WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration today announced a new National Emphasis Program for Nursing and Residential Care Facilities to protect workers from serious safety and health hazards that are common in medical industries. OSHA develops national emphasis programs to focus outreach efforts and inspections on specific hazards in an industry for a three-year period. Through this NEP, OSHA will target nursing homes and residential care facilities in an effort to reduce occupational illnesses and injuries.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration today announced that it is seeking applications from nonprofit organizations for authorization to provide standard classroom instruction on occupational safety and health as part of the OSHA Training Institute Education Centers Program. The national program serves private sector workers, supervisors and employers within OSHA's jurisdiction.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration is soliciting applications under the Susan Harwood Training Grant Program to fund training for workers and employers in recognizing workplace hazards and control measures, and understanding their rights and responsibilities. A total of $1.2 million is available to nonprofit, community and faith-based organizations; employer associations; labor unions; joint labor/management associations; and colleges and universities.

Regulation protects workers from dangerous chemicals,helps American businesses compete worldwide

WASHINGTON – To better protect workers from hazardous chemicals, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has revised its Hazard Communication Standard, aligning it with the United Nations' global chemical labeling system. The new standard, once implemented, will prevent an estimated 43 deaths and result in an estimated $475.2 million in enhanced productivity for U.S. businesses each year.

WASHINGTON – Moving forward with continuing efforts to strengthen employees' voices in the workplace, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration today announced a major restructuring of its Office of the Whistleblower Protection Program. The program will now report directly to the agency's Office of the Assistant Secretary instead of to its Directorate of Enforcement Programs.

SAUK VILLAGE, Ill. The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has ordered Interline Logistics Group LLC to immediately reinstate a truck driver in Sauk Village, who was terminated after reporting safety concerns about the brakes on his truck and refusing to violate U.S. Department of Transportation regulations for allowable driving and rest hours.

Summer workers repackaged Hershey candies at Palmyra, Pa., facility

Company added to Severe Violator Enforcement Program

MONROE TOWNSHIP, N.J. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Baltimore, Md.-based Vertis Communications for 12 – including two repeat – safety and health violations at its Monroe Township direct marketing facility.OSHA initiated an inspection in response to complaints alleging the hazards.Proposed penalties total $120,700.

NEWPORT, Del. – An administrative law judge with the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission has found that Newport-based Daisy Construction willfully violated the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration's trenching standards, and ordered the company to pay $59,000 in penalties.

Employees of New England grocery chain exposed to fall and laceration dangers

OSHA found airline violated whistleblower protection provision of AIR21

ARLINGTON, Va. – Preliminary data from the U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration released today reveal that 37 miners died in work-related accidents at the nation's mines in 2011. There were 21 coal mining and 16 metal/nonmetal mining fatalities last year, compared with 48 and 23, respectively, in 2010, making 2011 the year with the second-lowest number of mining deaths since statistics were first recorded in 1910.

WINESBURG, Ohio – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Case Farms Processing Inc., which operates Case Farms Chicken in Winesburg, for 61 safety and health violations. Violations related to OSHA's process safety management standards allegedly resulted in an ammonia release at the facility on June 30. Proposed fines total $288,000.

PASCAGOULA, Miss. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited government contractor Huntington Ingalls Industries International Shipbuilding Inc. and five subcontractors for a total of 50 safety and health violations. OSHA opened its inspection after receiving a complaint in June about safety hazards at the Pascagoula shipyard.

Piping Technology and Products misled OSHA about amputation hazards

HOUSTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Piping Technology and Products Inc. for 13 willful and 17 serious violations for exposing workers to the risk of amputations and other serious injuries from dangerous machinery, as well as other hazards, at the company's Houston facility. Proposed penalties total $1,013,000.

SEATTLE – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has ordered Omaha, Neb.-based Union Pacific Railroad Co. to immediately reinstate an employee in Idaho who was terminated after reporting a work-related injury. OSHA also has ordered the company to pay the employee more than $300,000 in back wages, compensatory damages, attorney's fees and punitive damages.

OSHA urges salon owners to implement protective measures

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration is continuing its efforts to protect workers from the dangers of formaldehyde exposure.

CHICAGO – The U.S. Department of Labor has reached an agreement with Haasbach LLC in Mount Carroll, resolving 25 citations issued by the department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration and child labor civil money penalties assessed by its Wage and Hour Division. The resolution follows the deaths of Wyatt Whitebread, 14, and Alex Pacas, 19, at the company's Mt. Carroll grain bin facility in July 2010. A 20-year-old worker also was seriously injured in the incident.

Employer faces nearly $33,000 in proposed fines

SAN FRANCISCO – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Guam International Country Club for 17 alleged workplace safety violations found during an inspection at the club's maintenance shop in Dededo, Guam. Proposed fines total $32,900.

Audio file with remarks can be downloaded to air on radio

WASHINGTON – Dr. David Michaels, assistant secretary of labor for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, is encouraging retail employers to take precautions to prevent worker injuries during Black Friday and other major sales events during the holiday season.

Michaels' comments are available to radio stations for broadcast. To download the audio file, visit