On December 8, 2000, R. N. Rouse & Co., Inc., became the first construction company in the nation to receive the Building Star for safety. This award was presented by the North Carolina Department of Labor under the Carolina Star Program. The Carolina Star Program is considered the toughest of all voluntary protective programs offered by OSHA at either the state or federal level. The Building Star is the first program of its kind in the nation and R. N. Rouse & Company is the first construction company to receive it.

The application process involves written safety procedures as well as intensive interviews with upper and middle management for each division. Construction sites are visited and audited to see that the safety program is reflected on the site. Commitment to safety must be prevalent from the president of the company to the new worker on the construction site.

The Star status is a hard-earned level of safety excellence that is a credit to all of the employees of R. N. Rouse & Co. It is a safety honor to which R. N. Rouse & Co., Inc. is both proud and committed.