In the week ending July 28, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 218,000, an increase of 1,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 217,000. The 4-week moving average was 214,500, a decrease of 3,500 from the previous week's unrevised average of 218,000.

ORANGE CITY, FL – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited Pavemax Corp. for safety violations after an employee suffered fatal injuries at an Orange City worksite.

OSHA inspectors determined that a paver operator lacked proper training to use the equipment, and was allowed to stand on the equipment while it was in motion, and subsequently fell and was pulled under the paver.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) today announced that it is accepting nominations to serve on the Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Benefit Plans, known as the ERISA Advisory Council. The terms of five Council members expire on Dec. 31, 2018.

DETROIT, MI – The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) is conducting a building construction survey in the metropolitan counties of Michigan to collect data to establish prevailing wage rates, as required under the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts. The survey covers active building construction projects in metropolitan counties between April 1, 2017, and March 31, 2018. It is not limited to federally funded construction projects.

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division and the Department of Labor (DOL) expanded their collaboration to better protect U.S. workers from discrimination by employers that prefer to hire temporary visa workers over qualified U.S. workers. This new partnership, memorialized in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), establishes protocols for the agencies to share information, refer matters between them, and train each other's employees, with the goal of better protecting U.S. workers.

PORTLAND, OR – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Vigor Marine Inc. for 16 willful and serious violations following an inspection at the shipbuilder's Portland, Oregon, facility. The company faces proposed penalties totaling $370,358.

PUNXSUTAWNEY, PA - Benjamin D. Coblentz, a Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania forestry and logging company, will pay $26,985 in civil money penalties after the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) found violations of child labor provisions in the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) during an investigation of a serious injury sustained by an employee under the age of 16.

LITTLE ROCK, AR – The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas has ordered Macuil's Tire And Service Center LLC and owner Sergio Macuil to pay $76,648 in back wages and liquidated damages to 12 employees for willful violations of the overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The employer was also assessed a $14,160 civil penalty.

ARLINGTON, VA – The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) will hold six public stakeholder meetings and a webinar on the Agency's Request for Information (RFI) on Safety Improvement Technologies for Mobile Equipment at Surface Mines, and for Belt Conveyors at Surface and Underground Mines. The RFI was published in the Federal Register on June 26, 2018.

NEW KENSINGTON, PA – The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) will host an outreach event on Aug. 22, 2018, in New Kensington, Pennsylvania, to inform current and former nuclear weapons workers from 25 facilities in the state about the benefits available to them under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA). Workers' family members may be entitled to benefits and are encouraged to participate. 

OKLAHOMA CITY– The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Patterson-UTI Drilling, Crescent Consulting LLC, and Skyline Directional Drilling LLC for exposing employees to fire and explosion hazards after five employees suffered fatal injuries.

WICHITA, KS – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Gavilon Grain LLC – operator of a grain bin based in Wichita, Kansas – after two workers were fatally engulfed in a soybean storage bin. The company faces proposed penalties of $507,374, and OSHA has placed Gavilon Grain LLC in the Agency's Severe Violator Enforcement Program.

SAN DIEGO, CA – Ziegler Inc. – a Santa Ana, California, garage door supplier – will pay $55,764 owed to 43 employees after a U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation found the employer violated minimum wage and overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

WASHINGTON, DC – As the Trump Administration works to equip Americans with necessary skills for family-sustaining jobs, the U.S. Department of Labor today announced the next step in the effort to expand the successful apprenticeship model to new industries and to industry sectors with few apprenticeships. Today's action creates the framework for the creation of high-quality industry-recognized apprenticeship programs.

DALLAS, TX – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Manhattan Construction Company recently signed a partnership to help protect approximately 1,000 workers during construction of Globe Life Field in Arlington. The 1.7 million-square-foot project will be the new home of the Texas Rangers, Major League Baseball organization.

TYLER, TX – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Berry Marble Company Inc. – doing business as U.S. Granite – for exposing employees to machine hazards. The Tyler, Texas, natural stone countertop manufacturer faces $318,687 in proposed penalties.

MEMPHIS, TN – An investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) has found Memphis-based public charter school KIPP: Memphis Collegiate High School violated the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) when the school district terminated an employee after denying her right to take time off for a condition that qualified for protected leave. The school district has paid the employee $39,886 in lost wages.

In the week ending July 21, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 217,000, an increase of 9,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 207,000 to 208,000. The 4-week moving average was 218,000, a decrease of 2,750 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 250 from 220,500 to 220,750.

DALLAS, TX – U.S. District Court Judge Ed Kinkeade has ordered Design Plastering West LLC to pay criminal and civil penalties for criminal violations of occupational safety and health standards after an employee suffered a fatal fall at an apartment complex in Dallas. The court ordered the company to pay a $150,000 criminal fine, $100,000 civil penalty, admit to eight willful violations, and to undergo monitoring by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for four years.

NEW CASTLE, DE – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Wilmington Fibre Specialty Company Inc. for exposing employees at its New Castle, Delaware, facility to workplace safety hazards. The company faces $146,152 in proposed penalties.