Employer name: Subfloor Systems Inc., Hurst, Texas

Citations issued: Jan. 20, 2016

NEW YORK – All the truck driver wanted was a safe vehicle to operate. His employer fired him instead.

In so doing, Brindi Trailer Sales and Services Inc. of Meridale, New York, and owner Robert Urbina Brindi violated the anti-discrimination provisions of the Surface Transportation Assistance Act, an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has found.

CHICAGO – A federal judge has ordered a Chicago limo company to pay 34 drivers $190,716 in back wages and an equal additional amount in liquidated damages, totaling $381,432, after finding the company violated the overtime and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act.

In the week ending January 16, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 293,000, an increase of 10,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised down by 1,000 from 284,000 to 283,000. The 4-week moving average was 285,000, an increase of 6,500 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised down by 250 from 278,750 to 278,500.

ARLINGTON, Va. – Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health Joseph A. Main today issued the following statement regarding the first three coal mining deaths of 2016:

“In just the first three weeks of 2016, and after the safest year in mining history, the coal industry has experienced three fatalities in three separate mining accidents, the highest number of coal accidents to occur in the same time period since January 2006.

Employer name: Frontier Ag Inc.

Citations received: Jan. 15, 2016

ATLANTA – When U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspectors returned to an Atlanta food manufacturing facility and found previously cited hazards had reoccurred, the management of Schwan’s Global Supply Inc. took an unusual step.

Date of Action: Dec. 3, 2015

Type of Action: Lawsuit filing

Name of Defendant: Platform Marine Inc., 3431 FM 1685, Victoria, Texas

Employer: Humanage Acquisitions LLC, doing business as Riverbend Hand Car Wash

Site: 22290 La Palma Avenue, Yorba Linda, California 92887

Employer name: Mississippi Polymers Inc.

Inspection site: 2733 South Harper Road, Corinth, Mississippi

Citations issued: The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued citations to the employer on Jan. 14 for 11 serious safety violations.

Employer name: Berlin Builders Inc., 141 Rte. 130, Suite 192, in Cinnaminson, New Jersey

Inspection site: Residential construction project at 1202 Dekalb St. in Norristown, Pennsylvania

Citations issued: On Jan. 15, 2016, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued citations for three repeat and one serious safety violations.

ATLANTA – As they recover from the impacts of severe storms and tornadoes, Florida’s emergency workers, employers, and the public at-large should be aware of the hazards they may encounter and take necessary steps to stay safe, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration urges.

Date of Action:  Jan. 15, 2016

Type of Action: U.S. Department of Labor filed a lawsuit against J.E. Keever Mortuary Inc. in Ennis, Texas, and its principal owner to recover $80,000 in missing retirement funds affecting five employees.

Name(s) of Defendant: J.E. Keever Mortuary Inc., David Keever and J.E. Keever Inc.’s SIMPLE IRA Plan.

Employer name: Genpak LLC

Inspection site: 7621 Bill Joseph Parkway, Hope Hull, Alabama

Citations issued: The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued citations to the employer on Jan. 13 for two repeated, six serious and one other-than-serious safety violation.

Employer name: A-1 Excavating Inc., Bloomer, Wisconsin

Inspection site: Valley Ridge Road, Middleton

Citations issued: Jan. 14, 2016

Employer name: Today’s Generation LLC, doing business as Jaws Shirts & Gifts

Investigation site: 3535 Parkway, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

TULSA, Okla. – A federal judge in Tulsa overturned a jury verdict and ruled that El Tequila LLC and owner Carlos Aguirre willfully violated the minimum wage, overtime, and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act. El Tequila and Aguirre must pay $2.1 million in back wages and liquidated damages to over 300 vulnerable workers.

Employer name: Elk Springs Resort Cabin Rentals LLC  

Investigation site: 1088 Powdermill Road, Gatlinburg, Tennessee

LINCOLN, Neb. ‒ A newly hired, 39-year-old worker who fell through a roof in October 2015 and later died, could have been saved if his employer provided required fall protection, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has found.

Employers: St. James Home for the Elderly, Inc.

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