Malfunctioning elevators aren’t getting follow-up inspections, and labor inspectors didn’t check in on companies who have gotten in trouble in the past to ensure compliance with wage and hour laws, according to a financial audit from N.C. State Auditor Beth Wood’s office.
The audit released Thursday by Wood’s office found that at the N.C. Department of Labor:
- Only 3 percent of elevators found to be in violation of safety rules in 2012 had follow-up inspections
- Penalties for elevator violations are nominal and rarely imposed
- No follow-up reviews were conducted for 11 employers that violated wage and hour laws
The N.C. Department of Labor is headed by Labor Commissioner Cherie Berry, whose picture hangs in every elevator in the state as part of the annual inspection notice.
Labor Commissioner Cherie Berry
The department is updating computer software to better track labor investigators work and ensure that follow-up reviews are done at both divisions, according to the agency’s response in the audit.
