NC Statute 141-132: Workplace Safety Requirements

The State Employee Workplace Requirements Program for Safety and Health establishes a framework for ensuring safe working conditions. Its purpose is to protect public employees across various entities, including state agencies and local governments, from workplace hazards. The program provides a uniform standard for safety and health, aiming to reduce occupational injuries and illnesses among this workforce.

Required Safety Program Elements

A foundational component of the safety program is the requirement for public employers to develop a formal, written safety and health plan. This document must be tailored to the specific operational hazards present in the employer’s unique work environment. It serves as a blueprint for the organization’s safety procedures and policies, ensuring a systematic approach to hazard management. The plan must be a dynamic document, reviewed and updated to reflect changes in workplace conditions or operations.

Employee training is another mandated element, designed to equip workers with the knowledge to perform their duties safely. This training must cover specific topics, including the identification of potential hazards within their job functions and the proper use of any required personal protective equipment. It also includes instruction on safe work practices and emergency procedures, ensuring employees can respond appropriately to unforeseen events.

To promote employee involvement, the program requires the formation of safety and health committees. These committees are composed of both management and non-supervisory personnel, creating a collaborative forum for addressing safety matters. The primary function of the committee is to review workplace safety issues, analyze injury and illness records, and provide advisory recommendations to management.

Injury and Illness Documentation

Public employers have an ongoing duty to document work-related incidents. This involves maintaining a detailed log of all recordable injuries and illnesses that occur in the workplace. The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration provides specific forms for this purpose, such as the OSHA Form 300, which is a log of work-related injuries and illnesses. This recordkeeping is not merely procedural; it creates a data trail that helps identify hazard patterns and areas needing safety improvements.

At the end of each calendar year, employers must compile this data into an annual summary. This summary, often completed on a specific form like the OSHA Form 300A, must be posted in a conspicuous location where employees can easily view it. The posting period is typically from February 1 to April 30 of the following year.

The documentation process is a continuous cycle of recording, analysis, and reporting. It provides the necessary information for safety committees and management to make informed decisions about safety interventions. Accurate and timely documentation ensures that lessons are learned from incidents and that corrective actions are implemented to prevent future occurrences.