AMARILLO, TX – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Panhandle of Texas Chapter of the Associated General Contractors in Amarillo renewed a three-year alliance designed to educate employers and employees on construction hazards.

In the week ending April 3, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 744,000, an increase of 16,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 9,000 from 719,000 to 728,000. The 4-week moving average was 723,750, an increase of 2,500 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 2,250 from 719,000 to 721,250.

BUNNELL, FL – Falls are among the most fatal hazards construction workers face. A recent inspection of a Bunnell residential work site showed a framing and sheathing contractor failed to protect their employees from falls.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor announced today that, beginning April 12, it will open a two-week national online dialogue to gather ideas for ensuring equity in employment policies and programs for people with disabilities from historically underserved communities.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today issued guidance implementing the American Rescue Plan’s Continuation of Health Coverage premium assistance provisions to provide full COBRA premium assistance to certain individuals who have experienced a reduction in hours or involuntary termination of employment.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of $725,000 in grants to seven states and territories and the District of Columbia to expand their fidelity bonding programs, which support employers that hire workers considered “at-risk” due to prior involvement in the criminal justice system, as well as those in recovery for substance abuse. These workers often face barriers in their attempts to return to the workforce.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor announced today that its Office of Labor-Management Standards has relaunched the Persuader Reporting Orientation Program, a compliance assistance initiative to inform employers and their representatives about potential reporting obligations under the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act. The PROP initiative was in effect previously from 2011 to 2016.

TRENTON, NJ – Employers are required by law to correct hazardous conditions at their workplaces, but a Trenton-based contractor failed to comply with this requirement when one of its employees suffered serious injuries after the roof beneath him collapsed.

AUGUSTA, ME – Employees at a Waterville auto body manufacturing plant repeatedly informed management of fall and noise hazards but these reports went ignored until the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration opened an inspection on Oct. 1, 2020, in response to a complaint.

GREENVILLE, PA – Every two weeks, supervisors and behavior specialists gathered at Keystone Adolescent Center Inc.’s five Greenville facilities where they discussed policy changes, completed required training and reviewed safety procedures – all to be prepared to help at-risk youth they serve.

DALLAS – U.S. Department of Labor agencies in the Southwest will host a two-day virtual event April 7-8, 2021, to provide guidance on federal requirements governing construction employment to construction employers, contractors and workers in the region. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development  and U.S. Small Business Administration representatives will also participate.

WASHINGTON, DC – On the 11th anniversary of the explosion at West Virginia’s Upper Big Branch mine, U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh today issued the following statement:

HARTFORD, CT – Two Fairfield County restaurants and their owners were required to pay $137,465 in back wages and liquidated damages to workers after U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division investigations found that the employers violated the minimum wage and overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act.

ATLANTA – La Administración de Seguridad y Salud Ocupacional del Departamento de Trabajo de EE.UU. está activamente investigando el incidente en Foundation Food Group Services en Gainesville donde un escape de nitrógeno liquido mató a seis trabajadores el 28 de enero de 2021.  

ATLANTA –  The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration is actively investigating an incident at Foundation Food Group Services in Gainesville where a liquid nitrogen leak killed six workers on Jan. 28, 2021. 

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh issued the following statement on the March 2021 Employment Situation Report:

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today published a Request for Information soliciting public input on the sources and methods for determining prevailing wage levels for the employment of certain immigrants and non-immigrant workers.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced an initial award of $3,120,612 to the Texas Workforce Commission to provide employment and training services to communities affected by severe winter storms in February 2021. High winds, heavy snow and historically low temperatures knocked out power for millions of residents, and state officials estimate the storms led to nearly 60 deaths.    

WASHINGTON, DC – El Departamento de Trabajo de EE.UU., anunció hoy el lanzamiento de su traducción al español de Worker.gov, su sitio web dedicado a informar a los trabajadores sobre sus derechos y las protecciones federales en el lugar de trabajo.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor announced today the launch by its Veterans’ Employment and Training Service of a pilot program to enhance its ability to provide transitioning service members and their spouses with the assistance needed to be successful in the civilian workforce.