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

HOUSTON— — Outdoor Furniture Refinishing Inc., doing business as Allied Powder Coating, has been cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for 15 serious health and safety violations with a proposed fine of $55,440. OSHA cited the sandblasting and powder coating company for exposing workers to toxic chemicals, including silica, beyond established occupational limits.

NEW YORK — A Manhattan-based women's jewelry and accessories maker faces $47,600 in proposed penalties from the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for exposing workers to blocked exits, fire and safety hazards at its 254 W. 35th St. location. In response to a complaint alleging unsafe workplace conditions, Natasha Accessories Ltd. was cited for eight serious and three repeat violations, following an inspection by OSHA's Manhattan Area Office that began on Feb. 7.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The health and safety of workers during the construction of Arkansas State University's student activity center in Jonesboro is the goal of a new strategic partnership formed today between the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration and general contractor VCC LLC.

DETROIT — Following the death of a worker who was hit by a forklift , the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Nicholson Terminal & Dock Co. with nine — including two willful and seven serious — safety violations. The incident occurred Nov. 19, 2013, at the Detroit marine terminal when the worker was struck by a 62,000-pound-capacity forklift carrying a 40,000-pound steel coil.

JANESEVILLE, Wis. — Power Coatings LLC, a company that specializes in powder coating metal parts, has been cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for 14 serious safety violations, including failing to protect workers from toxic substances, which can cause cancer, lung impairment and other diseases. OSHA has proposed penalties of $51,800 following a December 2013 complaint inspection of Power Coatings' Janesville facility.

ANDOVER, Mass. — Powderpart Inc., a Woburn 3-D printing company, was cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for one willful and nine serious violations of workplace safety standards. The inspection followed an explosion and fire on Nov. 5, 2013, which inflicted third-degree burns on a company employee.

LUBBOCK, Texas — Tortillas Ricas LP, doing business as Casa Rica Tortillas, has been cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for 13 serious safety and health violations with proposed fines of $48,300. OSHA cited the corn tortilla manufacturer for exposing workers to unguarded machines and electrical hazards and for failing to implement lockout/tagout procedures to protect workers who service or maintain machines.

OMAHA, Neb. — The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration fined Baltazar's Stone Inc. $40,921 for exposing workers to dangerous silica dust levels and other hazards at the Omaha stone-cutting facility. Silica exposure can cause silicosis, an irreversible lung disease, and other health hazards. OSHA began the inspection Nov. 27, 2013, after receiving a complaint. The inspection resulted in 15 violations.

DENVER — Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway has been ordered to pay more than $526,000 in back wages and other damages to two workers following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

HUDSON, Ohio — Kobelco Stewart Bolling Inc., which manufactures industrial machinery, has been cited for 13 safety and health violations by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Proposed penalties at the company's Hudson facility total $139,000. OSHA's investigation was initiated following a worker complaint, and the investigation found repeat violations of machine guarding standards, which protect workers from lacerations, caught-in and amputation hazards.

WILMETTE, Ill. — Fortune Painting Co. Inc. has been cited for 25 violations by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration, including willful and repeat violations for exposing workers to dangerous levels of lead from lead-based paint. OSHA cited the company for failing to protect workers from serious fall hazards while restoring a home in Wilmette.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a lawsuit against Southwestern Bell Telephone Co. on behalf of four employees who received disciplinary action and unsatisfactory performance appraisals for reporting workplace injuries that occurred in Missouri and Kansas in 2011 and 2012.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration is soliciting applications under the Susan Harwood Training Grant Program through two separate and distinct announcements. A total of $7 million is available for nonprofit organizations, including community and faith-based organizations, employer associations, labor unions, joint labor/management associations, and colleges and universities.

GALVA, Ill. — The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has again cited All-Feed Processing and Packaging Inc. for willful and repeat violations for exposing workers to combustible and respiratory dust hazards. In addition to creating an explosion hazard, the plant's high concentration of airborne dust could cause workplace-induced asthma and other illnesses.

BAYONNE, N.J. — Roasted nut manufacturer Star Snacks Co. LLC has been cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for two willful and six serious safety violations, resulting in a $180,000 proposed penalty. The violations include overexposure to dangerous levels of carbon monoxide and noise hazards found at the company's Bayonne manufacturing facility.

BOSTON — The U.S. Department of Labor has sued Donald Pottern, doing business as Crown Furniture, of West Springfield, for allegedly firing a worker who filed a safety complaint with the department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

BLUE RIDGE, Ga. — Blue Ridge Manufacturing LLC was cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for 20 serious safety and health violations for exposing workers to safety hazards following an inspection at the company's truck body manufacturing facility in Blue Ridge. The agency initiated the March 2014 inspection because of a complaint. Penalties total $64,400.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — A 51-year-old roofer fell 17 feet to his death on Nov. 14, 2013, while performing roofing work on condominium at 57 Main St. in Stockbridge, Mass. An investigation by the Springfield Area Office of the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration found that his employer, Lee-based Fairview Contractors Inc., failed to provide fall protection and guardrails that would have prevented the fall from occurring.

CHICAGO — Grand Trunk Western Railroad Co. has been ordered to reinstate a conductor and pay him more than $244,000 in back wages and damages following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration. OSHA found that the company was in violation of the whistleblower provisions of the Federal Railroad Safety Act for terminating an employee in Flint, Mich., for failing to perform an inspection of a passing train under hazardous safety conditions.