Employment Benefits Plan of Remodel King Construction in Rapid City, SD

Date of Action: May 6, 2014

Type of Action: Complaint

Names of Defendant: Remodel King Construction Inc., Scott D. Sogge, Remodel King Construction Inc. SARSEP Plan

BOISE, Idaho — After a worker was seriously injured from a fall at a construction site, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited TKO Inc., doing business as TKO Custom Homes, with three serious and one willful violation related to fall hazards. OSHA began its inspection of the Twin Falls-based company in November 2013. The employer faces $27,600 in proposed fines for the violations.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Following the death of 23-year-old construction worker Kyle Brown, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration found that his employer, Watertown-based general construction contractor MTL Design Inc., failed to provide and ensure the use of fall protection safeguards that would have prevented his death. OSHA cited the company for a willful and a serious violation.

Western Steel Erection 401(k) Plan to restore more than $5,900 in benefits

Date of Action: May 6, 2014

Type of Action: Consent Judgment and Order

Names of Defendant: Stephanie J. Jochims and Robert C. Jochims

Allegations: The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a consent judgment ordering Stephanie J. Jochims, the former owner of Western Steel Erection, Inc., and her husband Robert C. Jochims, to restore $5,957 in employee retirement contributions and loan repayments to the Western Steel Erection 401(k) Plan. The company was located in Long Lake, Minn.

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. — A Stamford-based contractor faces $196,000 in fines for two willful and 12 serious violations following an inspection by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Cesar Mendoza, d.b.a.

COSHOCTON, Ohio — A follow-up inspection by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration at San Cast Inc. found workers still exposed to amputation and fall hazards at the Coshocton, Ohio, casting and foundry facility. The facility was previously cited after a worker suffered a leg amputation in June 2013. OSHA has issued 17 additional violations, carrying proposed penalties of $155,900 as a result of the November 2013 inspection.

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. — A Stamford-based contractor faces $196,000 in fines for two willful and 12 serious violations following an inspection by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Cesar Mendoza, d.b.a.

MINNEAPOLIS — Workers at the Hibachi Buffet Inc. will be paid a total of $117,152 in back wages following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division. The investigation revealed violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act's minimum wage, overtime and record-keeping provisions. Kitchen workers typically worked 60 hours per week for a fixed monthly salary, often earning far less than the legally required minimum wage of $7.25 per hour.

AUSTIN, Texas — After a worker's leg was entangled in an auger in November 2013, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigated the safety and health practices of American Plant Food Corp.'s Bartlett facility. OSHA issued citations for 12 violations and proposed a penalty of $181,000 for exposing employees to workplace hazards by failing to implement proper energy control procedures that protect workers who service or maintain machines.

SOMERSET, N.J. — After a follow-up inspection that began in October 2013, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Rasi Laboratories Inc. for failing to correct previously cited serious violations. The violations included failing to protect workers from dangerous levels of noise that can cause permanent hearing loss and failing to protect them from dangerous equipment. Following the inspection, the nutritional supplement manufacturer faces a $210,000 proposed penalty.

ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today released a summary of U.S. mining deaths that occurred during the first quarter of 2014. From Jan. 1 to March 31, eight miners died in accidents in the U.S. mining industry. Three were killed in coal mining accidents and five in metal and nonmetal mining accidents. The previous quarter was marked by 15 deaths and an increase in the metal and nonmetal sector.

EL PASO, Texas — As part of its continuing effort to keep workers safe and healthy by improving working conditions for construction workers, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has renewed its 2007 strategic partnership with the El Paso Chapter of the Associated General Contractors of America.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez issued the following statement about the April 2014 Employment Situation report released today:

"This morning's report demonstrates that the economy continues to rebound after a brutal recession that began in 2007. The economy generated 288,000 new jobs in April. The 273,000 created by private employers brings us to 9.2 million total new private-sector jobs over the last 50 months. Unemployment fell to 6.3 percent, the lowest since September 2008.

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration today announced updates to model notices informing workers of their eligibility to continue health-care coverage through the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act. The updates make it clear to workers that if they are eligible for COBRA continuation coverage when leaving a job, they may choose to instead purchase coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace.

Date of Action: April 22, 2014

Type of Action: Consent Judgment

Name(s) of Defendant(s): Timothy A. Clark, Central Pennsylvania Pulmonary Associates LLC and Central Pennsylvania Pulmonary Associates LLC 401(k) plan

Pro Systems Corp. Group Health Plan

Date of Action: April 29, 2014

Type of Action: Complaint

Names of Defendant: Pro Systems Corp., Pro Resources Corp., MICROPRO Inc., James Piche, Michael Brodsho, Pro Systems Corporation Group Health Plan 

Date of Action: April 16, 2014

Type of Action: Default Judgment

Name(s) of Defendant(s): Samuel McCutchin, Cynthia Lindenman, Snyder Heating Co., and Snyder Heating Co. 401(k) plan

Allegations: Based on an investigation conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration, on Sept. 19, 2013, the Secretary of Labor filed a complaint alleging as follows:

LAS VEGAS — The U.S. Department of Labor and other federal agencies will participate in a town hall meeting on May 6 in Pahrump, and two town hall meetings on May 6 and May 7 in Las Vegas, to provide current and former nuclear weapons workers, including those who worked at the Nevada Test Site, with information about the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act.

HOUSTON — The U.S.

BARTONVILLE, Ill. — Five Star Commercial Roofing Inc. has been cited for a willful safety violation after exposing workers to fall hazards of 29 feet at a commercial roofing project in Bartonville. The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration found workers exposed during a March 3 investigation and proposed civil penalties of $49,000.