NC Safety Inspectors Get Pay Bump

North Carolina has raised starting salaries for workplace safety inspectors at the Department of Labor to $61,000 annually for fully qualified compliance safety officers.
The more-than-5% boost is part of a new initiative by Commissioner Luke Farley to strengthen workplace protections across the state and to recruit and retain skilled safety professionals, according to a statement.
The pay raise is being implemented without additional taxpayer burden, funded through a strategic reallocation of existing resources within the department, according to officials.
Farley has set a priority for a three-point safety plan, which includes: Filling inspector vacancies; Reducing wait times for voluntary inspections requested by employers; and, Expanding recognition programs that highlight exceptional safety practices in the workplace.
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A new task force on workplace safety and responsible for drafting and recommending heat guidelines for employers by the end of the year, has been formed by an executive order from Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs.
The task force will be comprised of labor groups, occupational safety advocates, and private industry representatives, including the Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry and Arizona Manufacturers Council.
The groups will build the Arizona Industrial Commission’s Heat Stress State Emphasis Program that was launched in July 2023.
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New York’s Retail Worker Safety Act goes into effect this week, requiring a range of mandatory safety protocols for employers, including violence prevention planning, employee training and emergency alert systems.
Retail businesses with 10 or more employees must implement written workplace violence prevention plans, conduct regular risk assessments, and provide biennial training on de-escalation and active shooter response.
Retailers with 500 or more workers statewide are also required to install silent panic buttons throughout their stores by Jan. 1, 2027, allowing staff to discreetly alert security during emergencies.
On May 29, 2025, the New York State Department of Labor published a list of frequently asked questions, a template retail workplace violence prevention policy, and model training materials regarding the Retail Worker Safety Act.
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OSHA has renewed the regional emphasis programs for the gambling industry, hotels and motels in areas under the San Francisco region.
That includes establishments that provide lodging and/or gambling amusement, with worksites found on Native American lands, in National Parks and Forests, on Military Bases, and in the Pacific Territories.
These sites include hazardous activities such as sheet metal shops, carpenter shops, vehicle maintenance shops, electrical shops, water treatment plants, power generation plants, landscaping operations, housekeeping and laundry services, and restaurants.
Nationally, BLS data shows that in 2023, injury and illness rates for gambling industries, casino hotels, and other hotels and motels were above the national averages for injuries or illnesses.
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