SEATTLE — A contractor for the U.S. Department of Energy's Hanford nuclear facility in Washington state has been ordered to reinstate an environmental specialist and pay more than $220,000 in back wages and other expenses after it fired the employee for voicing nuclear and environmental safety concerns, a violation of federal whistleblower provisions.

AUBURN, Ala. — Based in Auburn, Gonzalez Stucco & Stone LLC has been cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for four repeat and one serious safety violation following an inspection at a residential construction site at 283 Bentley Court. The agency initiated the June 2014 inspection as part of its National Emphasis Program on Falls. Proposed penalties total $54,120.

MOLINE, Ill. — McLaughlin Body Co. has been cited for exposing workers to amputation hazards at the company's two plants in Rock Island and East Moline. The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration initiated the inspections in March 2014 after receiving complaints alleging unsafe working conditions at both plants. The inspection found nine serious violations carrying proposed penalties of $43,000.

HICKORY, N.C. — The U.S. Department of Labor has entered into a settlement agreement with Gaines Motor Lines Inc., as well as individuals Tim Gaines and Rick Tompkins, to resolve findings made by the department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration alleging that four former truck drivers were terminated for participating in an inspection audit, in violation of the whistleblower protection provision of the Surface Transportation Assistance Act.

Kevin Burke Home Improvement faces more than $56,000 in proposed penalties

BUFFALO, N.Y. — A home improvement business based in Hamburg was found to have repeatedly exposed its employees to potentially fatal falls of 20 feet or more at a Lackawanna work site, according to the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Kevin Burke Home Improvement was cited for five serious and two willful safety violations, with total proposed penalties of $56,400.

PONTIAC, Mich. — Asphalt Specialists Inc. has been found in violation of the Surface Transportation Assistance Act by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for wrongfully terminating a foreman and two truck drivers. They had raised safety concerns after being directed to violate U.S. Department of Transportation mandated hours of service for commercial truck drivers.

PONTIAC, Mich. — Asphalt Specialists Inc. has been found in violation of the Surface Transportation Assistance Act by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for wrongfully terminating a foreman and two truck drivers. They had raised safety concerns after being directed to violate U.S. Department of Transportation mandated hours of service for commercial truck drivers.

SAVOY, Ill. — Roofing contractor Juan Manuel Antonio-Martinez has been cited for three willful safety violations for exposing workers to fall hazards at two separate residential home sites in Savoy on March 26, 2014, and April 9, 2014. The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has proposed penalties of $85,800. This is the fifth time OSHA has cited the company for similar violations in the past three years.

AVON LAKE, Ohio — Perry Fiberglass Products Inc. has been cited for four repeat and nine serious safety and health violations after the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration received a complaint alleging unsafe handling of hazardous chemicals at the company's Avon Lake facility. OSHA initiated an inspection Feb. 5, 2014, at the facility, which manufactures fiberglass pipes and tanks. Proposed penalties total $53,130.

ST. LOUIS, Mo. — The Mason Contractors Association of St. Louis and the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration have renewed a partnership focused on training employers and workers about hazards masonry workers face daily on the job including fall, electrical, trenching and struck-by hazards.

JESUP, Ga. — Sarah Jones, a 27-year-old camera assistant, was killed and eight other workers were injured while trying to escape an oncoming freight train during the filming of a scene on Feb. 20 for the movie "Midnight Rider," a biopic based on the life of musician Gregg Allman. Film Allman LLC of Pasadena, California, was cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for one willful and one serious safety violation for exposing employees to struck-by and fall hazards.

JESUP, Ga. — Sarah Jones, a 27-year-old camera assistant, was killed and eight other workers were injured while trying to escape an oncoming freight train during the filming of a scene on Feb. 20 for the movie "Midnight Rider," a biopic based on the life of musician Gregg Allman. Film Allman LLC of Pasadena, California, was cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for one willful and one serious safety violation for exposing employees to struck-by and fall hazards.

BATON ROUGE, La. — Protecting workers from construction hazards is the goal of a renewed alliance agreement between the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Associated Builders and Contractors, Pelican Chapter in Baton Rouge.

WELCH, W. Va. — A January 2014 investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration revealed that correctional officers and other staff at McDowell medium-security federal prison in Welch were allegedly exposed to bloodborne pathogens and other workplace safety and health hazards. OSHA issued notices to the Federal Correctional Institution at McDowell, a part of the U.S. Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Prisons.

BATON ROUGE, La. – Protecting workers from construction hazards is the goal of a renewed alliance agreement between the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Associated Builders and Contractors, Pelican Chapter in Baton Rouge.

WELCH, W. Va. – A January 2014 investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration revealed that correctional officers and other staff at McDowell medium-security federal prison in Welch were allegedly exposed to bloodborne pathogens and other workplace safety and health hazards. OSHA issued notices to the Federal Correctional Institution at McDowell, a part of the U.S. Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Prisons.

Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center inspected after worker complaints

NEW YORK – Employees of Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center in Brooklyn were exposed to head, eye, face and groin injuries and intimidation and threats during routine interactions with patients and visitors. The employer failed to protect employees adequately against workplace violence, an inspection by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has found.

TOLEDO. — Exel Inc.'s automotive parts warehouse and distribution center in Toledo, which distributes Chrysler brand parts, has been cited for one repeat and two serious safety violations involving unsafe operation of powered industrial vehicles. The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration initiated the inspection Feb. 12, 2014, after receiving complaints of a forklift incident at the facility. No injuries were reported. Proposed penalties total $52,500.;

Plastic Systems LLC fined $174,240