WASHINGTON – As the holiday season approaches, the U.S.

WAXAHACHIE, Texas — Southern Grouts and Mortars Inc. has been cited for eight safety and health violations by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration after a May 2014 follow-up inspection found repeat violations at its Waxahachie facility. Proposed penalties total $58,520.

CANTON, Ohio — Employees at all three of TimkenSteel Corp.'s Canton plants were found by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration to be exposed to amputation and fall hazards. OSHA issued 12 serious safety violations, which carry proposed penalties of $77,000. The inspections were initiated following employee complaints alleging unsafe working conditions.

OMAHA, Neb. — To educate employers and workers about highly hazardous chemicals, including formaldehyde and methylene chloride, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration is launching a local emphasis program in Nebraska. The program will include programmed health inspections at funeral homes, chemical and product manufacturing plants, printing facilities and outpatient care centers.

PORTAGE, Wis. — Workers cleaning a chemical spill at Penda Corp. in Portage had not been trained in proper cleanup procedures or provided proper personal protective equipment, according to an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration. OSHA found that workers experienced symptoms of overexposure to an isocyanates chemical used in plastics manufacturing that can cause occupational asthma and other lung problems, as well as irritation of the eyes, nose, throat and skin.

SWEETWATER, Texas — For exposing workers to struck-by, electrical and unguarded machine hazards, Texas TST Inc. is being cited for 13 safety violations by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Proposed penalties total $47,600.

AMARILLO, Texas — Following a complaint about unsafe working conditions, Spradling LP has been cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for 13 serious safety and health violations for exposing workers to falls, struck-by, electric shock hazards and failing to guard rotating machinery parts at its Channing drilling site near Amarillo. Proposed penalties total $46,200.

CLEVELAND —— A 45-year-old machine operator was fatally crushed while he adjusted a set screw on a rolling mill at Cleveland Track Material on Aug. 21, 2014. The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigation found workers were exposed to dangerous rotating machinery parts at the facility that rolls steel for railroad industry use. Seven serious violations have been issued as a result of the investigation.

ELK GROVE VILLAGE, Ill. — Holder Construction Co. and the U.S.

ELKHART LAKE, Wis. — A 55-year-old worker was found unresponsive in a restroom at Bremer Manufacturing Co. Inc. on May 6, 2014, and later died. The man, who had been employed at the Elkhart Lake foundry for the past 38 years, worked with resin-containing isocyanates on the sand molding line. Following an inspection, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration found that the company failed to train workers on the physical and health hazards of chemicals in the workplace.

WATERSOUND, Fla. — Southern Wood Works LLC was cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for five safety violations following an August 2014 inspection at a Compass Point Way residence in Watersound. Citations were issued for failure to provide employees with fall protection equipment and exposure to falls from heights of up to 17 feet. OSHA initiated the inspection as part of its Regional Emphasis Program on Falls in Construction. Proposed penalties total $71,069.

PARIS, Ill. — Workers were exposed to combustible cornstarch dust, dust particles in excess of permissible exposure limits and other hazards at Septimus Inc. The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited the company for 21 serious safety and health violations, carrying proposed penalties of $46,400. A complaint prompted the inspection at the facility, which processes cornstarch for use in laundry detergent and other products.

PHILADELPHIA — Bricklayers were exposed to fall hazards as high as 30 feet above the ground while creating the exterior finish of new single-family dwellings at two work sites in Philadelphia, according to workplace safety and health citations issued against Vyacheslav Leshko, doing business as T and S Masonry LLC. U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration officials conducted the inspections after inspectors from the Philadelphia Department of License and Inspections made referrals to the department.

CONWAY, Ark. — For exposing workers to struck-by, amputation and electric shock hazards, custom design and packaging manufacturer AGE Industries Ltd. is being cited for 14 safety violations, with a proposed penalty of $78,500, by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — A "Hair Hang Act" performance during a Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus show on May 4 in Providence took a disastrous turn when the apparatus the performers were hanging from suddenly fell to the ground. An investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has determined this incident occurred because the carabiner used to support the performers failed from being improperly loaded.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Service and maintenance machine workers at Good Old Days Foods Inc. are being exposed to amputation and electric shock hazards due to a lack of machine guarding and lockout/tagout procedures. These violations, 14 in total, are being cited by the U.S.

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus cited for serious safety violation

ELGIN, Ill. — Bosco Custom Homes Inc. has again been cited for failure to provide fall protection to workers on three separate residential framing projects. The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited the company for 30 violations, including three willful, 20 serious and seven repeat safety violations. Proposed penalties total $174,240.

CHICAGO — A 31-year-old engineer was fatally injured on May 27, 2014, when his head was struck by an unguarded rotating gear arm on a piece of bakery equipment at Alpha Baking Co. Inc. The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited the Chicago baking plant for six serious safety violations following the tragic incident.

HANOVER, Pa. — Two workers are killed every month in trench collapses. Employees of C & G Refrigeration Inc. were twice exposed to many of the hazards that lead to this alarming statistic, according to investigations by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration. In April 2013, OSHA cited C & G, a Hanover plumbing, heating and air conditioning contractor, with four safety violations after a trench collapse at a work site in Hanover.