November 15, 2021

Largest US pork processor agrees to develop, implement infectious disease preparedness plan, health training for workers

SIOUX FALLS, SD Smithfield Packaged Meats Corp. – the country’s largest pork processor – has agreed to assemble a team of company and third-party experts to develop an infectious disease preparedness plan that the company will implement at all of its processing facilities nationwide.

November 12, 2021

Sunpro Solar’s owner cited again for exposing workers to fall hazards after investigation at Naples work site; faces $160K in penalties

NAPLES, FL Despite being cited twice in two years for exposing workers to dangerous fall hazards, one of the nation’s leading residential solar panel installation contractors has again violated federal workplace safety requirements, this time at a Naples work site.

November 9, 2021

Amid national increase, US Department of Labor urges Midwest employers to emphasize electrical safety after 4 workplace deaths in Missouri, Kansas

KANSAS CITY, MO ‒ Electrical hazards killed four workers in Missouri and Kansas in five months in 2021. In Missouri, on Oct. 4, a 40-year-old electrical contractor replacing light fixtures in Sedalia. On Sept. 23, a 22-year-old worker cleaning a Higbee pig barn with a pressure washer. In Wichita, Kansas, a 41-year-old doing heating and air conditioning work on July 13, and a month earlier, a 35-year-old electrical contractor climbing a pole in Lawrence, Kansas, on June 8.

November 9, 2021

US Department of Labor cites Connecticut aircraft parts manufacturer for failing to protect employees from toxic substance exposures

HARTFORD, CT – A Connecticut aircraft parts manufacturer did not take required steps to identify potential exposures and protect employees from hexavalent chromium and cadmium – both known carcinogens – at its Bloomfield facility, a U.S. Department of Labor workplace safety inspection has found.

November 8, 2021

Texas hotel operator agrees to pay back wages, damages to worker fired after reporting unsafe work conditions, seeking medical help

HOUSTON – All Seasons Hospitality and Investments LLC and owner Tanvir Shahmohd, operator of a Houston-area hotel, has agreed to pay an employee back wages and damages following a U.S. Department of Labor whistleblower investigation.

November 8, 2021

US Department of Labor proposes $200K in fines after 2 workers suffer injuries in separate incidents at northern Wisconsin foundry

MARINETTE, WI – Recent federal safety inspections of a northern Wisconsin foundry determined workplace safety failures caused two workers to suffer severe injuries. In May, a worker lost two fingers to amputation and in July, an overhead hot metal carrier struck and injured another worker.  

November 4, 2021

US Department of Labor, stakeholders sign partnership agreement to train, protect workers from construction hazards on Haribo candy factory project

PLEASANT PRAIRIE, WI – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration and Gilbane Building Co. are partnering with safety advocates and labor unions to protect the safety and health of workers during construction of a new Pleasant Prairie manufacturing facility.

November 4, 2021

US Department of Labor issues emergency temporary standard to protect workers from coronavirus

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration today announced a new emergency temporary standard to protect more than 84 million workers from the spread of the coronavirus on the job. The nation’s unvaccinated workers face grave danger from workplace exposure to coronavirus, and immediate action is necessary to protect them.

November 1, 2021

US Department of Labor, Manhattan Construction Florida collaborate to promote workplace safety at Southwest Florida International Airport Terminal Expansion Project

FORT MYERS, FL – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has signed a strategic partnership with Manhattan Construction Florida Inc. to promote worker safety and health at the Southwest Florida International Airport expansion project in Fort Myers. The University of South Florida On-site Safety and Health Consultation Program is also a partner in the effort.

November 1, 2021

US Department of Labor, El Paso staffing solutions company to continue alliance to protect workers’ safety, health

EL PASO, TX – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced its renewal of a three-year alliance with T&T Staff Management Inc. to provide construction and general industry workers and companies with whom T&T works with information about workplace hazards and resources that promote workers’ rights and safe, healthful workplaces.

October 28, 2021

US Department of Labor recognizes Lamar Advertising Co. for its continued commitment to workplace safety, health

BOSTON The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has awarded the agency’s Alliance Program Ambassador designation to Lamar Advertising Co., one of the world’s largest outdoor advertising firms. The award recognizes the company’s continued partnership with OSHA to address workplace safety and health hazards in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

October 26, 2021

US Department of Labor initiates rulemaking to protect workers, outdoors and indoors, from heat hazards amid rising temperatures

WASHINGTON, DC Record-breaking heat in the U.S. in 2021 endangered millions of workers exposed to heat illness and injury in both indoor and outdoor work environments. Workers in outdoor and indoor work settings without adequate climate-controlled environments are at risk of hazardous heat exposure, and workers of color are exposed disproportionately to hazardous levels of heat in essential jobs across these work settings.

October 22, 2021

US Department of Labor finds Mississippi concrete products manufacturer, distributor ignored safety measures in Drummonds

DRUMMONDS, TN – The death of a 67-year-old worker at a Drummonds worksite in April 2021 might have been prevented had their employer not ignored federal workplace requirements, a U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigation has found.

October 21, 2021

US Department of Labor finds Midwest trailer sales company failed to ensure workers followed measures to prevent COVID-19 spread

CALEDONIA, WI – Responding to a complaint alleging coronavirus hazards, federal workplace safety and health inspectors found a Caledonia company failed to protect workers from the virus’ dangers.  

October 21, 2021

US Department of Labor seeking nominations for newly reestablished Federal Advisory Council on Occupational Safety and Health

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor is seeking nominations for membership for the newly reestablished Federal Advisory Council on Occupational Safety and Health, which advises the Secretary of Labor on all matters relating to the occupational safety and health of federal employees.

October 21, 2021

Investigation of deadly trench collapse finds Colorado company exposed workers to excavation hazards in Johnstown

DENVER – A federal workplace safety investigation that followed a deadly trench collapse in Johnstown on April 16 has concluded a Strasburg excavation contractor failed to take required safety precautions that might have prevented the death of a 50-year-old worker.

October 20, 2021

US Department of Labor proposes $38K in fines for Illinois healthcare facility where workers were not fully protected from coronavirus hazards

BYRON, IL – An inspection at a Byron rehabilitation and post-acute care facility found the healthcare facility did not comply with federal respiratory protection requirements in the facility’s quarantine area and failed to protect workers from coronavirus hazards.

October 20, 2021

OSHA launches initiative to protect Midwest workers from occupational exposure to hazardous substances, other health hazards

KANSAS CITY, MO ‒ Occupational exposure to hazardous substances, such as asbestos, formaldehyde and cadmium, can lead to cancer and other long-term serious health diagnos

October 20, 2021

Federal investigation of employee injury finds Temple, Texas furniture manufacturer repeatedly exposed workers to amputation hazards

TEMPLE, TX – While the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has given a Temple furniture design and manufacturing company several opportunities to stop exposing its workers to amputation hazards, an investigation into a recent serious injury found little has changed.