Episode 17

 Join us for an engaging conversation about the state of workplace safety in North Carolina with Luke Farley, the state's Commissioner of Labor. As one of only four states to elect its labor commissioner, Commissioner Farley offers a unique perspective on government accountability, famously recognized by his face and signature on over 32,000 elevators and escalators across the state. In this episode, he breaks down how North Carolina recently made a massive 21-spot jump to become the second-safest state in the country for workers.

From the new leading cause of workplace fatalities—"struck-by" accidents—to the undeniable business case for safety, Commissioner Farley shares how a true culture of safety lowers workers' comp insurance rates, boosts employee retention, and prevents costly job site shutdowns. We discuss the critical importance of tracking near misses as learning opportunities, the shift from punitive citations to positive reinforcement like "safety bucks," and the value of true collaboration between the Department of Labor and private industry. The conversation also highlights elite safety initiatives, including the rigorous Carolina STAR Program and Barnhill's unprecedented commitment to hosting two high-impact safety partnerships simultaneously.

Whether you are a commercial builder, a residential contractor, or simply interested in how state agencies partner with businesses to protect millions of employees, this episode offers an inside look at the initiatives keeping North Carolina's workforce safe and the vision for driving the incident rate to zero.

Constructing the Carolinas is brought to you by Barnhill, which has been Constructing the Carolinas since 1949, hosted by Jed Byrne, and produced by Walk West.

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