Date of Action:  Sept. 22, 2014

Type of Action: Consent Judgment

Name(s) of Defendant(s): Nohl Crest Homes Corp., Kenneth R. Emery, Peter G. Tibma, and Nohl Crest Homes Corp. Employee Stock Ownership Plan and Jose Fernandez, Third Party Defendant

BLAINE, Kan. — Following the death of two workers from the collapse of a cell tower they were dismantling March 25, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Wireless Horizon Inc. for two willful and four serious safety violations. OSHA placed the company in the Severe Violator Enforcement Program following the incident. So far in 2014, 11 workers have lost their lives nationwide in the communication tower industry; and 13 deaths occurred in 2013.

HOLDREGE, Neb. — Two workers were injured, one fatally, after being struck-by an excavator bucket while installing stormwater drainage in a trench at the intersection of 18th and Grant Streets in Holdrege on July 17, 2014. The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited Van Kirk Sand and Gravel, which operates as Van Kirk Brothers Contracting, for two serious safety violations related to the incident.

WICHITA, Kan. — Stericycle Inc. has been found in violation of the Surface Transportation Assistance Act by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration. An investigation found the company wrongfully terminated a transportation supervisor at its Wichita terminal because the worker raised safety concerns after a driver was instructed to pull a trailer without a valid license plate.

CHICAGO — The agriculture sector accounted for 479 deaths in 2013. With a fatality rate of 22.2 for every 100,000 full-time workers, agriculture recorded the highest fatality rate of any industry sector. Additionally, more than 49,000 injuries were recorded in 2012, the last year for which statistics were available from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Agriculture employs more than 2 million people in the United States.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez issued the following statement about Eric Holder's announcement of his resignation as Attorney General of the United States:

"Eric Holder is a man of extraordinary conscience and competence. It was a unique honor to serve with him at the Justice Department, and I am enormously grateful for his unwavering commitment to the cause of civil rights and to reinvigorating the Civil Rights Division in particular.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today awarded $1 million through its Brookwood-Sago grants program to seven organizations that provide education and training within the mining industry. The funding will be used to develop and implement training and related materials for mine emergency preparedness, as well as for the prevention of accidents in all underground mines.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration put Star Mine Operations LLC's Revenue Mine in Ouray County, Colorado, on notice today of a pattern of violations of mandatory health or safety standards under Section 104(e) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977. Revenue is an underground silver ore operation.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced $14,837,785 in grants to six states to improve employment opportunities for adults and youth with disabilities. The grants to California, Illinois, Kansas, Massachusetts, Minnesota and South Dakota are being awarded as part of the Disability Employment Initiative, funded by the department's Employment and Training Administration and Office of Disability Employment Policy.

Date of Action: Sept. 22, 2014

Type of Action: Complaint, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana

Names of Defendant: Hanco Inc., doing business as Classico Seating, Harry T. Richardson Jr., the Hanco Inc. 401(k) Plan, the Hanco Inc. Health Plan and the Hanco Inc. Dental Plan

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Women's Bureau and Employment and Training Administration today awarded $500,000 to assist the District of Columbia, Massachusetts, Montana and Rhode Island in funding feasibility studies on paid leave. The studies will inform the development or implementation of paid family and medical leave programs at the state level.

BRAINTREE, Mass. — The deaths of two workers in a crane tip-over April 12, 2014, in Bourne could have been prevented if their employer, Massachusetts Bay Electrical Corp., had set up and operated the crane according to the manufacturer's instructions and trained employees in its proper operation, an inspection by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration found.

NORTH JACKSON, Ohio — A lawsuit alleging that North Jackson Specialty Steel terminated a furnace operator for reporting unsafe working conditions at its North Jackson steel mill has been filed by the U.S. Department of Labor. The suit alleges the company violated the whistleblower protection provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 and seeks restoration of lost pay and benefits, compensatory and punitive damages, and compensation for attorney and other fees.

CANTON, Ohio — Employees at Matalco US Inc. in Canton were exposed to amputation, fall hazards and unsafe crane operations, according to a U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspection. OSHA has issued two willful, one repeat and two serious safety violations, carrying proposed penalties of $130,200.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced $50,744,449 in Workforce Innovation Fund grants to improve federal job training programs. The grants will be used to deliver services more efficiently, facilitate cooperation across federal and state workforce programs and funding streams, and expand partnerships with specific employers or industry sectors to develop programs that reflect current and future skill needs.

ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced that federal inspectors issued 131 citations and 11 orders during special impact inspections conducted at 12 coal mines in August.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced $50,744,449 in Workforce Innovation Fund grants to improve federal job training programs. The grants will be used to deliver services more efficiently, facilitate cooperation across federal and state workforce programs and funding streams, and expand partnerships with specific employers or industry sectors to develop programs that reflect current and future skill needs.

PHILADELPHIA — The U.S. Department of Labor has filed suit against Philadelphia-based farm labor contractor Heng Heng Agency Inc. and its president and owner Visith Oum for wage violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act and wage, record-keeping, registration and transportation violations of the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act.

Employers' names: Glennco Excavating Inc. and Labor Ready Northwest Inc.

Citations issued: Sept. 17, 2015

MIDVILLE, Ga. — Cooksey Iron & Metal Co., doing business as Cooksey Steel Co., was cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for 20 safety and health violations following an April 2014 inspection at the company's steel storage and distribution facility on Railroad Street in Midville.