Elk Grove Village, Illinois-based contractor refuses to abide by OSHA standards

Company has failed to address previously issued OSHA citations, pay penalties

Employer name: Affordable Exteriors Inc., 17118 Harney Street, Omaha, Nebraska

Investigation site: 20505 Taylor Street, Elkhorn, Nebraska

ROBERTS, Wis. — Two years after pledging to address health and safety violations in a corporate settlement agreement after workers were exposed to serious machine, fall and respiratory hazards at its facilities around the country, U.S. Minerals Inc. employees in Roberts were faced with the same hazards, a September 2014 U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspection found.

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. — Employees at a Wallingford freight shipping terminal faced dangerous chemical, fire and explosion hazards on Oct. 6, 2014, as they tried to contain a highly flammable and explosive chemical spill without proper training and personal protective equipment, U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigators have determined.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez issued the following statement on today's announcement by Senator Barbara Mikulski of her intention to retire:

"Senator Barbara Mikulski has dedicated a lifetime of service to the people of Baltimore, of Maryland and of the nation. Going back to her days as a community activist, she has been a tireless and unapologetic advocate for stronger schools, healthier seniors and more vibrant neighborhoods.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of International Labor Affairs today announced the award of a $7 million cooperative agreement to World Vision to implement a project to combat exploitative child labor and improve labor rights and working conditions in Honduras. World Vision is "dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice."

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras — The U.S. Department of Labor released a report today that raises serious concerns regarding the effective enforcement of labor laws in Honduras under the labor chapter of the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR).

DALLAS — Many workers in Texas with families in Mexico and Central America depend on money-transfer businesses to send money to their loved ones. America Transfers Inc. and Mexico Transfers Inc. employees work long hours to help these workers support their families abroad. Unfortunately, their employers and the companies' owners, Silvia Miranda and Jose Zamudio, had no similar concern for their workers. Wage and Hour Division Dallas District Office investigators found employees were willfully and repeatedly underpaid.

SEATTLE — He started working for the U.S. Postal Service as a mail carrier in 1995. Managers praised his work consistently and regularly promoted him, eventually to management positions. His career led him to become a Postal Service safety specialist, where he excelled as he provided safety advice at more than 300 small postal facilities and area offices throughout Washington. In 2008, everything changed after the safety specialist dared to help a co-worker stand up for her rights.

NEW YORK — Employees of a Duane Reade store on 6th Avenue in Manhattan would have been unable to exit the store swiftly and safely in the event of a fire or other emergency, a September 2014 inspection by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration found. As a result, OSHA has cited the company for one repeated and four serious violations of workplace safety standards. The retailer faces $77,400 in proposed fines.

ELIDA, Ohio — An employee complaint led inspectors from the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration to a wood pallet manufacturing facility in Elida operated by A & D Wood Products, where they found workers at risk of amputation, explosion and other life-threatening hazards.

LEXINGTON, Ky. — The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky has issued a consent judgment against George Hofmeister, trustee of pension plans sponsored by TPOP LLC, formerly known as Metavation LLC, Fairfield Castings LLC (formerly known as Revstone Castings Fairfield LLC), and Fourslides Inc., requiring Hofmeister to repay $300,000 to the plans. The judgment also bans Hofmeister from being a fiduciary or service provider to employee benefit plans under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.

ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced that federal inspectors issued 176 citations, eight orders and one safeguard during special impact inspections conducted at 13 coal mines and three metal and nonmetal mines in January.

LEXINGTON, Ky. — The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky has issued a consent judgment against George Hofmeister, trustee of pension plans sponsored by TPOP LLC, formerly known as Metavation LLC, Fairfield Castings LLC (formerly known as Revstone Castings Fairfield LLC), and Fourslides Inc., requiring Hofmeister to repay $300,000 to the plans. The judgment also bans Hofmeister from being a fiduciary or service provider to employee benefit plans under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.

Employer name and location: EP Heller Co., which manufactures and services carbide steel cutting tools, is located at 21-25 Samson Ave. in Madison, New Jersey.

Date investigation initiated: The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration initiated an investigation on Oct. 8, 2014, in response to a complaint.

OSHA proposes $43,560 in fines for William Trahant Jr. Construction, Inc. of Lynn

Employer name: William Trahant, Jr. Construction, Inc., roofing contractor, Lynn, Mass.

Inspection site: 86 Congress St., Salem, Mass. 01970

Date inspection initiated: OSHA's Andover Area Office began an inspection on Oct. 27, 2014, in response to a complaint.

ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration launched two new online tools today to assist operators, miners, MSHA and others in tracking violations of standards commonly associated with mining deaths and frequently found by federal mine inspectors in examinations of underground coal mines. The latest tools enhance other web-based methods MSHA offers the mining industry to operate more safely.

WASHINGTON — The Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Benefit Plans, also known as the ERISA Advisory Council, will hold its first meeting of 2015 on March 20 in Washington, D.C., at the U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Ave. NW, Room S-2508, from 1:30-4:30 p.m. Eastern Time. Open to the public, the meeting will begin with the introduction of the new council chair and vice chair. An update on the activities of the U.S.

Date of Action: Feb.  23, 2015

Type of Action: Filing of a Complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois

Names of Defendants: Martin R. Bothwell III and ThreeSource Inc. 401(k) Plan

Date of Action: Feb. 24, 2015

Type of Action: Complaint

Names of Defendant: Jean Hanvik, SGH Communications Inc., SGH Communications Inc. SIMPLE IRA Plan

Allegations: From at least Aug. 8, 2005 to April 26, 2012, Jean Hanvik was the sole owner of SGH Communications in Lakeville, Minnesota. SGH Communications Inc. was the plan administrator for the SGH Communications Inc. SIMPLE IRA Plan.