August 21, 2015

WHD News Brief: US Department of Labor files suit alleging restaurant classified some employees as volunteers [08/21/2015]

Type of Action: Fair Labor Standards Act Lawsuit

Name of Defendant: Cathedral Buffet Inc., and Ernest Angley, 2690 State Road, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio

August 20, 2015

OSHA News Release: 23-year-old worker loses part of finger in machine [08/20/2015]

PAINESVILLE, Ohio — A 23-year-old machine operator making nuts and bolts suffered a partial amputation of his right middle finger when it was caught in a machine at a Painesville manufacturer. He had only three weeks' experience with the equipment when the injury occurred.

August 19, 2015

OSHA News Release: Hannaford Supermarkets acts to prevent musculoskeletal injuries for warehouse employees in Maine and New York [08/19/2015]

BOSTON — Before consumers get to choose products in the supermarket, workers in warehouses nationwide pack bulk quantities of merchandise onto wooden pallets and load them onto delivery trucks. The nature of this work puts the people who do it at risk for serious sprains, strains and other musculoskeletal injuries. One supermarket chain, Maine-based Hannaford Supermarkets, has chosen to address the issue.

August 18, 2015

One-year anniversary of respirable coal dust rule shows reforms are working

MSHA's Main: Miners better protected with industry compliance at 99 percent

August 18, 2015

Labor Department files suit against Steven J. Watkins and Oxford Holdings Inc. alleging that they kept employees' contributions to retirement plan

Date of action: Aug. 7, 2015

Type of action: Complaint

Name(s) of defendant(s): Steven J. Watkins, Oxford Holdings Inc., and Aetna 401(k) Plan

August 18, 2015

Court orders Gulf Shores Marina LLC and fiduciaries to compensate GSM/RYS 401(k) Plan for failure to remit employee contributions

Date of Action: Aug. 4, 2015

Type of Action: Consent Judgment and Order

Name(s) of Defendant(s): Gulf Shores Marina LLC, Laura M. Prioli, Stephen C. Main, Kenneth A. Main II, and the GSM/RYS 401(k) Plan 

August 18, 2015

Perez v. Clark V. Hayes, Default Judgment involving the Applied Technology Systems, Inc. Retirement Plan in Cleveland, Ohio

Date of Action: July 10, 2015

Type of Action: Default Judgment

Names of Defendant: Applied Technology Systems, Inc. and Clark V. Hayes, individually and as fiduciaries to the Applied Technology Systems, Inc. Retirement Plan, and the Applied Technology Systems, Inc. Retirement Plan

August 18, 2015

OSHA News Brief: Alabama trucking company misclassified workers as independent contractors [08/18/2015]

Employer to pay 63 employees nearly $113K in back wages and damages following Labor Department investigation

Employer name: Fitzhugh Contracting LLC

Investigation site: 30513 Highway 43 South, Gallion, Alabama 36742

August 18, 2015

WHD News Release: Puerto Rico Coffee Roasters owes nearly $68K in back wages, damages and penalties after US Labor Department investigation [08/18/2015]

GUAYNABO, Puerto Rico — If you live in Puerto Rico, the coffee you drink was likely harvested, packed and shipped by workers who toil long hours daily, but who don't always receive the pay to which they are entitled.

August 18, 2015

WHD News Release: California court rulings send clear message to employers who misclassify workers as 'independent contractors' [08/18/2015]

SAN FRANCISCO — Two recent and very significant legal victories for California workers send a strong message to employers nationwide: if you misclassify your employees, you will face the consequences.

August 18, 2015

OSHA News Brief: OSHA cites A and W Roofing for exposing workers to fall hazards [08/18/2015]

Employer name: A & W Roofing LLC.8071 Parkman Mespo RoadMiddlefield, Ohio8071 Parkman Mespo RoadMiddlefield, Ohio

Investigation site: 12504 Saddlebrook Strongsville, Ohio

August 18, 2015

OSHA News Brief: Pallet rental company fined nearly $59K by OSHA for fail to protect employees from noise hazards at Hazelton depot [08/18/2015]

Employer name: Peco Pallet Inc., a pallet repair and rental company, located at 1104 North Park Drive in Hazelton, Pennsylvania

Citations issued: On August 14, 2015, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued one willful, two serious, and one other-than-serious health citations.

August 18, 2015

OSHA News Brief: Cleveland manufacturer exposes workers to amputation, other hazards [08/18/2015]

Employer name: Voss Industries LLC

Investigation site: 2168 W. 25th Street, Cleveland, Ohio

Investigation findings: The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Cleveland Office issued 12 serious and one other-than-serious safety violations to Voss Industries LLC, an aircraft component and product manufacturer. The company received those citations, Aug. 7.

The serious violations include:

August 18, 2015

MSHA News Release: One-year anniversary of respirable coal dust rule shows reforms are working [08/18/2015]

ARLINGTON, Va. — One year ago this month, the landmark respirable dust rule went into effect, adding a number of increased protections for coal miners and closing several loopholes that masked their exposure to unhealthy coal mine dust.

August 18, 2015

EBSA News Brief: Labor Department files suit against Steven J. Watkins and Oxford Holdings Inc. alleging that they kept employees' contributions to retirement plan [08/18/2015]

Date of action:Aug. 7, 2015

Type of action: Complaint

Name(s) of defendant(s): Steven J. Watkins, Oxford Holdings Inc., and Aetna 401(k) Plan

August 18, 2015

EBSA News Brief: Court orders Gulf Shores Marina LLC and fiduciaries to compensate GSM/RYS 401(k) Plan for failure to remit employee [08/18/2015]

Date of Action: Aug. 4, 2015

Type of Action: Consent Judgment and Order

Name(s) of Defendant(s): Gulf Shores Marina LLC, Laura M. Prioli, Stephen C. Main, Kenneth A. Main II, and the GSM/RYS 401(k) Plan

August 17, 2015

WHD News Brief: US Department of Labor recovers $176K in wages, damages for
76 nurses employed by Michigan's Friends Who Care
[08/17/2015]

Type of Action: Consent Judgment

Name of Defendant: Friends Who Care Inc., Gayle Busselle

Resolution: A total of 76 current and former nurses employed by Friends Who Care Inc. are receiving $176,228 in back wages and liquidated damages under terms of a Consent Judgment entered in federal court in Flint, Michigan, Aug. 14.

August 17, 2015

OSHA News Brief: Pipe insulator and staffing agency cited for exposing workers to amputation hazards in Houston [08/17/2015]

OSHA cites Rock Wool Manufacturing Co. and C and C Personnel LLC; fines total $85,950

Employers' names: Rock Wool Manufacturing Co. and C and C Personnel LLC in Houston, Texas

Citations issued: Aug. 17, 2015