WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy today announced a total of $8,422,574 in continued funding for organizations that develop models, provide technical assistance and share best practices to improve employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

"Individuals with disabilities have skills and experiences that employers need," said U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez. "These federal grants will help connect these workers with employers and put them on the path to economic self-sufficiency."

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $953,415 National Emergency Grant incremental award so that approximately 405 workers affected by the closure of a Cargill Meat Solutions beef processing plant located in Plainview, Texas, can continue receiving re-employment services. These funds are being awarded to the Texas Workforce Commission.

HAMILTON, Ohio — Exposing workers to cave-in hazards while installing water mains has resulted in Mt. Pleasant Blacktopping Inc. being cited for one willful and one serious safety violation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration. OSHA opened the April 27 inspection after observing employees working in three separate unprotected trenches on Symmes Road in Hamilton. Proposed penalties total $77,000.

NEW YORK — Inadequate safeguards to protect workers against potential ammonia releases at its Brooklyn, N.Y., ice plant have resulted in $264,700 in U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration fines for Arctic Glacier U.S.A., Inc., a nationwide ice manufacturer and distributor. OSHA cited the company for 19 violations of workplace safety standards following a comprehensive inspection by OSHA's Manhattan Area Office that began in March.

HARTFORD, Conn. — Gleason Roofing Co. deliberately and repeatedly failed to use legally required fall protection for its employees at two New Britain work sites and exposed workers to potentially fatal falls, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration determined. The Enfield roofing contractor faces four willful and two serious violations of safety standards and $294,000 in fines.

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — After receiving information that a worker had suffered severe injuries after being crushed between two machines, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Vallourec Star for 22 serious safety violations. The machine operator suffered multiple fractures to his pelvis, Feb. 27, 2014, and has been unable to return to work. The investigation found that Youngstown steel mill workers were exposed to crushing, amputation and fall hazards.

PEORIA, Ill. — After an inspection by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Rohn Products LLC has been cited for 11 serious safety and health violations at its steel tower manufacturing plant on Plank Road in Peoria. Many of the violations involve exposing workers to amputation and crushing hazards during the daily operation of dangerous machinery. Proposed penalties total $66,700.

More than 3,600 African American, Asian American, Hispanic and female applicants to benefit

ONEONTA, Ala. — Diversified Fabricating Inc. was cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for 23 safety and health violations, including exposure to amputation and fall hazards, following an inspection at the company's facility on Commerce Drive. At the time of the inspection, initiated as part of OSHA's National Emphasis Program on Amputations, workers were engaged in fabricating steel drums used in the lumber mill industry. Proposed penalties total $73,500.

MIDLAND, Texas — To continue its mission to keep oil and gas workers safe, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has renewed its 2008 alliance with the Permian Basin Service, Transmission, Exploration and Production Safety Network in Midland.

SAN ANTONIO — Roma Construction Inc., a stucco plastering subcontractor of Monticello Homes, is being cited for five repeat and seven serious violations by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The company exposed workers to falls hazards of up to 20 feet as a result of improper scaffolding at the Hastings Ridge at Kinder Ranch residential development. The proposed penalty is $79,200.

SAGINAW, Mich. — Aleda E. Lutz Veterans Administration Medical Center employees in Saginaw were exposed to asbestos, bloodborne pathogens and unsafe operation of powered industrial vehicles, a U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspection found.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration today awarded $10,687,000 through the Susan Harwood Training Grant Program to 78 nonprofit organizations, including community- and faith-based groups, employer associations, labor unions, joint labor-management associations, and colleges and universities.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration today awarded $10,687,000 through the Susan Harwood Training Grant Program to 78 nonprofit organizations, including community- and faith-based groups, employer associations, labor unions, joint labor-management associations, and colleges and universities.

WASHINGTON — An open meeting of the Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Benefit Plans, also known as the ERISA Advisory Council, will take place Monday, Sept. 29, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. EDT. The council will discuss reports and recommendations on the issues of pharmacy benefit manager compensation and fee disclosure, outsourcing employee benefit plan services and facilitating lifetime plan participation.

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

"With today's report, businesses have added more than 10 million jobs over the last four and a half years. That makes 54 consecutive months of private-sector job growth, the longest streak on record. The unemployment rate ticked down to 6.1 percent in August, a significant decrease from 7.2 percent in August 2013.

HARTFORD, Conn. — Ultimate Services Professional Grounds Management Inc., a Wolcott landscaping company that the U.S. Department of Labor claims violated federal law by failing to hire U.S. workers and underpaying temporary foreign workers, will pay $280,000 in back wages to 80 workers and nine job applicants and $20,000 in civil money penalties. The company signed consent findings approved by the Labor Department's Office of Administrative Law Judges and agreed to actively engage in enhanced recruitment of U.S. workers.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Jasper Contractors was cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for six safety violations for exposing workers to falls and other hazards while they performed roofing work at two residential work sites in Jacksonville. The inspections were initiated in March 2014 after the agency received complaints that employees were working from roofs without fall protection. Proposed penalties total $162,000.

GROVE, Okla. — For exposing workers to cancer-causing health hazards by inhaling, absorbing and ingesting hexavalent chromium, Pride Plating Inc. is being cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The company received 38 violations with proposed penalties totaling $341,550.

RACINE, Wis. — Procedures for handling liquid chlorine, a highly hazardous chemical, at Beck Aluminum Alloys Ltd., were lacking according to an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The company, which recycles aluminum and produces alloys used in various applications, will pay a penalty of $32,890 for 10 serious safety violations.