CHURCH POINT, La. — Acadian Fine Foods LLC was cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for 16 safety and health violations, including 14 serious, one willful and one repeat violation, following a referral inspection that began in December 2013 at the Church Point processing plant. The food processor faces $121,660 in proposed fines for failing to protect workers from overexposure to carbon dioxide, dangerous machines and other safety hazards.

MAPLEWOOD, N.J. — Maplewood Beverage Packers LLC and temporary employment agency Corporate Resource Services Corp. in Elizabeth have been cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for health and safety violations found at the beverage bottling company's Maplewood plant. OSHA's December 2013 investigation, which found willful and repeat violations, was initiated following a referral from the Maplewood Fire Department after a temporary worker was injured after falling from a ladder.

HOUSTON, Texas — Gillespie Lumber Ltd. in Nacogdoches was cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for 13 violations, including seven for failure-to-abate previous violations in an August 2013 inspection. The company continues to expose workers to dangerous, unguarded machines. The proposed penalty for this follow-up inspection, which began in January, is $125,282.00.

OMAHA, Neb. — As residents recover from the damage caused by the recent tornadoes and severe storms in Pilger, Neb., Sioux City, Iowa, and other areas of Nebraska and western Iowa, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration urges recovery workers, employers and the public to exercise caution during cleanup and recovery efforts.

SPRINGBROOK, Wis. — A complaint investigation found workers at Buchman Lumber Co. LLC were exposed to excessive noise and amputation hazards at the Springbrook lumber plant. The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited the company for 17 — including four willful — violations and proposed penalties of $145,200. OSHA has placed the company in its Severe Violator Enforcement Program.

LUBBOCK, Texas — To serve the workplaces of a diverse and growing area better, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has expanded its office at 1205 Texas Ave. in Lubbock from a district office to an area office to provide more resources to the community.

SAN ANTONIO — Higuchi International Corp., doing business as Higuchi Manufacturing America LLC, has been cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for nine violations, including eight serious citations and one willful violation, for exposing workers to unsafe noise levels and machinery at its Elmendorf facility.

AVENEL, N.J. — On Dec. 4, 2013, temporary worker Ronald Smith died from injuries sustained after he was caught in between a conveyor system and crushed while performing sorting operations at an Amazon fulfillment center in Avenel. Following an investigation initiated in response to the fatality, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited five companies for serious violations, including the contractor responsible for operating the facility, and four temporary staffing agencies.

WOODRIDGE, N.J. — Academia Furniture Industries LLC, which makes furniture for schools, faces $58,100 in proposed penalties for 30 serious safety and health violations cited after an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

GENEVA, Neb. — Bioiberica Nebraska has been cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for 10 — including three willful — safety and health violations for failing to protect workers from moving machine parts during service and maintenance. OSHA proposed penalties of $101,200 and placed the company in the Severe Violator Enforcement Program.

CLEVELAND — The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has renewed a two-year alliance with the Cleveland Safety Forum to help protect construction workers from job hazards, such as falls and silica exposure.

ST. FRANCIS, Wis. — Fontarome Chemical Inc. has been cited for 23 safety and health violations — including seven willful, one repeat and 15 serious — by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The company has been placed in OSHA's Severe Violator Enforcement Program, and the citations carry proposed penalties of $449,680.

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Liberty Tire Recycling LLC has been cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for repeat and serious safety violations for exposing workers to falls, fire/explosion and dangerous, unguarded equipment. OSHA cited the Port St. Lucie recycler following a Site-Specific Targeting inspection in January 2014. Proposed penalties total $45,000.

VALLEY CITY, Ohio — Following the crushing of a worker's hand in a 150-ton mechanical power press on Nov. 14, 2013, Superior Roll Forming Co. has been cited for four serious safety violations by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

NEW YORK — SpongeTech Delivery Systems Inc. of New York has been ordered by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration to pay $30,288.54, in back wages, plus interest, to a former employee who was fired after she reported apparent investment fraud to her superiors.

FENTON, Mo. — Gershenson Construction Co. Inc. has been cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration after a worker suffered a broken vertebra when he was struck by a partially suspended load of sewer pipe and knocked to the bottom of an unprotected 13-foot-deep trench. OSHA has cited the company for 11 safety violations, including one willful and 10 serious, for failing to protect workers from struck-by and trench cave-in hazards.

SAVOY, Ill. — The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Duce Construction Co. with four safety violations, including three serious and one willful, for failing to protect workers from trenching hazards at a job site on East Airport Road in Savoy. OSHA opened the February 2014 inspection under the National Emphasis Program for trenching and excavation. Proposed penalties total $59,500.

BRAINTREE, Mass. — A 35-year-old sanitation supervisor at a New Bedford fish processing plant died on Jan. 16, 2014, after he was caught in the rotating parts of the shucking machine he was cleaning. Following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration, his employer, Sea Watch International Ltd., was cited for seven serious safety violations, including failure to implement basic safety procedures to protect workers who service or maintain machines.

BILLINGS, Mont. — National discount chain Dollar Tree Stores Inc. has been cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration in Montana for repeatedly and willfully exposing workers to safety hazards. OSHA began its inspection in November 2013 after receiving a complaint about dangerous conditions at a store located in Missoula.

BRONX, N.Y. — Kay Waterproofing Corp., a masonry and waterproofing contractor based in the Bronx, has been cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for 13 serious safety violations — including fall and scaffolding hazards — found at a residential building in Edgewater, N.J. OSHA initiated its December 2013 investigation after an imminent danger complaint was made and has proposed $66,600 in penalties.