The N.C. Department of Labor Spring Safety Awards Banquet was held on Jun. 11 in Raleigh. Paul Cox, Director of Public Works, attended the ceremony and accepted two awards on behalf of the Town.

The Planning Department received a Gold Level Certificate of Safety Achievement for the 24th consecutive year, along with a Gold Level Certificate of Safety Achievement Award for the entire Town. The N.C. Department of Labor safety awards program recognizes private and public firms throughout the state that achieve and maintain good safety records.

The program is designed to stimulate interest in accident prevention and to promote safety in the workplace by providing an incentive to employers and employees to maintain a safe and healthful workplace.

To qualify for an annual safety award, a firm must have had no fatalities during the calendar year at the site or location for which the award was given; and have maintained an incidence rate at least 50 percent below the average for its particular industry group.

Two award levels are distributed—gold and silver.

The gold award is based on the DART rate, which includes cases of days away from work, restricted activity or job transfer.

In operation since 1946, the program now extends to more than 3,300 firms, and about 2,000 awards are presented annually.