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1 <br /> 3 <br /> A. Purpose of the Carolina Star Programs <br /> OSHA has long recognized that compliance with occupational safety and health standards <br /> and regulations alone cannot accomplish all the goals of the act. Rules, no matter how <br /> carefully conceived and developed,will never cover all unsafe and unhealthful activities <br /> and conditions. Furthermore, limited resources will not permit regular or exhaustive <br /> inspections of all of the state's workplaces.No amount of rule setting and enforcement <br /> can replace the understanding of work processes, materials, and hazards that comes with <br /> employers' and employees' day-to-day, on-the-job experience. This knowledge, combined <br /> with the ability to evaluate and address hazards rapidly and to reinforce positive actions, <br /> places employers in a unique position to improve workplace safety and health in ways <br /> simply not available to OSHNC. <br /> The purpose of the Carolina Star Programs is to emphasize the importance of, encourage <br /> the improvement of, and recognize excellence in site-specific occupational safety and <br /> health programs. These programs are composed of management systems for preventing or <br /> controlling occupational hazards. Sites employing these systems not only are working to <br /> comply with OSHNC's rules,but also are striving to excel by using flexible and creative <br /> strategies that go beyond the rules to provide the best feasible protection for their <br /> workers. In the process,these worksites serve as models for effective safety and health <br /> programs in their industries. Moreover, the demonstrated workers' compensation cost <br /> reductions,reduced employee turnover, quality improvements, and other benefits to which <br /> Carolina Star worksites testify are helping to convince skeptics that productivity, quality, <br /> profitability, and safety are complementary goals. <br /> Carolina Star participants enter into a new relationship with OSHNC. In this innovative <br /> public/private partnership, cooperation and trust nourish improvements in safety and <br /> health,not just at Carolina Star sites but also beyond the worksite boundaries. The <br /> Carolina Star Programs and the Federal Voluntary Protection Program(VPP) companies <br /> have frequent opportunity to provide the state and federal agencies with input on safety <br /> and health matters. At the same time,the recognition and status gained by their <br /> participation in the Carolina Star Programs, and their commitment to improving their <br /> industries and communities, enable companies to accomplish a broad range of safety and <br /> health objectives. Carolina Star participants mentor other worksites interested in <br /> improving their safety and health programs; conduct safety and health training and <br /> outreach seminars; and hold safety and health conferences that focus on leading-edge <br /> safety and health issues. <br /> Worksites in the Carolina Star Programs are removed from programmed inspection lists <br /> for a period based on theire of program participation, unless they choose to remain on <br /> the lists. This helps OSHNC to focus its inspection resources on establishments that are <br /> less likely to meet the requirements of the OSHNC rules. However, OSHNC continues to <br /> investigate valid employee safety and health complaints, fatalities and catastrophes, and <br /> 3-1 <br />