October 27, 2015

ETA News Release: Department awards $2.75M to help Kentucky workers affected by coal mining industry layoffs rejoin workforce [10/27/2015]

Grant to provide reemployment services, training for more than 400 additional workers

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the funding of a supplemental National Dislocated Worker Grant of $2.75 million to provide for reemployment and training services in Kentucky. The new funding will assist current program participants as well as an additional 406 targeted participants impacted by recent layoffs.

October 26, 2015

MSHA releases preliminary fatality data for third quarter of 2015

Seven miners die in third quarter of 2015; fewest coal deaths in a fiscal year

ARLINGTON, Va. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced its summary of U.S. mining deaths from July 1 through Sept. 30, 2015 shows seven fatalities occurred in industry accidents. In the first nine months of 2015, 25 fatalities occurred, eight fewer than in the same period in 2014.

October 26, 2015

WHD News Release: Buffet restaurant in Alexandria, Virginia, agrees to pay more than $227K in back wages, interest to 13 kitchen workers [10/26/2015]

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — For the kitchen workers at an Alexandria restaurant, making ends meet was a never-ending challenge, and working long, exhausting hours didn't help.

An investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division found that Wah Feng LLC, doing business as Win Buffet, a full-service buffet restaurant in Alexandria, did not pay employees minimum wage and overtime, as required by the Fair Labor Standards Act.

October 26, 2015

OSHA News Release: OSHA's regional emphasis program focuses on reducing illness and injury at Southwestern chicken processing facilities [10/26/2015]

DALLAS — Poultry workers are twice as likely to suffer serious injuries and six times more likely to get sick on the job than other private sector workers, facts that are leading federal safety and health inspectors to act in four Southwestern states to reduce musculoskeletal disorders and ergonomic stressors affecting industry workers.

October 26, 2015

OSHA News Release: OSHA's regional emphasis program focuses on reducing illness and injury at Southeastern chicken processing facilities [10/26/2015]

ATLANTA — Poultry workers are twice as likely to suffer serious injuries and six times more likely to get sick on the job than other private sector workers, facts that are leading federal safety and health inspectors to act in four Southeastern states to reduce musculoskeletal disorders and ergonomic stressors affecting industry workers.

October 26, 2015

MSHA News Release: MSHA releases preliminary fatality data for third quarter of 2015 [10/26/2015]

ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced its summary of U.S. mining deaths from July 1 through Sept. 30, 2015 shows seven fatalities occurred in industry accidents. In the first nine months of 2015, 25 fatalities occurred, eight fewer than in the same period in 2014.

October 23, 2015

WHD News Release: US Labor Department conducting wage survey of building and heavy construction industries in New Hampshire [10/23/2015]

PHILADELPHIA — The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division is conducting a statewide building and heavy construction survey in New Hampshire to collect data on wages paid to workers on all active building and heavy construction projects in New Hampshire between April 1, 2014, and March 31, 2015. This survey is not limited to federally funded construction projects. The information provided will help establish prevailing wage rates, as required under the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts.

October 22, 2015

WHD News Release: Owners agree to change employment practices at 4 companies after US Labor Department finds significant wage violations at Michigan hotel [10/22/2015]

GRAYLING, Mich. — Workers in the hotel industry are hard-working people who greet us with a smile as they welcome us. Many of these workers earn low wages and often struggle to meet basic needs. This challenge is made even more difficult when employers fail to pay them properly for the jobs they perform.

U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division investigators found significant minimum wage and overtime violations at the Ramada Hotel Grayling, operated by Wellston, Michigan-based Satnaam Ji Inc.

October 22, 2015

OSHA News Brief: Roofing Contractor cited for exposing workers to fall hazards [10/22/2015]

Employer's name: Peak Roofing Inc. in Abilene, Texas

Citations issued: Oct. 21, 2015

October 22, 2015

EBSA News Release: New guidance on economically targeted investments in retirement plans from US Labor Department [10/22/2015]

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Labor Department has issued new guidance regarding economically targeted investments (ETIs) made by retirement plans covered by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. ETIs are investments that are selected for the benefits they create in addition to the investment return to the employee benefit plan investor.

October 22, 2015

EBSA News Brief: US Labor Department recovers over $130K for former employees of Oxford Holdings Inc. after fiduciary fails to remit employee 401(k) contributions [10/22/2015]

Date of action: Oct. 19, 2015

Type of action: Consent Judgment and Order

Names of defendants: Steven J. Watkins, Oxford Holdings Inc., and Aetna 401(k) Plan

October 21, 2015

US Labor Department sues defunct construction company in California and Nevada to restore losses from fiduciary breaches of employees' benefits plan

Date of action: October 8, 2015

Type of action: Complaint

Name of defendants: Draeger Construction Inc.; Draeger Construction LLC; Draeger Construction Inc. Health and Welfare Plan; and Jeffrey Draeger, an individual

October 21, 2015

EBSA News Brief: US Labor Department sues defunct construction company in California and Nevada to restore losses from fiduciary breaches of employees' [10/21/2015]

Date of action: October 8, 2015

Type of action: Complaint

Name of defendants: Draeger Construction Inc.; Draeger Construction LLC; Draeger Construction Inc. Health and Welfare Plan; and Jeffrey Draeger, an individual

October 20, 2015

WHD News Brief: Judge orders enforcement of US Labor Department subpoena to Connecticut employer [10/20/2015]

Date of action: Sept. 18, 2015

Type of action: Ruling on petition for enforcement of subpoena

Name(s) of defendant: LaserShip, Inc., dba LaserShip

October 20, 2015

OSHA News Brief: Chicago roofers exposed to dangerous asbestos hazards [10/20/2015]

Employer names: Continental Contractors, Niles, Illinois and Local Roofing Inc., Gurnee, Illinois

Citations received: Oct. 16, 2015

Investigation findings: The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Chicago North Area Office cited a contractor and subcontractor for exposing workers to asbestos hazards while replacing a commercial roof in the 4200 block of N. Knox in Chicago.

October 20, 2015

OSHA News Brief: Georgia lumber mill repeatedly exposes workers to falls, electrocution and other workplace safety hazards [10/20/2015]

Employer name: Interstate Resources Inc., doing business as RB Lumber LLC

Inspection site: 2366-2 Interstate Paper Road, Riceboro, Georgia 31323

Citations issued: Citations were issued on Oct. 19, 2015.

Investigation findings: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited RB Lumber for two repeated and two serious safety violations.

October 20, 2015

OSHA News Brief: OSHA partnership will protect laborers on Oregon Clean Energy Center project in Ohio [10/20/2015]

Participants: U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Black & Veatch Construction Inc., Power Plant Management Services LLC, Mosser Construction Company, AZCO Inc., Go, Gradel Co., Evaptech Inc. and local trade unions

Strategic Partnership: Between Black & Veatch Construction Inc. and OSHA for the Oregon Clean Energy Center in Oregon, Ohio.

October 20, 2015

OSHA News Brief: Food manufacturer exposes workers to amputation hazards [10/20/2015]

Employer name: Sugar Creek Packing Co., Fairfield, Ohio

Citations received: Oct. 16, 2015

Investigation findings: The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Cincinnati Area Office cited the food processing company for one repeated and 3 serious safety violations, following a July 2015 complaint inspection.