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.

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.

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.

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.

BURLESON, Texas — KWS Manufacturing Co. Ltd. was cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for 17 safety and health violations after a worker was killed at the Burleson-based company in December 2013.

BOISE, Idaho — After becoming entangled in mixing equipment used for cattle feed, an Anderson Farms employee died from mass trauma in Heyburn on Feb. 11, 2014. The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigated the facility after the incident and found five safety violations, including three serious.

BOSTON — Metro-North Commuter Railroad Co. violated the anti-discrimination provisions of the Federal Railroad Safety Act between 2011 and 2013 when it disciplined seven Connecticut employees for following their physicians' instructions, investigations by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration determined.

HOUSTON, Texas — Continental Manufacturing Co. Inc., doing business as Continental Mixer, has been cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for 35 safety and health violations, including failure to implement lockout/tagout procedures to protect workers who service or maintain machines and failure to maintain occupational noise exposure limits.

OSHA partners with 25K businesses to prevent falls in construction and save lives

HOUSTON, Texas — Tanner Timber Services LLC was cited with five violations, including one willful, by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for failing to protect workers from hazardous, unguarded machines. An employee was struck and killed by a piece of lumber in excess of 800 pounds that kicked out of a machine at the company's Kountze facility.

BRAINTREE, Mass. — A 46-year-old worker at a Boston steel fabrication shop died on Dec. 9, 2013, when a 12,000-pound steel bridge arch beam that he was spray painting fell and crushed him. An investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration found that his employer, Boston Bridge & Steel Inc., failed to ensure that the fallen beam and three similar beams were adequately braced or supported to prevent them from falling while workers painted them.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — American Made Tires, an Elmira Heights, tire retreader, failed to correct 12 hazards cited during a 2013 inspection by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Because of that inaction, and the discovery of new and recurring hazards during a follow-up OSHA inspection, the company faces an additional $160,280 in proposed fines.

AUSTIN, Texas — Lindamood Demolition Inc. and Texas Cutting & Coring were both cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for a total of five violations, including two willful, following the death of a skid-steer loader operator during the redevelopment of Kyle Field Stadium at Texas A&M University.

CHICAGO — For the second time this year, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Pan-Oceanic Engineering Co. Inc. for failing to protect workers from trenching hazards at a job site at East 93rd Street and South Woodlawn Avenue in Chicago. OSHA cited the company for willful violations for again failing to protect workers from trench cave-ins while installing water and sewer lines in November 2013. Proposed penalties total $147,000.

PARK FALLS, Wis. — The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Flambeau River Papers for failing to protect workers from hazards associated with exposure to sulfur dioxide at the Park Falls paper mill. Sulfur dioxide is used in treating wood pulp for paper manufacturing and can cause numerous adverse effects to the respiratory tract when vapors are inhaled. OSHA cited eight violations, carrying proposed penalties of $42,300.

"Water. Rest. Shade." and acclimatization are critical in preventing heat illness and fatalities