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AHOSKIE – The N.C. Department of Labor recognized area employers and employees at the agency’s annual safety awards banquet held Thursday, May 11 in Ahoskie at the Ahoskie Inn.

“North Carolina’s employers and employees show us the true importance of a strong commitment to safety and health each and every day,” Labor Commissioner Josh Dobson said. North Carolina’s injury and illness rate remains at an historic low. These businesses’ dedication to safety is the reason why North Carolina is one of the safest states in which to work and they deserve this distinguished recognition.”

The awards honor outstanding on-the-job safety achievements of each recipient during 2022. Recipients recognized are located in Ahoskie and surrounding counties.

Commissioner Dobson provided keynote remarks at the meeting, which was hosted by the Ahoskie Chamber of Commerce.

The local recipients have met the stringent requirements necessary to receive a safety award.

Under program rules, companies must have been free of fatal accidents at the site for which the award is given to be eligible. The gold award criteria are based on a DART rate that is at least 50% below the statewide rate for its industry. The rate includes cases of days away from work, restricted activity or job transfer. The silver award is based only on cases with days away from work. They are recorded when the worker misses at least one full day of work, not including the day of the injury. The applicant must attain an incidence rate for cases with days away from work that is at least 50% below the rate for its industry.

More information on the N.C. Department of Labor’s Safety Awards Program is available by calling 919-707-7855 or emailing Kiley Willard at kiley.willard@labor.nc.gov.

Silver Awards

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

First Year

Waff Contracting Inc.

Hertford County, Sheriff Department

Hertford County, Solid Waste, Rural Collections, Public Buildings

Gold Awards

Criteria: Rate of days away from work, job transfer or restriction must be at least 50% below the industry average.

First Year

City of Elizabeth City, Parks and Recreation Department

Roanoke Electric Cooperative

Town of Ahoskie, Police Department

Town of Ahoskie, Town Clerk

Town of Ahoskie, Sanitation Department

Metal Technologies of Murfreesboro Inc., Nucor Operations

Perdue Foods LLC, Ahoskie – Grow Out Office

Perdue Foods LLC, Lewiston – Garage

Perdue Foods LLC, Murfreesboro – Hatchery No. 5

Perdue Foods LLC, Halifax – Hatchery No. 9

Perdue Foods LLC, Cofield – Feed Mill, Garage, Food Delivery

Hertford County, Department of Social Services

Hertford County, Office of Aging, Elections, Veteran Services

Hertford County, Detention Center

2nd Consecutive Year

City of Elizabeth City, Electric Department

City of Elizabeth City, Streets Department

Metal Technologies of Murfreesboro Inc.

Vulcan Construction Materials LP, Mideast Division – Kitty Hawk Sales Yard

Town of Ahoskie, Public Works

Town of Ahoskie, Building and Grounds

Town of Ahoskie, Water and Sewer

Town of Ahoskie, Street Department

3rd Consecutive Year

City of Elizabeth City, Central Receiving Warehouse

City of Elizabeth City, Water Treatment

4th Consecutive Year

City of Elizabeth City, Finance Department

City of Elizabeth City, Wastewater Treatment Plant

Gregory Poole Equipment Co., Wanchese – Marine Branch

5th Consecutive Year

City of Elizabeth City, Central Maintenance – Fleet

City of Elizabeth City, Inspections

6th Consecutive Year

Perdue Foods LLC, Lewiston Processing Plant

7th Consecutive Year

Hertford County, Central Communications (E – 911)

8th Consecutive Year

Hertford County, Administration

Hertford County, Tax Assessor – Collector

9th Consecutive Year

Town of Ahoskie, Public Administration

10th Consecutive Year

City of Elizabeth City, Personnel

City of Elizabeth City, Customer Service

11th Consecutive Year

City of Elizabeth City, Public Works Department

Town of Ahoskie, Human Resources

13th Consecutive Year

Berry Global Inc., Ahoskie Plant

City of Elizabeth City, Administrative

14th Consecutive Year

Town of Ahoskie, Planning Department

Town of Ahoskie, Wastewater Treatment Plant

Town of Ahoskie, Finance Department

Town of Ahoskie, Executive Office – Administration

Town of Ahoskie, Fire Protection

City of Elizabeth City, Energy Division

20th Consecutive Year

Piedmont Natural Gas, Elizabeth City Resources Center

21st Consecutive Year

Nucor Steel, Hertford County