August 20, 2014

WHD News Release: US Department of Labor obtains injunction to prevent Nashua, New Hampshire, employer from intimidating employees in wage lawsuit [08/20/2014]

CONCORD, N.H. — The U.S. Department of Labor has secured a preliminary injunction against Nashua painting contractor Kevin Corriveau Painting Inc., and its officers and agents, to prevent them from intimidating, retaliating or discriminating against current or former employees involved in a federal investigation and lawsuit.

August 20, 2014

OSHA News Release: OSHA cites Gonzalez Stucco & Stone for serious safety hazards; more than $54,000 in fines proposed [08/20/2014]

AUBURN, Ala. — Based in Auburn, Gonzalez Stucco & Stone LLC has been cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for four repeat and one serious safety violation following an inspection at a residential construction site at 283 Bentley Court. The agency initiated the June 2014 inspection as part of its National Emphasis Program on Falls. Proposed penalties total $54,120.

August 20, 2014

OSHA News Release: OSHA orders Hanford nuclear facility contractor to reinstate worker fired for raising environmental safety concerns [08/20/2014]

SEATTLE — A contractor for the U.S. Department of Energy's Hanford nuclear facility in Washington state has been ordered to reinstate an environmental specialist and pay more than $220,000 in back wages and other expenses after it fired the employee for voicing nuclear and environmental safety concerns, a violation of federal whistleblower provisions.

August 20, 2014

EBSA News Release: Labor Department requests information on use of brokerage windows in 401(k) plans [08/20/2014]

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today published a request for information on the use of brokerage windows, self-directed brokerage accounts and similar features in 401(k)-type plans. The RFI will appear in the Aug. 21 edition of the Federal Register and can also be viewed at https://federalregister.gov/a/2014-19832.

August 19, 2014

US Department of Labor files suit to appoint independent fiduciary to distribute assets of I.Q. Marketing Inc. 401(k) Plan in Minneapolis

Date of Action: Aug. 18, 2014

Type of Action: Complaint

Names of Defendants: Janet Finken, I.Q. Marketing, Inc., I.Q. Marketing Inc. 401(k) Plan

Allegations: An investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration found that Janet Finken and I.Q. Marketing, Inc., fiduciaries of the I.Q. Marketing Inc. 401(k) Plan failed to administer the plan since Jan. 17, 2014.  The company ceased operations in August 2012 and involuntarily dissolved by the State of Minnesota on Aug. 1, 2012.

August 19, 2014

Judge appoints independent fiduciary to distribute assets of Universal Custom Process Inc. 401(k) Plan in Toledo, Ohio

Date of Action: Aug. 4, 2014

Type of Action: Consent Order and Judgment

Names of Defendants: John W. Hufgard, Universal Custom Process Inc. 401(k) Retirement Plan 

August 19, 2014

Judgment orders fiduciaries to restore more than $59,000 to Connor Companies Health and Welfare Plan in Laona, Wisconsin

Date of Action: July 8, 2014

Type of Action: Consent Order and Judgment

Name of Defendant: Peter Connor, Gordon Connor, WD Flooring LLC, Nicolet Hardwoods Corporation and the Connor Companies Health and Welfare Benefit Plan

Allegations: On April 29, 2014, the U.S. Department of Labor filed suit against Peter Connor, Gordon Connor, WD Flooring LLC, Nicolet Hardwoods Corporation and Connor Companies Health and Welfare Benefit Plan, a self-funded health plan, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin.

August 19, 2014

OSHA News Release: Hamburg, New York, home improvement company fined for exposing workers to potentially fatal fall hazards at Lackawanna, New York, work site [08/19/2014]

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.

August 19, 2014

OSHA News Release: OSHA settles whistleblower complaint against Gaines Motor Lines Inc. [08/19/2014]

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.

August 19, 2014

OSHA News Release: OSHA cites Illinois vehicle manufacturer McLaughlin Body Co. for exposing workers to amputation hazards [08/19/2014]

MOLINE, Ill. — McLaughlin Body Co. has been cited for exposing workers to amputation hazards at the company's two plants in Rock Island and East Moline. The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration initiated the inspections in March 2014 after receiving complaints alleging unsafe working conditions at both plants. The inspection found nine serious violations carrying proposed penalties of $43,000.

August 18, 2014

Court orders default judgment requiring fiduciary to restore losses to Storrow Kinsella Associates Inc. SIMPLE IRA Plan in Indianapolis

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.

August 18, 2014

OSHA News Release: Roofing contractor cited by US Department of Labor's OSHA for repeatedly exposing workers to dangerous fall hazards [08/18/2014]

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.

August 18, 2014

OSHA News Release: Mason Contractors Association of St. Louis, Missouri, and OSHA continue partnership to train workers on job hazards [08/18/2014]

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.

August 18, 2014

OSHA News Release: Flammable chemical hazards found at Avon Lake, Ohio, fiberglass manufacturer [08/18/2014]

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.

August 18, 2014

OSHA News Release: Asphalt Specialists ordered to pay nearly $1M in compensation and to reinstate drivers terminated for raising safety concerns [08/18/2014]

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.

August 18, 2014

OSHA News Release: Asphalt Specialists ordered to pay nearly $1M in compensation and to reinstate drivers terminated for raising safety concerns [08/18/2014]

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.

August 14, 2014

US Labor Department files suit to restore employee contributions to 401(k) plan of Manassas, Va., construction company

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:

August 14, 2014

US Labor Department obtains judgment restoring nearly $13,000 in employee contributions to SIMPLE IRA of Bristol, Va., company

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.

August 14, 2014

OSHA News Release: Production company for "Midnight Rider" film cited for willful and serious safety violations following worker fatality and injuries [08/14/2014]

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.

August 14, 2014

OSHA News Release: Production company for "Midnight Rider" film cited for willful and serious safety violations following worker fatality and injuries [08/14/2014]

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.