It is the intent of the Legislature that the promotion of safety in the workplace is a legitimate public purpose. In order to establish a public employee benefit program to encourage safety in the workplace, the Department of Transportation is hereby directed to establish an on-the-job employee safety program which encourages work unit safety and reduces lost productivity and compensation costs. In order to promote job safety in work units and provide recognition for work units with exceptional safety records, the Department of Transportation is authorized to expend from monies available in the State Highway Construction and Maintenance Fund so much thereof as may be necessary for the purchase of recognition awards for presentation to the members of work units or individual employees with exceptional safety records. Recognition awards shall consist of distinctive wearing apparel, service pins, or U.S. Savings Bonds, and other appropriate awards, the value of which shall not exceed Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00) per employee, which recognizes the safety achievement of the work unit or individual employees.