In the week ending July 23, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 266,000, an increase of 14,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised down by 1,000 from 253,000 to 252,000. The 4-week moving average was 256,500, a decrease of 1,000 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised down by 250 from 257,750 to 257,500.

WASHINGTON – As part of the U.S. Department of Labor’s historic investments in the ApprenticeshipUSA initiative, the department’s Employment and Training Administration announced it is seeking to award three to five contracts to workforce intermediaries, including community-based organizations; labor organizations; or workforce, industry and education organizations to develop national or regional “opportunity partnerships.”

CLEVELAND, Ohio – A federal workplace safety and health inspection found an Ohio stone fabricator again exposed to workers the risks of hearing loss and respiratory damage, the same dangers found at the facility in 2012.

Employer name: Scapa North America LLC, 111 Great Pond Drive, Windsor, Connecticut.

What prompted OSHA’s inspection: The Hartford Area Office of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration began an inspection of the adhesive tape manufacturer on Jan. 14, 2016, after employees complained of serious electrical hazards.

Who: U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration

What: The Mine Safety and Health Administration announced today that federal inspectors issued 114 citations and four orders during special impact inspections conducted at 11 coal mines and six metal and nonmetal mines in June.

Where: MSHA conducted special impact inspections at mines in California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Utah, Virginia and West Virginia.

State: Kentucky

Type of Award: National Dislocated Worker Grant

Initial Amount Approved: $7,494,017

Incremental Amount Awarded: $2,550,000

Funding Awarded to: Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Programs, Inc.

Number of Workers Served: Approximately 685

WASHINGTON – In an important step forward to help workers – especially low-wage workers – adapt to the changing nature of America’s workplace, the U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of approximately $100,000 in funding through the new Portable Retirement Benefits Planning grant program.

Employer name: Pilgrim’s Pride Corp.

Inspection site: 19740 Highway 90, Live Oak, Florida 32060

Citations issued: The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued citations to the employer on July 25 for 14 serious and eight other-than-serious safety and health violations. This inspection fell under OSHA’s Regional Emphasis Programs for Poultry Processing Facilities.

Employers: David Hovannisian and J&V Properties Inc., two property management companies jointly doing business as JD Home Rentals

Location: 2975 E. Belmont Ave., Fresno, California

WASHINGTON – Hundreds of workers who prepare and serve meals for Capitol Hill lawmakers and their staffs in the U.S. Senate cafeterias will receive more than $1 million in back wages after a U.S. Department of Labor investigation found their employers failed to pay prevailing wages required of federal contractors.

Employer name: New Alliance
9620 S. Railroad Ave.
Bridgeport, Nebraska                         

Citations issued: July 22, 2016

Employer: DCO Custom Builders LLC  

Site: 800 West Shell Drive, Suite H, Nogales, Arizona

Participants: The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration and Wage and Hour Division; the New York State Workers’ Compensation Board.

AUBURN, Ala. – Federal inspectors concluded an inspection of an automobile auto parts manufacturer and found that permanent and temporary employees faced the dangers of being caught-in machinery, hit by objects and the risk of amputation at the Pyongsan America Inc. facility in Auburn. Pyongsan manufactures heating, ventilation and air conditioning hoses for Hyundai, Kia, Chrysler and General Motors.

PHILADELPHIA – Richard Mendelson, Occupational Safety and Health Administration regional administrator in Philadelphia, today issued the following statement on OSHA’s settlement with U.S. Steel:

Employer: Atwater Construction Company, Inc.

Sites: 22640 N. 21^st Ave., Phoenix, Arizona

Employer name: Air Liquide Large Industries US LP

Inspection Site: 5880 Up River Road, Corpus Christi, Texas 78408

Citations issued: July 20, 2016

Type of Action: Fair Labor Standards Act consent judgment

Names of Defendants: Best Aire Compressor Services Inc.
Thomas Russell

Date of Action: July 19, 2016

Type of Action: Consent judgment and order

Names of Defendants: “National Pension Plan,” also known as the International Association of Machinists’ National Pension Fund

Gary Allen, Thomas Connery, Philip Gruber, Warren Mart, Robert Martinez Jr.

Alfred Nelson, Robert Roach, Burton Trebour and Lynn Tucker

Employer name: Chaparral Boats Inc.

Inspection site: 300 Industrial Blvd., Nashville, Georgia 31639