North Carolina (NC OSH)
The Occupational Safety and Health Division of the North Carolina Department of Labor (NCDOL) runs North Carolina’s state plan for most private and public employers. North Carolina adopts most federal standards, but it has its own rule requiring safety programs for employers with high injury costs, and its own law against retaliation.
- Construction
- General Industry
- Public employees
- North Carolina
At a glance
| Agency | NCDOL Occupational Safety and Health Division |
|---|---|
| Covers | Most private employers and state and local government. Federal OSHA covers federal workers, some maritime work and some military bases. |
| Rules | Federal standards adopted by North Carolina, plus state rules in the North Carolina Administrative Code |
| Retaliation complaints | NCDOL Retaliatory Employment Discrimination Bureau (REDA) |
| Free employer help | NCDOL Consultative Services and Education, Training and Technical Assistance |
Key North Carolina points
- Safety and Health Programs and Committees Act (NCGS 95, Article 22): employers with a workers’ compensation experience rate modifier (EMR) of 1.5 or higher must have a written safety and health program. If they have 11 or more employees, they must also have an employee safety and health committee.
- Special emphasis programs: NCDOL targets inspections at high-hazard work such as construction falls, trenching, struck-by hazards and others.
- Carolina Star and building star programs recognize worksites and contractors with excellent safety programs.
- Free help: NCDOL offers free, confidential consultation visits and training, separate from enforcement.
- Asbestos: the NC Department of Health and Human Services accredits asbestos professionals and issues removal permits. See Asbestos Rules by State.
Reporting injuries
Employers must report work-related deaths within 8 hours, and in-patient hospitalizations, amputations and loss of an eye within 24 hours. Check NCDOL for current procedures.
Complaints and retaliation
- File a safety complaint with NCDOL online, by phone or by mail.
- North Carolina’s Retaliatory Employment Discrimination Act (REDA) protects workers who file or threaten to file safety and health, wage and hour, or workers’ compensation complaints. File a complaint with NCDOL’s REDA Bureau as soon as possible; deadlines apply.
Note: This page is a summary. Check NCDOL’s website for current rules.
Standards & references
- NCDOL: Safety and health
- NCDOL: Safety and Health Programs and Committees
- NCDOL: Retaliatory Employment Discrimination Bureau
- Wages, leave and other worker rights: North Carolina Worker Rights
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