HICKORY, N.C. — The U.S. Department of Labor has entered into a settlement agreement with Gaines Motor Lines Inc., as well as individuals Tim Gaines and Rick Tompkins, to resolve findings made by the department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration alleging that four former truck drivers were terminated for participating in an inspection audit, in violation of the whistleblower protection provision of the Surface Transportation Assistance Act.

Kevin Burke Home Improvement faces more than $56,000 in proposed penalties

BUFFALO, N.Y. — A home improvement business based in Hamburg was found to have repeatedly exposed its employees to potentially fatal falls of 20 feet or more at a Lackawanna work site, according to the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Kevin Burke Home Improvement was cited for five serious and two willful safety violations, with total proposed penalties of $56,400.

Date of Action: Aug. 11, 2014

Type of Action: Default Judgment

Names of Defendant: Margaret T. Storrow, as a fiduciary to the Storrow Kinsella Associates Inc. SIMPLE IRA Plan, Storrow Kinsella Associates Inc., and Storrow Kinsella Associates Inc. SIMPLE IRA Plan.

SAVOY, Ill. — Roofing contractor Juan Manuel Antonio-Martinez has been cited for three willful safety violations for exposing workers to fall hazards at two separate residential home sites in Savoy on March 26, 2014, and April 9, 2014. The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has proposed penalties of $85,800. This is the fifth time OSHA has cited the company for similar violations in the past three years.

AVON LAKE, Ohio — Perry Fiberglass Products Inc. has been cited for four repeat and nine serious safety and health violations after the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration received a complaint alleging unsafe handling of hazardous chemicals at the company's Avon Lake facility. OSHA initiated an inspection Feb. 5, 2014, at the facility, which manufactures fiberglass pipes and tanks. Proposed penalties total $53,130.

ST. LOUIS, Mo. — The Mason Contractors Association of St. Louis and the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration have renewed a partnership focused on training employers and workers about hazards masonry workers face daily on the job including fall, electrical, trenching and struck-by hazards.

PONTIAC, Mich. — Asphalt Specialists Inc. has been found in violation of the Surface Transportation Assistance Act by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for wrongfully terminating a foreman and two truck drivers. They had raised safety concerns after being directed to violate U.S. Department of Transportation mandated hours of service for commercial truck drivers.

PONTIAC, Mich. — Asphalt Specialists Inc. has been found in violation of the Surface Transportation Assistance Act by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for wrongfully terminating a foreman and two truck drivers. They had raised safety concerns after being directed to violate U.S. Department of Transportation mandated hours of service for commercial truck drivers.

Date of Action: July 29, 2014

Name(s) of Defendant(s): Gregory Ridge; Ridge & Long Limited Co.; and Ridge & Long Limited Co. 401(k) profit sharing plan & trust 

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

Date of Action: July 31, 2014

Name(s) of Defendant(s): Rebecca Bellamy; American Home Care LLC; and American Home Care LLC SIMPLE IRA plan

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

The defendants failed to ensure elective employee contributions to the plan were remitted on a timely basis. The amount of restitution owed to the plan participants was determined to be $12,713.07, which includes interest for lost opportunity costs.

JESUP, Ga. — Sarah Jones, a 27-year-old camera assistant, was killed and eight other workers were injured while trying to escape an oncoming freight train during the filming of a scene on Feb. 20 for the movie "Midnight Rider," a biopic based on the life of musician Gregg Allman. Film Allman LLC of Pasadena, California, was cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for one willful and one serious safety violation for exposing employees to struck-by and fall hazards.

JESUP, Ga. — Sarah Jones, a 27-year-old camera assistant, was killed and eight other workers were injured while trying to escape an oncoming freight train during the filming of a scene on Feb. 20 for the movie "Midnight Rider," a biopic based on the life of musician Gregg Allman. Film Allman LLC of Pasadena, California, was cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for one willful and one serious safety violation for exposing employees to struck-by and fall hazards.

BATON ROUGE, La. – Protecting workers from construction hazards is the goal of a renewed alliance agreement between the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Associated Builders and Contractors, Pelican Chapter in Baton Rouge.

WELCH, W. Va. – A January 2014 investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration revealed that correctional officers and other staff at McDowell medium-security federal prison in Welch were allegedly exposed to bloodborne pathogens and other workplace safety and health hazards. OSHA issued notices to the Federal Correctional Institution at McDowell, a part of the U.S. Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Prisons.

BATON ROUGE, La. — Protecting workers from construction hazards is the goal of a renewed alliance agreement between the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Associated Builders and Contractors, Pelican Chapter in Baton Rouge.

WELCH, W. Va. — A January 2014 investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration revealed that correctional officers and other staff at McDowell medium-security federal prison in Welch were allegedly exposed to bloodborne pathogens and other workplace safety and health hazards. OSHA issued notices to the Federal Correctional Institution at McDowell, a part of the U.S. Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Prisons.

NEW YORK – Employees of Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center in Brooklyn were exposed to head, eye, face and groin injuries and intimidation and threats during routine interactions with patients and visitors. The employer failed to protect employees adequately against workplace violence, an inspection by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has found.

Date of Action: July 28, 2014

Type of Action: Order of Settlement

Name(s) of Defendant(s): Miles & Associates Inc., Michael Wayne Miles, Leon Victor Stadther, Jr., and Miles & Associates Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan

Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center inspected after worker complaints

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $284,879 National Emergency Grant to serve approximately 112 workers affected by layoffs at Great Northern Paper Co. LLC, located in East Millinocket, Maine.