WASHINGTON — Each year in the United States, tens of thousands of workers are made sick or die from occupational exposures to the thousands of hazardous chemicals that are used in workplaces every day. The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration today launched two new web resources to assist companies with keeping their workers safe.

1 mine in Kentucky and 2 mines in West Virginia receive notices

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today issued the following statement about previously scheduled economic data:

"Because of the Oct. 1-16 lapse in appropriations, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has revised its calendar for releases. The updated schedule includes:

SAN FRANCISCO — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that it obtained a consent order requiring the fiduciaries of the Parrot Cellular Employee Stock Ownership Plan to pay $4,181,818 to the plan. The settlement resolves a suit filed in April 2012 after an investigation by the department's Employee Benefits Security Administration found violations of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. The department alleged that plan fiduciaries caused or permitted the ESOP to purchase Parrot Cellular stock for more than fair market value.

SANTA MONICA, Calif. — The U.S. Department of Labor has secured a consent judgment with former magazine publisher Twelve Signs Inc. and its president, Richard Housman. An investigation by the department's Employee Benefits Security Administration established that Housman, acting as the sole fiduciary to the employee pension plan, violated the Employee Retirement Income Security Act by mismanaging plan assets, resulting in the loss of $617,839. The judgment requires Housman to restore all losses caused to the plan, less his share.

Date of Action: Oct. 22, 2013

Type of Action: Consent Order and Judgment

Names of Defendants: Bruce E. Spencer, Tannile Elizabeth Ortiz and Paul Olzeski, as fiduciaries to the Spencer & Associates, LLC Profit Sharing and 401(k) Plan.

WASHINGTON — Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez issued the following statement about the September 2013 Employment Situation report released today:

WASHINGTON — A meeting of the Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Benefit Plans, known as the ERISA Advisory Council, will take place Monday, Nov. 4 from 1 p.m. — 5 p.m. EST. The meeting is open to the public and will be held in room 4 of suite C-5521, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. 20210. On Tuesday, Nov. 5, the meeting will be split into two sessions: the morning session will continue in room 4 of suite C-5521 from 8:30 a.m.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny S. Pritzker, U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez and Delta Regional Authority Federal Co-Chairman Christopher A. Masingill today announced the 10 winners of the Make it in America Challenge, an Obama administration initiative to accelerate job creation and encourage business investment in the United States.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor has announced a $626,159 National Emergency Grant incremental award to continue providing temporary employment for eligible individuals assisting with the clean-up and recovery efforts following the flooding and mudslides that occurred in Snohomish County, Washington, on March 22. The funds are being awarded to the Washington State Employment Security Department.

Date of Action: Sept. 26, 2013

Type of Action: Complaint

Name(s) of Defendant(s): New Generations Furniture Co., New Generations Employee Retirement and Savings Plan, and Ben J. Gaines.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today issued the following statement about previously scheduled economic data:

"Because of the Oct. 1-16 lapse in appropriations, the previously scheduled economic data releases, compiled by the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics, have been rescheduled:

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $1,910,024 National Emergency Grant incremental award to continue temporary employment for eligible individuals assisting with the clean-up and recovery efforts following the severe storms, tornadoes and flooding that occurred in Mississippi on April 28. These funds are being awarded to the Mississippi Department of Employment Security.

WASHINGTON — WorkForce West Virginia received a $203,940 National Emergency Grant supplemental award today from the U.S. Department of Labor to continue temporary employment opportunities as West Virginia completes its clean-up efforts following severe storms and flooding that occurred on June 13, 2013.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced $169,771,960 in grants to expedite the employment of Americans struggling with long-term unemployment. The grants are part of the Ready to Work Partnership initiative to support and scale innovative collaborations between employers, nonprofit organizations and federal job training programs to help connect ready-to-work Americans with ready-to-be-filled jobs.

Alert follows three fatalities over Oct. 4th weekend

ARLINGTON, Va. — Following three coal mine fatalities during Oct. 4-6, the U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration is urging the mining industry to step up its compliance with safety and health regulations under the Mine Safety and Health Act and other applicable laws. Two fatalities occurred in underground mines in West Virginia and Illinois, and one fatality occurred at a surface mine in Wyoming.

WASHINGTON — The Department of Labor issued the following statement about the September 2013 Employment Situation report:

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today issued the following statement about previously scheduled economic data:

"Due to the lapse in appropriations, the following releases, compiled by the Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics, will not be issued as scheduled:

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $944,839 National Emergency Grant incremental award to help communities in northern Colorado recover from the severe storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides that occurred on Sept. 11, 2013. These funds are being awarded to the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment to hire temporary workers to continue with cleanup and recovery efforts.

Company violates Sarbanes-Oxley Act whistleblower protection provisions