WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of approximately $44 million in grants through the Face Forward program to provide work-based learning opportunities and support services for youth ages 14 to 24 who have been through the juvenile justice system.

GREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colo. — Reconstruction Experts Inc. was cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for three safety violations, including one willful. Chivas Contractors was also cited for three serious safety violations during a November 2013 complaint inspection of an unsafe trenching work site in Aurora. The combined proposed penalties total $81,400.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez today announced the appointments of five new members to the 2014 Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Benefit Plans, known as the ERISA Advisory Council. He also announced the 2014 chair and vice chair of the council, which are Neal S. Schelberg and Paul M. Secunda respectively.

LYONS, Ill. — Employees of Celtic Environmental Inc. were exposed to lead paint hazards while conducting abrasive blasting operations on a viaduct located at Richards and Herkimer Streets in Joliet in October 2013. The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited the company for 10 serious safety violations, carrying proposed penalties of $46,900. OSHA initiated a complaint inspection of the site under the National Emphasis Program for Lead Exposure in Construction.

CANTON, Ohio — Gaspar Inc., a boiler manufacturer, has been cited for two willful violations by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Proposed penalties total $112,000. OSHA's investigation found the company was requiring employees to operate two press brakes and a horizontal boring machine where the machine guards had been removed. Machine guarding protects workers from lacerations, caught-in and amputation hazards.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor announced today that it has entered into a conciliation agreement to address allegations of disability discrimination by a person with hearing impairments against the Colorado Department of Labor & Employment. The U.S. Labor Department's Civil Rights Center investigated allegations that a complainant with a profound hearing loss was denied communication services by Colorado's unemployment insurance program by not providing a qualified American Sign Language interpreter.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today requested public comments on a proposed rule that would require pension plan service providers to furnish employers and other plan fiduciaries with a guide to assist them in navigating fee disclosure documents.

ATLANTA — The U.S. Department of Labor's Women's Bureau is collaborating with the YWCA of Greater Atlanta and the National Center for Civil and Human rights to host the event as part of Women's Herstory Month. "The Story Behind the Story: A Fireside Chat" will take place Thursday, March 13, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. EDT at the Georgia Power Arkwright Auditorium, 241 Ralph McGill Blvd. NE, Atlanta, GA 30308.

PATERSON, N.J. — On Jan. 16, Paterson-based F&G Sons Contractors Inc., doing business as F&G Stucco and Stone Contractors Inc., was cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for two repeat and two serious safety violations for failing to provide required protective equipment and to protect workers from serious fall hazards. The company was working on a building at 231 Union Blvd. in Totowa at the time of the inspection.

CLEVELAND — New Wave Plastics has been cited for 13 safety violations after the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration found a lack of training and personal protective equipment at the Cleveland facility, a recycler and plastic products supplier. After receiving a complaint in November 2013, OSHA initiated an inspection of the facility. Proposed penalties total $51,800.

WASHINGTON — The Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Benefit Plans, also known as the Employee Retirement Income Security Act Advisory Council, will hold its first meeting of 2014 on Wednesday, March 26 in Washington, D.C., at the U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Ave. NW, Room S-2508, from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. EDT. The meeting, which is open to the public, will begin with the introduction of the new council chair and vice chair.

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

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending March 1, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 323,000, a decrease of 26,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 349,000. The 4-week moving average was 336,500, a decrease of 2,000 from the previous week's revised average of 338,500.

Date of Action: March 5, 2014

Type of Action: Complaint

Name(s) of Defendant(s):  American Therapeutic Corp. Inc., Marianella Valera, and American Therapeutic Corp. Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan

CHICAGO — The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has found Grand Trunk Western Railway Co. and Union Pacific Railroad Co. in violation of the Federal Railroad Safety Act for suspending and/or disciplining five workers following the reporting of workplace injuries or illnesses.

ALBION, Neb. — Werner Construction Inc. has been cited for three safety violations by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration after a maintenance worker was fatally injured after being struck by a front-end loader. The worker became pinned between the loader and a semitrailer. The 35-year-old full-time employee died of his injuries on Sept. 14, 2013.

DAYTON, Ohio — The U.S. Department of Labor has filed suit to recover back wages and liquidated damages for 83 workers at Dayton-area cellular phone retailers owned by Zam LLC, Reham LLC and Mohammed Rihan. An investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division found violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act's minimum wage, overtime and record-keeping provisions at the 14 retail stores operating as Zam Cricket and World Wireless. The investigation determined that the company owes $226,905 in back wages to its workers.

FINDLAY, Ohio — Pressed Paperboard Technologies LLC has been cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for nine safety and health violations at the company's Findlay facility.

The company has entered into a settlement agreement to resolve the citations that includes providing enhancements to their safety and health program to further protect employees. The company will pay penalties of $81,450.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Coastal Building Systems of Amelia Inc., in Fernandina Beach, has been cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for two repeat violations following a September 2013 inspection. OSHA found employees working on a residential roof without fall protection. Proposed penalties total $55,000.

ARLINGTON, Va. — In a meeting on March 5 with the National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association in Las Vegas, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health Joseph A. Main updated NSSGA's board of directors on recent actions taken by the Mine Safety and Health Administration to improve miner safety and health. The NSSGA represents companies that produce more than 90 percent of the crushed stone and 70 percent of the sand and gravel consumed annually in the United States.