15 Wilmington Chamber of Commerce Members Honored at NC Department of Labor Safety Awards Banquet

Members of manufacturing companies across the Cape Fear gathered on Monday, May 13 for the Safety Awards program presented by the North Carolina Department of Labor, including 15 members and partners of the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce.

Award winners include Balfour Beatty Infrastructure, Cape Fear Public Utility Authority, CTS – South, GE Aviation, GE Hitachi, Gregory Poole Equipment Company, International Paper Company, Monteith Construction Corporation, New Hanover County, RGX Rim Repair, S&W Ready Mix Concrete, T.A. Woods Company, Thomas Construction Group, LLC, UNCW, and Wilmington Box Company.

According to the Department of Labor website, "The N.C. Department of Labor’s 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. In operation since 1946, the program now extends to more than 5,000 firms, and about 3,000 awards are presented annually. Two types of awards are administered through the program: Annual Safety Awards and Million-Hour Awards."

Cherie Berry, NC Commissioner of Labor, spoke to the award recipients about safety in the workplace. Berry stressed the importance of looking out for co-workers on the job.

“No single job is more important than any other job, and every job has worth for the individual performing it,” said Berry.

Berry was elected as North Carolina’s first female labor commissioner in 2000. In 2016, Berry won re-election for a fifth, four year term. In 2019, Berry announced she would not be seeking re-election in the 2020 election.

For more information on upcoming chamber events, click here.