WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez issued the following statement commending the Senate's confirmation of Christopher P. Lu as deputy secretary of labor:

TUCKER, Ga. – The U.S. Department of Labor has sued Distribution by Datagen Inc., formerly known as Depawix Health Resources Inc. of Tucker, and several companies and individuals involved in the imprudent marketing and operation of a Multiple Employer Welfare Arrangement, in violation of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.

Date of Action: March 20, 2014

Type of Action: Consent Judgment and Order

Name(s) of Defendant: Louis & Riparetti Inc., Darrel Louis, and the Louis & Riparetti Retirement Plan

Allegations: The U.S. Department of Labor filed a lawsuit on April 10, 2012, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California to recover unremitted employee contributions, uncollected employer contributions, and associated lost opportunity costs for the Louis & Riparetti Inc. Retirement Plan.  

ROCKFORD, Ill. — The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Fischer Excavating Inc. for four safety violations, including one willful, for exposing workers to trenching hazards at a work site in Rockford. Proposed penalties total $58,100. OSHA initiated the November 2013 inspection under the National Emphasis Program for trenching and excavation.

BROWNTOWN, Wis. — The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Grede Wisconsin Subsidiaries LLC for three violations, including one repeat, for failing to evaluate worker exposure to respirable crystalline silica dust and other hazards at the Browntown iron foundry. Worker inhalation of silica particles can lead to the development of disabling lung diseases, such as silicosis and cancer.

GARFIELD, N.J. — The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Garfield-based East Coast Stucco & Construction Inc. for fall and scaffolding hazards found at a work site in North Brunswick, where a two-story restaurant was under construction. OSHA's November 2013 inspection was prompted by safety and health complaints regarding lack of fall protection at the site. Proposed penalties total $58,520 and include four violations for repeatedly putting workers at risk.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez today issued the following statement in observance of César Chávez Day, which is Monday, March 31:

"Today, we celebrate one of the greatest Americans of the 20th century. César Chávez's passion for social justice and his devotion to improving the lives of working people remain an inspiration 87 years after his birth.

Note: Calendar Year (CY) 2014 Seasonal Factors and revised seasonal factors and historical series for CY 2009-2013 for both initial claims and continued claims will be made available April 3, 2014, with the release of the Unemployment Insurance (UI) Weekly Claims News Release.

In addition, beginning April 10, 2014, the UI Weekly Claims News Release will be issued under a revised (.pdf) format. The new version of the release will include graphics and tables for additional information and ease of use.

Air Gage Co. 401(k) Plan & Air Gage Co. Health Care Plan in Livonia, Mich.

Date of Action: March 27, 2014

Type of Action: Petition for Civil Contempt, Order to Show Cause

Name of Defendant: Thomas Fernandes, individually and as a fiduciary to the Air Gage Company 401(k) Plan and Air Gage Company Health Care Plan

Contempt Petition: Fernandes, in his capacity as a fiduciary to the Air Gage Company 401(k) Plan and Air Gage Company Health Care Plan, is liable to the plans for $11,143.21.

Date of Action: March 25, 2014

Type of Action: Complaint

Name(s) of Defendant: Edward J. Sajovic and the Edward J. Sajovic Design LLC 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan

Allegations: The plan was established in January 2011 to provide retirement benefits for employees of Edward J. Sajovic Design LLC, a company specializing in the design of holiday displays for stores with a last known address of 10-39 44th Dr., Long Island City, N.Y. Edward Sajovic and John Cuozzo were the plan trustees. John Hancock Financial Services has been the custodian of the plan’s assets.

ATLANTA — The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has formed an alliance with the Georgia Concerned Beauty Professionals in Atlanta to provide hair salon owners and workers with information, guidance and training to protect employees from exposure to products that contain hazardous chemicals, such as formaldehyde.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of $3,714,908 to the state of Ohio to implement and promote the state's short-time compensation program, a layoff prevention program also known as "work-sharing."

NEW YORK — The U.S. Department of Labor has filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York to seek the appointment of an independent fiduciary and trustee to administer an abandoned New York City pension benefit plan. The plan has $308,438 in assets and 26 participants.

ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced that federal inspectors issued 210 citations, eight orders and one safeguard during special impact inspections conducted at nine coal mines and three metal and nonmetal mines in February. A safeguard is written when an unsafe haulage or hoisting hazard is observed and is an immediate risk to a miner.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of $3,714,908 to the state of Ohio to implement and promote the state's short-time compensation program, a layoff prevention program also known as "work-sharing."

SPARTA, N.J. — Diversified CPC International Inc. has been cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for 15 serious violations of the process safety management standard at the chemical manufacturer's Sparta production facility. The August 2013 inspection was initiated under OSHA's Process Safety Management Covered Chemical Facilities National Emphasis Program.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — An employee of Atlantic Coast Asphalt, a part of Hubbard Construction Co., entered a hot liquid asphalt tank to cut out a section of piping when they became trapped by the tar substance at the company's plant in Jacksonville. The employee suffered severe burns to his legs and feet following an 8-hour rescue. As a result of the September 2013 incident, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited the company with 10 serious safety and health violations, carrying proposed penalties of $63,360.

PHILADELPHIA —— Employee exposure to safety hazards has resulted in citations issued to Top Class Construction Inc.after federal safety inspectors found eight serious and repeat violations at a Medford, N.J., residential construction site. The inspection, conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration, was initiated under a Local Emphasis Program focused on fall hazards, and has resulted in $44,880 in proposed penalties.

DANVILLE, Pa. —— Truck trailer manufacturer Great Dane Limited Partnership has been cited for two repeat violations by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for exposing employees to hexavalent chromium at its Danville facility. OSHA opened its October 2013 investigation under its Hexavalent Chromium National Emphasis Program as a follow-up to a February 2013 investigation.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of approximately $58 million in grant funding through the Workforce Investment Act Section 166 Indian and Native American Program. The purpose of the grants is to improve the academic, occupational and literacy skills of Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian adults and youth, making them more competitive in the workforce.