GOLDSBORO, N.C. — North Carolina Labor Commissioner Luke Farley recognized more than 70 employers and public departments from the Goldsboro region for exceptional workplace safety records during the annual Safety Awards Banquet held Wednesday, April 16, at Walnut Creek Country Club.

Hosted in partnership with the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce, the banquet honored recipients of the N.C. Department of Labor’s Safety Awards, which commend organizations for exemplary safety practices and low workplace injury rates. Farley, delivering the keynote address, highlighted the shared responsibility of creating safe workplaces across the state.

“As Labor Commissioner, my top priority is making sure North Carolina workers go home safe and healthy at the end of every workday,” said Farley. “It’s an honor to travel across our state and recognize the businesses and individuals who’ve earned these safety awards — not just for what they’ve achieved, but for their daily commitment to creating safe workplaces.”

Farley emphasized that these awards are more than statistics — they reflect a culture of care and accountability in the workplace.

“Earning this recognition sends a powerful message: you care about your people, and you’re serious about safety,” he added. “We all have a role — workers, supervisors, managers, and the Department — in building a culture where safety isn’t just a rule, it’s a shared mission.”

Recognizing Excellence

The Safety Awards honor performance during the 2024 calendar year. Gold Awards are presented to companies with a Days Away, Restricted or Transferred (DART) rate at least 50% below the industry average. Silver Awards go to organizations with similarly low rates of days away from work. To qualify for either, workplaces must also have no fatalities.

Dozens of first-time and repeat winners were recognized at the banquet, including many local government departments and private sector businesses.

Among the honorees:

• City of Goldsboro Fire Department, Station No. 1 received a Silver Award, acknowledging its continued efforts in creating and maintaining a safe and healthy work environment.
• County of Wayne’s Garage Division and Human Resources Department were each recognized for maintaining their award streaks for 21 consecutive years.
• Uchiyama Manufacturing America LLC earned both a Silver Award and a Million-Hour Award, having surpassed 1 million employee hours with no injuries resulting in time away from work between October 2020 and August 2024.

Several departments have received recognition for well over a decade, such as:

• City of Goldsboro’s Human Resources Department (14th consecutive year)
• County of Wayne’s Day Reporting Center (15th year)
• Goldsboro’s Cemetery and Engineering Divisions (16th year each)
• And County of Wayne’s Planning, Tax, and Veterans Services departments, each now in their 22nd year of recognition.

Statewide Effort

The Goldsboro banquet is one of several being held throughout North Carolina this spring as part of the N.C. Department of Labor’s statewide initiative to promote safety in the workplace. These awards serve not only as recognition but also as a reminder of the ongoing commitment required to prevent injuries and foster a safety-first mindset.

A full list of recipients and more information on the Safety Awards Program is available at labor.nc.gov. Those interested can also contact Kiley Willard at 919-707-7855 or via email at [email protected].