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.

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

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

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.

Employer: Bliss Roofing Inc.

Site: 14430 S.E. 98th Court, Clackamas, Oregon 97015

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Employer name: Millennium Natural Health Products Inc.

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

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

Citations issued: Sept. 18, 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.

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.

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.

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:

Employer name: Fiesta Mexicana LLC, Fiesta Mexicana Restaurante

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

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:

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.

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

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.