SEATTLE — The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho against Sandpoint Gas ‘n' Go & Lube Center Inc., in Sandpoint, Idaho, and its owner Sydney M. Oskoui, individually, for violating the whistleblower protection provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970. The investigation determined that Sandpoint and its owner terminated a mechanic for raising safety and health concerns in the workplace.

LAKE PRESTON, S.D. — A 51-year-old worker was fatally injured when he became engulfed in flowing grain in a railcar load-out elevator at Prairie Ag Partners. On March 15, 2014, the incident occurred when the worker attempted to remove a jam from a chute while the auger operated. The U.S.

WAYNE, W. Va. — Wayne Lumber and Mulch Inc. continues to expose employees to willful, repeat and serious safety and health hazards at the company's sawmill in Wayne. The employer faces $85,080 in proposed penalties following two investigations by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

AUSTIN, Texas — Cut limestone manufacturer Mezger Enterprises Ltd. has been cited for 27 safety and health violations, including two willful, by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The company exposed workers to unguarded machines, unsafe electrical equipment, infrequent crane inspections and noise levels that could cause hearing loss at its Kempner facility.

RAVENNA, Ohio — Portage Precision Polymers of Ravenna has been cited for 15 serious safety and health violations, carrying proposed penalties of $61,600, by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration after a complaint prompted an inspection. Many of the citations issued to the rubber products manufacturing plant were for exposing workers to combustible dust and amputation hazards.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration today announced a final rule requiring employers to notify OSHA when an employee is killed on the job or suffers a work-related hospitalization, amputation or loss of an eye. The rule, which also updates the list of employers partially exempt from OSHA record-keeping requirements, will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2015, for workplaces under federal OSHA jurisdiction.

HAMMOND, Wis. — After an unguarded laminating machine crushed a worker's hand and partially amputated his thumb, Loparex LLC has been cited for one willful safety violation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration. OSHA initiated the inspection May 8, 2014, after receiving information about the injury at the Hammond facility, a manufacturer of polycoated and silicone-coated papers and films. Proposed penalties total $70,000.

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. — Central Transport LLC has been cited for five, including three repeat, one willful and one serious safety violation, at its trucking terminal in Rock Island following a formal complaint. OSHA's inspection in March 2014 found repeat and willful violations that involved defective powered industrial vehicles and lack of fall protection. Proposed penalties total $108,020.

BRUNDIDGE, Ala. — Supreme Oil Co.-South was cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for 14 safety and health violations following a March 2014 inspection at the company's oil production facility on North Main Street in Brundidge. OSHA initiated the inspection due to a complaint and to complete a follow-up to a previous inspection it conducted in March 2012. Proposed penalties total $234,960. Since 1994, Supreme Oil has had 11 OSHA inspections conducted at its Alabama and New Jersey facilities.

HAMILTON, Ohio — Exposing workers to cave-in hazards while installing water mains has resulted in Mt. Pleasant Blacktopping Inc. being cited for one willful and one serious safety violation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration. OSHA opened the April 27 inspection after observing employees working in three separate unprotected trenches on Symmes Road in Hamilton. Proposed penalties total $77,000.

NEW YORK — Inadequate safeguards to protect workers against potential ammonia releases at its Brooklyn, N.Y., ice plant have resulted in $264,700 in U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration fines for Arctic Glacier U.S.A., Inc., a nationwide ice manufacturer and distributor. OSHA cited the company for 19 violations of workplace safety standards following a comprehensive inspection by OSHA's Manhattan Area Office that began in March.

HARTFORD, Conn. — Gleason Roofing Co. deliberately and repeatedly failed to use legally required fall protection for its employees at two New Britain work sites and exposed workers to potentially fatal falls, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration determined. The Enfield roofing contractor faces four willful and two serious violations of safety standards and $294,000 in fines.

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — After receiving information that a worker had suffered severe injuries after being crushed between two machines, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Vallourec Star for 22 serious safety violations. The machine operator suffered multiple fractures to his pelvis, Feb. 27, 2014, and has been unable to return to work. The investigation found that Youngstown steel mill workers were exposed to crushing, amputation and fall hazards.

PEORIA, Ill. — After an inspection by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Rohn Products LLC has been cited for 11 serious safety and health violations at its steel tower manufacturing plant on Plank Road in Peoria. Many of the violations involve exposing workers to amputation and crushing hazards during the daily operation of dangerous machinery. Proposed penalties total $66,700.

ONEONTA, Ala. — Diversified Fabricating Inc. was cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for 23 safety and health violations, including exposure to amputation and fall hazards, following an inspection at the company's facility on Commerce Drive. At the time of the inspection, initiated as part of OSHA's National Emphasis Program on Amputations, workers were engaged in fabricating steel drums used in the lumber mill industry. Proposed penalties total $73,500.

MIDLAND, Texas — To continue its mission to keep oil and gas workers safe, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has renewed its 2008 alliance with the Permian Basin Service, Transmission, Exploration and Production Safety Network in Midland.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration today awarded $10,687,000 through the Susan Harwood Training Grant Program to 78 nonprofit organizations, including community- and faith-based groups, employer associations, labor unions, joint labor-management associations, and colleges and universities.

SAN ANTONIO — Roma Construction Inc., a stucco plastering subcontractor of Monticello Homes, is being cited for five repeat and seven serious violations by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The company exposed workers to falls hazards of up to 20 feet as a result of improper scaffolding at the Hastings Ridge at Kinder Ranch residential development. The proposed penalty is $79,200.

SAGINAW, Mich. — Aleda E. Lutz Veterans Administration Medical Center employees in Saginaw were exposed to asbestos, bloodborne pathogens and unsafe operation of powered industrial vehicles, a U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspection found.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration today awarded $10,687,000 through the Susan Harwood Training Grant Program to 78 nonprofit organizations, including community- and faith-based groups, employer associations, labor unions, joint labor-management associations, and colleges and universities.