North Carolina Restarts Mining Safety Program
Voluntary program evaluates safety practices at mines and quarries across the state.
- By Chelsey Arries
- Sep 11, 2026
The North Carolina Department of Labor has reinstated the Carolina Mining Star Program, a voluntary initiative for mine and quarry operations focused on workplace safety and health.
The program returns after North Carolina reported no fatal injuries among mine and quarry workers during the 2025-26 state fiscal year. The state recorded 1.33 nonfatal injuries per 200,000 employee-hours, compared with the national average of 1.62.
Administered by the department’s Mine and Quarry Bureau, the program requires participating operations to submit an application. The bureau reviews the application, conducts a preliminary site visit and begins an evaluation of the operation’s safety practices.
The evaluation examines how safety and health programs operate in practice. Review areas include hazard assessments, employee training and participation, emergency procedures, accident investigations, contractor safety and management leadership.
Evaluators also consider how operations communicate safety policies, involve workers in safety activities and identify weaknesses in existing programs.
The Mine and Quarry Bureau oversees safety initiatives at 243 active or intermittent mine sites across North Carolina. Its responsibilities include education, training, technical assistance, on-site consultations and investigations of accidents and complaints.
About the Author
Chelsey Arries is assistant editor for Security Today, Campus Security Today, Occupational Health & Safety and Environmental Protection Online.