are part of Berry's major initiative to reduce the number of deaths occurring in the construction industry.

"The statistics show that our efforts are paying off,” Berry said. “We saw a large drop in construction fatalities last year, but we’ll continue our outreach efforts to prevent workplace accidents.”

The Greenville meetings will begin at 8 a.m. at East Carolina University, Carol Polk Building, and are free of charge.

Other forums are scheduled in Raleigh, Winston-Salem and Charlotte. For additional information or to register by phone, call (919) 807-2950 or visit the N.C. Department of Labor's Web site at www.nclabor.com and click on “Construction Forums.” Registration is not required, and walk-ins are welcome.

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