March 22, 2022

UPDATED: US Department of Labor issues $167K in penalties to address workplace safety deficiencies after 29-year-old worker’s electrocution at Clinton TVA

Employers:                William Specialty Services LLC

                                    100 Crescent Centre Parkway, Tucker, GA 30084
 

March 22, 2022

US Department of Labor reopens rulemaking record, schedules public hearing on proposed final rule to protect healthcare workers from COVID-19 exposure

WASHINGTON The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has reopened the rulemaking record partially and scheduled an informal public hearing to seek comments on specific topics that relate to the development of a final standard to protect healthcare and healthcare support service workers from workplace exposure to the COVID-19 virus.

March 21, 2022

US Department of Labor cites Massachusetts manufacturer for safety violations after hot liquid plastic burns worker

STERLING, MA – A U.S. Department of Labor investigation found that a plastic packaging manufacturer – with a history of workplace safety and health inspections – could have prevented a worker at its Sterling facility from suffering severe burns if they had complied with OSHA’s requirements for lockout/tagout and provided personal protective equipment.

March 17, 2022

US Department of Labor sues New York ophthalmologist, practice for firing employee who reported COVID-19 hazards

ALBANY, NY – The U.S. Department of Labor filed suit against a New York ophthalmologist and his practice in Amsterdam for allegedly firing an employee who raised concerns about the practice’s failure to implement state-mandated protocols to protect employees from COVID-19, and later filed complaints with state health officials.

March 16, 2022

US Department of Labor cites Rhode Island concrete supplier for serious safety, health violations following worker fatality

PROVIDENCE, RI – A federal investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration found that a Smithfield company could have prevented a worker from suffering fatal head injuries while the worker repaired a cement truck on Oct. 21, 2021.

March 14, 2022

US Department of Labor orders ammo manufacturer to reinstate employee who voiced concerns about stock transactions, pay $597K in damages, back wages, costs

SCOTTSDALE, AZ The U.S. Department of Labor has ordered a Scottsdale, Arizona-based ammunition manufacturer to pay compensatory damages, back wages and associated costs to an employee forced from its board of directors after reporting potentially illegal stock transactions.

March 14, 2022

Pennsylvania plastic recycler faces $88K in fines for exposing workers to combustible dust hazards following US Department of Labor inspection

Employer name: PGA Inc.

Inspection site: 185 South Street, Freeland, Pennsylvania 18224

March 11, 2022

US Department of Labor investigation of amputation injury finds serious, repeat violations at Greensboro US Postal Service facility

GREENSBORO, NC An employee working as a mechanic at the U.S. Postal Service’s distribution center in Greensboro suffered a life-changing injury on Sept. 27, 2021. The worker’s arm was amputated after contacting a machine that had a safety guard removed.

March 10, 2022

US Department of Labor cites Appleton contractor – twice in 6 months – for exposing roofing workers to deadly fall hazards, as penalties mount

APPLETON, WI – Despite the serious consequences of its actions, an Appleton-based contractor was again cited for exposing  workers to deadly fall hazards after a U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspector observed six roofers atop a two-story Algoma duplex on Nov. 2, 2021 – about six months after the contractor’s last citations in June 2021.

March 10, 2022

Preventable tragedy: US Department of Labor investigation of zip-line worker’s fatal fall finds workplace safety failures

SAN DIEGO – A federal workplace safety investigation found that a 34-year-old worker’s fatal fall might have been prevented had the operator of a Pauma Valley zip-line attraction implemented required safety measures.

March 10, 2022

Federal judge orders Juan Quevedo-Garcia, one of New Jersey’s most flagrant OSHA violators, to pay $2M in penalties

PALISADES PARK, NJ – One of New Jersey’s most flagrant violators of federal workplace safety laws – who continually puts workers at risk of serious injuries or worse – is personally liable for $2 million in penalties assessed by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration, a federal administrative law judge has ruled.

March 8, 2022

US Department of Labor cites North Carolina electrical construction company after two 19-year-old apprentices fatally electrocuted in Adger

ADGER, AL – A federal workplace safety investigation into the fatal electrocutions of two 19-year-old apprentices in Adger on Aug. 31, 2021, found their employer might have prevented the incident by ensuring required safety standards were followed, and that adequate supervision and training was provided.

March 4, 2022

US Department of Labor initiative seeks to protect Midwest workers from dangers of hazardous noise levels, including permanent hearing loss

KANSAS CITY, MO ‒ More than one in 10 people endure workplace noise levels loud enough to damage their hearing while seven in 10 experience moderately loud noise levels, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports. Yet, in 2020, the bureau found that about half the nation’s workers reported

March 4, 2022

US Department of Labor announces $3.2M in Susan Harwood grants for workplace safety, health training on infectious diseases, including COVID-19

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration today announced the availability of $3.2 million in funds from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 for Susan Harwood Workplace Safety and Health Training on Infectious Diseases, Including COVID-19 grants.

March 3, 2022

US Department of Labor finds pipelayer exposed to potential trench collapse on residential construction site in Batavia, Ohio

BATAVIA, OH ‒ An employer installing sanitation sewer pipes in a 15-foot-deep trench in Batavia exposed its employees to the hazard of collapsing walls by not installing trench safety boxes.

March 2, 2022

US Department of Labor, Brasfield & Gorrie Construction to promote workplace safety, health at Alabama construction site

MCCALLA, ALThe U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has signed a strategic partnership with Brasfield & Gorrie Construction to promote worker safety and health during the construction of the University of Alabama’s Medical West project in McCalla. The University of Alabama SafeState is also supporting the partnership.

March 2, 2022

US Labor Department orders Calabasas private aviation provider to pay $958K to former worker who suffered retaliation for reporting safety concerns

LOS ANGELES – The U.S. Department of Labor has ordered a California business aviation provider to pay $958,000 in back wages and associated costs, and correct misinformation about a former employee who the employer retaliated against after they reported flight safety issues.