N.C. Labor Commissioner Luke Farley recognized outstanding workplace safety achievements by Asheville-area employers and employees during the N.C. Department of Labor’s annual Safety Awards Banquet, held Tuesday, June 17, at the Hilton Asheville Biltmore Park.

The event, co-hosted with WCI Inc., celebrated companies that have demonstrated a strong commitment to preventing injuries and building a culture of safety in the workplace.

In his keynote remarks, Labor Commissioner Luke Farley emphasized the shared responsibility of employers, employees and the Department in protecting North Carolina’s workforce.

“As Labor Commissioner, my top priority is ensuring North Carolinians go home safe and healthy at the end of every workday,” said Farley. “It’s a privilege to recognize businesses that don’t just talk about safety — they lead by example, day in and day out.”

Farley noted that earning a Safety Award sends a powerful message to both employees and the broader business community: that safety is a core value, not just a compliance measure.

“When you earn this recognition, you're showing your team that you care — and you're helping set the standard for others to follow,” he added.

The awards reflect outstanding on-the-job safety performance during the 2024 calendar year. All recognized employers are based in Asheville or the surrounding region.

To be eligible, businesses must have had no fatalities at the award site during the calendar year.

• Gold Awards are presented to businesses with DART rates (cases involving days away, restricted duty, or job transfer) at least 50% below the industry average.

• Silver Awards are based on days away from work, also with rates at least 50% below the industry average.

These benchmarks demonstrate meaningful, measurable outcomes in workplace safety.

The Asheville event is one of over two dozen safety awards banquets taking place across the state this spring, as the department recognizes more than 2,000 employers statewide for their efforts.

Silver Awards

Criteria: Cases of days from work must be at least 50% below the industry average.

First Year

General Shale Brick

Mission Hospital McDowell

N.C. Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, Peanut Belt Research Station - Lewiston

Town of Tryon, Public Utilities

Second Consecutive Year

Gaia Herbs Inc.

HCA Mission, Mission Hospital

IFB Solutions, Asheville

Gold Awards

Criteria: Cases of days away from work, job transfer or restricted must be at least 50%

below the industry average.

First Year

Altec Industries, Burnsville

American Emergency Vehicles

CF Evans Construction, Busbee 1A

CF Evans Construction, River Arts Apartment Project

Coastal AgroBusiness Inc., Flat Rock

Ernest LLC

Ernest LLC, Brightbell Virtual Receptionist

Harrison Aggregates, Massey Branch Quarry

Harrison Aggregates, Tubmill Quarry

Harrison Aggregates, Waynesville Quarry

Haynes Technologies

Highlands-Cashiers Hospital

Kimberly-Clark Corp.

Metropolitan Sewerage District

N.C. Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, Upper Mountain Research Station

UNC Health Caldwell

Vulcan Construction Materials LP, Mideast Division - Hendersonville Quarry

Wicked Weed Brewing, Sour Production - Arden

Second Consecutive Year

Blue Ridge Medical Center

BRP

CF Evans Construction, Busbee Project

City of Brevard, Administration Department

City of Brevard, Fire Department

Harrison Aggregates, Dillsboro Quarry

N.C. Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, Senator Bob Martin Agricultural

Center

N.C. Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, Western NC Agricultural Center

N.C. Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, Western Veterinary Lab - Arden

N.C. Department of Natural & Cultural Resources, Pettigrew State Park

Vulcan Construction Materials LP, Mideast Division - Enka Quarry

Vulcan Construction Materials LP, Mideast Division - Penrose Quarry

Wicked Weed Brewing, Clean Production - Candler

Third Consecutive Year

CarePartners

General Shale Brick, Wilmington

Transylvania Regional Hospital

Watauga Opportunities Inc.

Fourth Consecutive Year

Department of Health and Human Services, JFK Alcohol And Drug Abuse Treatment Center

Dodge Mechanical Power Transmission Company

General Shale Brick, Reames Road

Harrison Aggregates, Cherokee County Quarry

Harrison Aggregates, Hayesville Quarry

Haynes Electric

Mountain Credit Union

Fifth Consecutive Year

Eaton Corporation, Electrical

General Shale Brick, Raleigh

Haynes Industrial

N.C. Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, Mountain Research Station

Sixth Consecutive Year

N.C. Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, Northwestern Veterinary Lab - Elkin

N.C. Department of Health & Human Services, Black Mountain Neuro Medical Treatment

Center

N.C. Department of Natural & Cultural Resources, Mount Mitchell State Park

Eighth Consecutive Year

H&M Constructors

11th Consecutive Year

North Buncombe Family Medicine

14th Consecutive Year

General Shale Brick, Kernersville

Million-Hour Awards

Criteria: They are awarded to companies which accumulate one million employee

hours with no injuries or illnesses involving days away from work.

Altec Industries, Burnsville

One Million Hours

Jan. 24, 2024, to June 20, 2024