Source: NC DEPT. OF LABOR, 4/1/20

The N.C. Department of Labor presented special awards to four North Carolina growers during the 26th Annual Gold Star Growers Meeting held Friday, Feb. 7, at the McKimmon Center in Raleigh. The Gold Star Grower Housing Program recognizes growers who provide farmworker housing that meets and exceeds the requirements of the Migrant Housing Act of North Carolina. These standards are required by law and are used during annual inspections performed by NCDOL’s Agricultural Safety and Health (ASH) Bureau. Occupational Safety and Health Division Director Kevin Beauregard read a statement from Labor Commissioner Cherie Berry. “The foundation of a safe workplace is the care an employer has for all his or her employees,” Berry said. “I am very proud to know you, and I am proud to have been associated with you as North Carolina’s commissioner of labor.” 

The Labor Department r e c o g n i z e d four growers for special awards. Harris Farms in Warren County received the award for Best Maintained Housing—East. Robertson Family Farm in Stokes County received the award for Best Maintained Housing—West. Byrd Family Farms in Harnett County received the award for Most Improved Housing. Quincy Farms Inc. in Edgecombe County received the award for Best New Housing. Occupational Safety and Health Director Kevin Beauregard, along with employees of the ASH Bureau, presented the awards to the recipients.

“The Gold Star Grower Program continues to grow every year,” said Beth Rodman, ASH bureau chief. “It is a highly sought-after designation, and all of you know just how hard you work to achieve Gold Star status and to maintain it year after year. It takes a lot of time, dedication and money to do that, and we appreciate your efforts.” 

At this year’s meeting, the bureau recognized 197 growers as Double Gold Star Growers and 86 as Single Gold Star Growers. Double Gold Star Growers are eligible for self-inspection of their housing in the upcoming year. Director Robin Tutor-Marcom and Associate Director LaMar Grafft of the N.C. Agromedicine Institute provided the keynote address. Their topic was “Heat Stress Less: Rethinking Field Practices.” They discussed the signs and symptoms of heat stress, practical ideas to prevent and reduce heat stress injuries and illnesses on the farm, and the importance of emergency preparedness. 

They presented various scenarios of workers experiencing heat stress events with the help of NCDOL employees and others. They taught the attendees how to take action based on the heat index; how to recognize the symptoms of heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke; and what to do when people show symptoms of heat stress. They provided the link to the OSHA-NIOSH Heat Safety Tool, which is an app available for iPhones and Android phones that allows people to calculate the heat index for their worksite and displays a risk level to outdoor workers. 

It also provides reminders about the protective measures that should be taken at that risk level to protect workers from heat-related illness—reminders about drinking enough fluids, scheduling rest breaks, planning for and knowing what to do in an emergency, adjusting work operations, gradually building up the workload for new workers, training on heat illness signs and symptoms, and monitoring each other for signs and symptoms of heat-related illness.