June 29, 2016

Ohio auto parts manufacturer faces $3.42M in fines after OSHA finds company willfully exposed temporary workers to machine hazards

HEBRON, Ohio – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued 57 citations for safety violations to Sunfield Inc., an Ohio auto parts’ manufacturer. The agency has also proposed the company pay more than $3.42 million in total fines for its failure to disconnect machinery from a power supply and prevent sudden movement before maintenance and service, and to train workers in how to operate machine presses safely and to service and maintain them.

June 29, 2016

No mines eligible for a Pattern of Violations, MSHA screening shows

ARLINGTON, Va. – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration announced today that – for the first time since reforms began in 2010 – none of the nation’s more than 13,000 mining operations meets the criteria for a Pattern of Violations notice.

June 29, 2016

OSHA finds Waupaca company lacked proper precautions for using sulfur dioxide at its foundry core manufacturing, metal coating facility

Employer name: Alliance Industries Inc.
Waupaca, Wisconsin

Citations issued: June 27, 2016

Investigation findings: The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration

June 29, 2016

Labor Department obtains consent judgment to appoint an independent fiduciary for abandoned retirement plan in Columbia, South Carolina

Date of Action: June 2, 2016
June 13, 2016

Type of Action: Complaint, consent judgment and order

Name of Defendants: Greater Columbia OB-GYN P.A.
Estate of Dr. Susan Keeshan

June 28, 2016

Founding father of modern mine safety honored at centennial event

BRANSON, Mo. – More than a century ago, a legendary and passionate safety advocate had an extraordinary vision for mine safety. In the early 1900s, mining deaths were practically the rule not the exception. In fact, more than 24,000 coal miners perished in industry accidents between 1900 and 1910.

June 28, 2016

OSHA finds workers exposed to amputation dangers at San Angelo woodworking manufacturer; company, staffing agency fined $63K

Employer(s) Name(s): Terrill Manufacturing Company Inc.
A.L. Staffing Inc.

Inspection Site: 2816 Martin Luther King Dr., San Angelo, Texas 76903

Citations issued: June 24, 2016

June 28, 2016

OSHA orders tour bus operator’s former owner to pay $11K for retaliating after employee refused to drive unsafe bus

DENVER – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has ordered the former owner of Banjo Billy’s Bus Tours to pay a former employee back wages, interest and punitive damages after the agency found he terminated an employee who refused to drive an unsafe tour bus.

June 28, 2016

US Department of Labor files suit requiring fiduciaries to restore $5.9M in losses to Triple T Transport Employee Stock Ownership Plan

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A federal lawsuit alleges action taken by fiduciaries resulted in losses exceeding $5.9 million to the Triple T Transport Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Plan, directly affecting the retirement savings funds of employees of the Lewis Center, Ohio, company and violating the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.

June 28, 2016

Labor Department announces availability of $15.6M in grants to help youth, adults with disabilities to thrive in the workforce

WASHINGTON – Hoping to remove some of the obstacles that Americans with disabilities may face in their search for employment, the U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of approximately $15.6 million in grants intended to increase the participation of youth and adults with disabilities in federally funded education and training programs.

June 27, 2016

OSHA deploying assets to flood impacted West Virginia counties to ensure safety and health of workers, general public involved in cleanup efforts

PHILADELPHIA – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration is deploying assets to flood-impacted West Virginia counties to ensure employers, workers and others engaged in cleanup efforts avoid potential hazards and take steps to protect themselves.

June 27, 2016

OSHA cites Georgia masonry contractor for exposing workers on scaffolding to dangerous fall risks in 7 out of 7 inspections

Employer name: MMC Construction LLC

Inspection site: 1470 Taylor Road, Montgomery, Alabama 36117

Citations issued: Citations were issued to the employer on June 24.

June 27, 2016

MSHA launches enhanced safety standards enforcement to encourage better examinations by industry’s operators

ARLINGTON, Va. – On July 1, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration will begin enhanced enforcement of “Rules to Live By,” its initiative of standards commonly cited following mine deaths, and nine underground coal mine exam rule standards focused on the greatest risks to miners in underground coal mines.

June 27, 2016

Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez’s statement on Supreme Court denying challenge to minimum wage, overtime protections for home care workers

WASHINGTONU.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez today issued the following statement in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision not to hear a challenge to the department’s Home Care Final Rule:

“The U.S. Department of Labor’s Home Care Final Rule is vital to the nearly two million workers who provide home care services to our loved ones who wish to remain in their homes and communities.

June 24, 2016

US Labor Department announces $64.5M in grants as part of Obama administration’s efforts to break cycle of poverty, crime and incarceration

WASHINGTON – What’s next for the 600,000 people released from federal and state prisons annually, millions more leaving county and local jails, and others in danger of falling into the cycle of poverty, crime and incarceration? With the help of $64.5 million in grants announced today by the U.S. Department of Labor, the answer for some will soon be in-demand skills, access to good jobs and a stronger foundation of support within their communities.

June 23, 2016

US Labor Department announces re-opening of national grant competition for the Senior Community Service Employment Program

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor announced the re-opening of a $338 million grant competition for national organizations to provide critical job training and related services to low-income, older American workers through the Senior Community Service Employment ProgramThe 30-day extension will help ensure adequate coverage of the necessary geographic areas and associated participant slots.

June 23, 2016

Job Corps launches ready-to-work pilot program

WASHINGTON – A pilot program developed by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration on how best to provide integrated academic and technical training to economically disadvantaged youth through the Job Corps program will begin operations this fall.

June 23, 2016

Indiana watermelon packer/shipper pays more than $58K in back wages, damages to 14 workers after failing to pay overtime

Type of Action: Fair Labor Standards Act Consent Judgment

Defendant(s): Indian Hills Produce Inc. and John Toth

June 23, 2016

Silicon Valley residential care facilities violated overtime, minimum wage laws; 32 workers to receive $718K in back wages, damages

Employers: Lorraine Cerezo Lim doing business as LQC Care Home and Richlee Care Home
Luzviminda Cerezo doing business as White Oaks Manor, Cerezo Residential Care Home and Ross Senior Care Home

Sites: 427 Richlee Drive, Campbell, California
2064 Cherry Ave., San Jose, California
2991 Faircliff Court, San Jose, California
1573 Willow Oaks Drive, San Jose, California
2858 Ross Ave., San Jose, California
1680 White Oaks Ave., Campbell, California
2934 Jessie Court, San Jose, California

June 23, 2016

Virginia company to pay $1.5M in back wages, fringe benefits to 140 IT professionals to resolve US Labor Department lawsuit

WASHINGTON – A Chantilly-based technology company contracted to install audio-visual equipment at government installations nationwide will pay $1.53 million in back wages and benefits to 140 information technology professionals in federal consent findings.

June 23, 2016

OSHA announces Safety Stand-Down at worksites throughout Southeast to emphasize response to, prevention of heat-related illnesses, injuries

ATLANTA – In 2014, 2,630 workers suffered from heat illness while 18 died from heat stroke and related causes on the job – all of which was preventable.

To raise awareness about these dangers, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration, employers and trade associations will conduct a one-hour Safety Stand-Down at construction sites and workplaces in eight Southern states from June 27 to July 1, 2016.