Union County Government has now gone 11 consecutive years without losing the state's highest workplace safety honor, earning the N.C. Department of Labor's Gold Award again for 2025.

Four county departments earned the Gold Award alongside the county government itself: Human Services/Social Services, Public Health, the Sheriff's Office and Water. Union County Water has earned the distinction seven years running.

N.C. Commissioner of Labor Luke Farley presented the awards at the county's Safety Awards Banquet on June 25 at the Union County Agricultural Center. The Union County Chamber of Commerce hosted the event.

To qualify for Gold, an employer must record zero workplace fatalities during the calendar year and maintain a Days Away, Restricted, or Transferred (DART) injury rate at least 50% below its industry average, according to the NCDOL. The program has recognized employers statewide since 1946 and hands out more than 3,000 awards each year.

Assistant county manager Clayton Voignier said the streak reflects the county's investment in its workforce. "Earning this recognition for 11 consecutive years reflects a sustained commitment to safety across our organization," Voignier said in the county's Tuesday, Aug. 18 announcement.

Jeff Morgan, the county's director of security risk management, highlighted the collective effort across departments and named his safety team: risk and safety manager Mike Farrar and safety officers Jayme Hargett and Hayden Hunter. Morgan called their work identifying hazards and supporting departments central to maintaining what he described as "a proactive safety culture."

The Sheriff's Office and Public Health are among the departments that serve Waxhaw-area residents directly. Both met the Gold standard for the award year.