North Carolina’s Innovative Hazard Awareness Program Gains Regional Attention | Eastern NC Now

    Raleigh, N.C.     The NC Office of State Human Resources' (OSHR) "Be a Hazard Hero" Program was selected by the Southern Legislative Conference (SLC)-whose mission is to foster and encourage intergovernmental cooperation among its member states-to be one of six finalists for their State Transformation in Action Recognition (STAR). SLC's STAR program identifies and promotes innovative ideas and programs from the Southern region's best problem solvers: the states themselves.

    Created by the Safety & Health Leadership Team established by Governor Pat McCrory in 2013, the program was selected from 30 nominations from 15 member states based on creativity, impact, transferability and effectiveness. Finalists presented this week before a panel of state legislators and policy experts at the SLC's 70th annual conference in Lexington, KY.

    One of the presenters of the program, John R. Bogner Jr., OSHR's Director of Safety, Health & Workers' Compensation, stated that "the Hazard Hero program is an efficient, cost-effective way to reduce workplace injuries... and it could easily be replicated in other states and municipalities."

    The "Be a Hazard Hero Program" is a safety and hazard recognition program that raises the awareness of hazards with state employees and encourages them to take an active role in their own safety. When state employees identify a potential hazard, there are systems in place for them to report the hazard and have it addressed.

    The program has shown impressive measurable results. Injuries are down over 19 percent, lost work days have been reduced by over 30 percent, and there has been a nearly an $8 million reduction in injury-related medical costs.

      NC Department of Health and Human Services

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