WASHINGTON Facilities that could potentially release highly hazardous chemicals resulting in toxic fire or explosion hazards are the focus of a national emphasis program (NEP) developed by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

The program establishes policies and procedures for inspecting workplaces that are covered by OSHA's process safety management (PSM) standard.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that more than 600 workers from Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. in Union City, Tenn., are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance.

Atlanta — The business manager of Jasper Anesthesia Care Inc. in Jasper, Alabama, was ordered by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama in Jasper to pay of $46,844.79 in restitution to the company’s profit-sharing plan plus a $100 special assessment. Haze Edward Persons also was sentenced to 10 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that it has paid more than $5 billion in compensation and medical benefits to more than 52,600 claimants nationwide under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA). This milestone coincides with the eighth anniversary of the Labor Department's administration of the EEOICPA, which provides compensation and medical benefits to employees who became ill as a result of working in the nuclear weapons industry.

TULSA, Okla. — QuikTrip Corp. has agreed to pay $747,729 in overtime back wages for 3,819 current and former convenience store workers following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division's Arkansas-Oklahoma District Office.

Launch of revamped site coincides with Americans with Disabilities Acts 19th anniversary

Orlando, Florida – The U.S. Department of Labor has sued Bichler and Kelly P.A. and two of its attorneys to protect the assets of the law firm’s savings incentive match plan for employees individual retirement account (SIMPLE IRA).

WASHINGTON — Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement regarding the 19th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA):

"July 26 marks the 19th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, landmark legislation designed to prevent discrimination and enable individuals with disabilities to fully participate in all aspects of society.

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending July 18, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 554,000, an increase of 30,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 524,000. The 4-week moving average was 566,000, a decrease of 19,000 from the previous week's revised average of 585,000.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 4.7 percent for the week ending July 11, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate of 4.7 percent.

BOSTON — Partners HealthCare Systems Inc. and its affiliated hospitals and health care companies throughout eastern Massachusetts have agreed to pay 700 employees more than $2.7 million in overtime back wages to resolve a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Labor alleging violations of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

"We are pleased that the department has succeeded in securing such a substantial amount of back wages for these workers who were not properly paid for overtime they had worked," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis.

WASHINGTON – During a visit to the Des Moines Area Community College in Ankeny, Iowa, today, U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis announced a $335,853 Recovery Act grant to assist approximately 125 workers affected by the closure of Atwood Mobile Products in West Union, Iowa.

WASHINGTON – During a visit to the Des Moines Area Community College in Ankeny, Iowa, today, U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis announced a $664,074 Recovery Act grant to assist approximately 121 workers affected by layoffs at the RR Donnelley print plant in Spencer, Iowa.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that more than 900 workers from Delphi Steering in Saginaw, Mich., are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance.

"The Department of Labor is committed to supporting workers who lose their jobs through no fault of their own and who are in need of retraining," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "The support provided under the Trade Adjustment Assistance program will help get these auto workers back into good paying jobs."

Training in other high growth industries also will be targeted

TOPEKA, Kan. – During a visit to the Shawnee County Community Health Center as a stop on the Obama administration's Rural Tour, Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced a $220 million competition to fund projects that prepare workers for careers in the health care and other high growth industries.

New York – The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a federal court order in the form of a default judgment appointing Jacqueline M. Carmichael as the independent fiduciary to manage the abandoned 401(k) plan of defunct Bonnie Optical Inc. of Rochester, New York.

Washington - The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) today released Field Assistance Bulletin (FAB) 2009-02 that provides guidance to field investigators regarding certain Form 5500 requirements dealing with tax-sheltered annuity programs.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has announced a $1,442,099 National Emergency Grant increment to continue clean-up and recovery efforts following a 2009 ice storm in Arkansas.

"Northern Arkansas is still working to clean up and recover from the destruction caused by a large ice storm in the winter of 2009," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "Today's grant will provide more funding to support continuing recovery efforts."

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending July 11, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 522,000, a decrease of 47,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 569,000. The 4-week moving average was 584,500, a decrease of 22,500 from the previous week's revised average of 607,000.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has certified for release $57,049,761 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the state of Oregon. Oregon qualified for these funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by enacting certain UI provisions.

Millions of workers across 30 states will see more money in their paychecks

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor reminds employers and employees that the federal minimum wage will increase to $7.25 on Friday, July 24. With this change, employees who are covered by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) will be entitled to pay no less than $7.25 per hour.