September 23, 2015

US Labor Department secures judgment to distribute more than $310K to participants in G&H Technology Inc. 401(k) Plan in Camarillo, California

Date of action: July 22, 2015

Type of action: Default Judgment and Order

Name of defendants: G&H Technology Inc. 401 (k) Retirement Savings Plan; XAF Inc., a Delaware corporation

Allegations: Based on an investigation conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration, the department filed a civil complaint against XAF Inc., asking for the distribution of more than $310,000 in assets to the remaining participants in the 401(k) plan.

September 23, 2015

OSHA News Brief: Employees exposed to dangerous workplace hazards at Pennsauken aluminum services plant; company fined $308K [09/23/2015]

OSHA's investigation found 44 safety violations, including one willful

Employer name: Aluminum Shapes LLC, 9000 River Road, Delair, New Jersey.

September 22, 2015

WHD News Release: Halliburton pays nearly $18.3 million in overtime owed to more than 1,000 employees nationwide after US Labor Department investigation
[09/22/2015]

HOUSTON — In one of the largest recoveries of overtime wages in recent years for the U.S. Department of Labor, oil and gas service provider, Halliburton, has agreed to pay $18,293,557 to 1,016 employees nationwide. The department's Wage and Hour Division investigated Halliburton as part of an ongoing, multi-year compliance initiative in the oil and gas industry in the Southwest and Northeast.

September 22, 2015

WHD News Release: US Labor Department secures nearly $330K in back wages, liquidated damages for employees of restaurants operated by Antico Foods LLC [09/22/2015]

ATLANTA — An Atlanta restauranteur who is alleged to have cheated his workers out of their wages for years and threatened them if they cooperated with federal officials investigating his business conduct, has agreed to pay 60 employees a total of $329,445 in back wages and liquidated damages for violating their wage rights under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

September 22, 2015

OSHA News Release: OSHA cites Martin Foundry Co. for workplace lead exposure [09/22/2015]

Owner refused inspection until judge issued contempt order

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — After a judge issued a contempt order forcing a Kansas City foundry owner to allow an Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspection, the agency has cited Martin Foundry Co. for exposing workers to lead hazards.

September 22, 2015

OSHA News Brief: Queens manufacturer exposes employees to new and recurring hazards [09/22/2015]

Employer name: Juniper Elbow Co. Inc., doing business as Juniper Industries Inc., a metal products manufacturer located at 72-15 Metropolitan Ave. in the Middle Village section of Queens, New York.

Citations issued: On Sept. 9, 2015, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited the company for 4 repeat and 11 serious violations of workplace safety standards.

September 22, 2015

OSHA News Release: Amputation, other injuries at Pilgrim's Pride chicken facilities 'preventable' [09/22/2015]

MOOREFIELD, W.Va. — In less than 60 days, three employee injuries — including one worker who suffered the amputation of three fingers — brought federal inspectors to West Virginia poultry processing facilities operated by Pilgrim's Pride Corp., one of the world's largest chicken producers.

September 22, 2015

ETA News Release: More than $39 million in grants awarded to improve performance, integrity of state unemployment insurance programs and reduce worker misclassification [09/22/2015]

WASHINGTON — More than $39.3 million in federal grants awarded today will enhance unemployment insurance programs in 45 states and territories, and reduce the misclassification of employees as independent contractors, the U.S. Department of Labor announced.

The funding will help prevent and detect improper benefit payments, improve program performance, address outdated information technology systems, and combat employee misclassification that underpays and denies benefits to workers and hurts local economies.

September 21, 2015

WHD News Brief: Miami health products manufacturer pays more than $145K in back wages after US Labor Department investigation [09/21/2015]

Employer name: Millennium Natural Health Products Inc.

Investigation site: 10575 NW 37th Terrace, Miami, Florida 33178

September 21, 2015

OSHA News Brief: Pier 1 Imports in Fort Worth cited by OSHA for safety hazards at two sites; fines total $86,100 [09/21/2015]

Employer's name: Pier 1 Imports Inc., Heritage Parkway in Mansfield, Texas, and Trinity Blvd. in Fort Worth

Citations issued: Sept. 18, 2015

September 21, 2015

OSHA News Release: US Army Corps of Engineers workers face unsafe conditions at Soo Locks [09/21/2015]

SAULT SAINTE MARIE, Mich. — As crane operators at Michigan's historic Soo Locks operated a lattice boom crawler and a barge-mounted crane in disrepair, they faced dangers from multi-ton loads because their employer ignored a September 2014 report from a crane inspection contractor that demanded immediate equipment repairs.

September 21, 2015

OSHA News Brief: OSHA cites nation's largest cookie and cracker manufacturer after machine takes part of worker's finger [09/21/2015]

Employer name: Hearthside Food Solutions LLC, McComb, Ohio

Citations issued: Sept. 21, 2015

Investigation findings: The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Toledo Area Office cited the McComb facility, which produces cookies and crackers for national brands for one repeated and two serious safety violations.

September 18, 2015

MSHA News Release: National coal mine rescue competition winners for 2015 announced [09/18/2015]

104th annual safety event challenged 65 teams from 12 US states

ARLINGTON, Va. — Testing their readiness for worst-case mine rescue scenarios, 65 teams from 12 states put their skills and knowledge to work in the 2015 National Coal Mine Rescue, First Aid, Bench and Preshift Competition in Lexington, Kentucky this week.

September 17, 2015

Statement from Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez on fatal occupational injuries in 2014

WASHINGTON – Preliminary results from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries released today show the rate of fatal work injuries in 2014 was 3.3 per 100,000 full-time workers, the same as the final rate for 2013. While the preliminary total of 4,679 fatal work injuries was an increase of 2 percent over the revised count of 4,585 in 2013, there was also an increase in hours worked in 2014. U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez issued the following statement:

September 17, 2015

WHD News Brief: US Labor Department investigation finds North Carolina restaurant fails to pay workers minimum wage and overtime [09/17/2015]

Employer name: Fiesta Mexicana LLC, Fiesta Mexicana Restaurante

Investigation site: 957 Town Centre Blvd, Clayton, North Carolina 27520

September 17, 2015

OSHA News Release: Statement from Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez on fatal occupational injuries in 2014 [09/17/2015]

WASHINGTON — Preliminary results from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries released today show the rate of fatal work injuries in 2014 was 3.3 per 100,000 full-time workers, the same as the final rate for 2013. While the preliminary total of 4,679 fatal work injuries was an increase of 2 percent over the revised count of 4,585 in 2013, there was also an increase in hours worked in 2014. U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez issued the following statement:

September 17, 2015

OSHA News Brief: OSHA cites US Postal Service in Greenville, SC for falls and other hazards [09/17/2015]

Employer name: U.S. Postal Service, 204 Fairforest Way, Greenville, South Carolina 29607

Citations issued: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued one willful and two serious safety citations to the Postal Service on Sept. 14.

September 17, 2015

OSHA News Brief: Heat-related exposure claims life of a contract worker at a petroleum refinery [09/17/2015]

Employer name: JV Industrial Cos. Ltd., headquartered in Pasadena, Texas, was contracted by Valero St. Charles Refinery in Norco, Louisiana, to demolish piping in its sulfuric acid alkylation unit.

Citations issued: Sept. 16, 2015

September 17, 2015

ETA News Release: Nearly $15M in grants to expand employment opportunities for people with disabilities in six states [09/17/2015]

WASHINGTON — Six states will receive grants totaling $14,911,243 to improve employment opportunities for adults and youth with disabilities, the U.S. Department of Labor announced today. The grants to Alaska, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, New York and Washington are being awarded as part of the Disability Employment Initiative, a joint initiative of the department's Employment and Training Administration and the Office of Disability Employment Policy.