Feds Recognize Labor Department for Outstanding Safety Program

Steps taken by the N.C. Department of Labor to expand its free consultations to the North Carolina business sector got noticed in Washington recently, garnering the agency one of two top national awards recently awarded by federal officials.

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration—or OSHA—recognized the labor department’s Consultative Services Bureau for a program designed to help employers eliminate safety and health hazards that could affect employees.

The OSCAR Award from OSHA officials was presented to North Carolina labor officials at a conference Aug. 2 in Dallas, Tex.

The labor department in recent years has aggressively expanded its free consultation services to the private sector in efforts to help employers and workers recognize workplace hazards.

The consultative bureau provides free, on-site safety and health evaluations to small businesses in the state. The bureau also helps employers develop effective safety and health programs.

Along with other safety measures, the consultation program has been credited for playing a role in what has been a major drop in the number of work fatalities and illnesses.

Since 2001, North Carolina has become among one of the safest states in which to work in the country. Its injury and illness rate has dropped to unprecedented levels, and the number of fatal accidents also has dropped to new lows.

The decrease in worker deaths in the construction industry from 37 in 2004 to 27 last year followed a push by labor officials to sponsor consultative services and educational forums throughout the state for companies and their employees.

OSCAR stands for On-Site Consultation Achievement Recognition.

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