WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of International Labor Affairs today announced a $1,389,000 competitive solicitation for a project to assist the government of Mexico to combat labor discrimination by supporting enforcement of the strengthened anti-discrimination provisions in Mexico's Federal Labor Law Reform of 2012.

WASHINGTON — From Ray Suarez's "Latino Americans" to Jeffrey Marcos Garcilazo's "Traqueros: Mexican Railroad Workers in the United States," books that focus on Hispanics and work are being highlighted during Hispanic Heritage Month as part of the U.S. Department of Labor's Books that Shaped Work in America initiative.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez issued the following statement today on the awarding of the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize:

"I want to congratulate two courageous human rights champions, Kailash Satyarthi and Malala Yousafzai, for receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. Kailash Satyarthi's tireless campaign to end forced child labor and Malala Yousafzai's fearless global advocacy for the right of boys and girls to an education are helping to transform the global landscape of children's rights.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration announced today that the Nationwide Coal Mine Rescue Skills Championship, hosted by the Mining Technology and Training Center in Prosperity, Pennsylvania, drew 24 mine rescue teams from across the country for two days of competition. The winners were announced on Oct.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration today announced it is launching a national dialogue with stakeholders on ways to prevent work-related illness caused by exposure to hazardous substances. The first stage of this dialogue is a request for information on the management of hazardous chemical exposures in the workplace and strategies for updating permissible exposure limits.

TOLEDO, Ohio — Two employees of Industrial Power Systems were exposed to cave-in hazards while installing steam and chill water piping for the construction of a recreation center on the University of Toledo campus. The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited the company for one willful and one serious safety violation, carrying proposed fines of $75,000.

CINCINNATI — An employee was severely injured when he became caught in unguarded arbor rollers at Kloeckner Metals Corp. on April 22, 2014. The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited the Cincinnati manufacturing plant with one repeat and three serious safety violations, carrying proposed penalties of $56,000.

HAVERHILL, Ohio — Following the death of an employee at Haverhill Chemicals LLC, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited the manufacturer for 21 serious and two other-than-serious safety violations. Many of the violations involve OSHA's Process Safety Management Standards, which contain specific requirements for managing highly hazardous chemicals used in work. The company has been placed in OSHA's Severe Violator Enforcement Program.

ANDOVER, Mass. — FedEx Ground Packaging System Inc. failed to guard a conveyor belt properly at its Wilmington shipping distribution center and exposed its employees to potential injuries, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has found.

Date of Action: October 8, 2014

Type of Action: Complaint

Name of Defendant: Raydar Inc., formerly known as Raydar & Associates Inc., Raydar & Associates Inc. Safe Harbor 401(k) Plan

Date of Action: October 8, 2014

Type of Action: Complaint

Name of Defendant: Raydar Inc., formerly known as Raydar & Associates Inc., Raydar & Associates Inc. Safe Harbor 401(k) Plan

HARTFORD, Conn. — Manchester-based Rockville Construction LLC has been cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for 25 serious violations of workplace safety and health standards. The contractor, responsible for the Hockanum Mill renovations in Rockville, faces $107,100 in fines for inadequate safeguards against lead exposure, respirator deficiencies, falls and electrical hazards.

Date of Action: October 6, 2014

Type of Action: Complaint

Name of Defendant: H.C. Watson Corp., doing business as Interim HealthCare, James C. Watson and Melissa Moore

Date of Action: October 6, 2014

Type of Action: Complaint

Name of Defendant: H.C. Watson Corp., doing business as Interim HealthCare, James C. Watson and Melissa Moore

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — An ongoing enforcement initiative conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division that focused on the agricultural industry in northern and central Florida has uncovered widespread violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act and the field sanitation standards of the Occupational Safety and Health Act.

ATLANTA — The U.S. Department of Labor filed a petition for a temporary restraining order and obtained a consent order in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia enjoining Atlanta business Antico Foods LLC and its owner from intimidating and retaliating against any of their employees who are cooperating in a federal investigation.

HARTFORD, Conn. — West Hartford Stairs and Cabinets has been cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for 16 serious violations of workplace safety and health standards at its 17 Main St. manufacturing plant in Newington. This follows inspections conducted by OSHA's Hartford Area Office in response to an April 14, 2014, incident in which an employee lost parts of two fingers in an inadequately guarded machine. The manufacturer of stairs and cabinets faces $60,200 in fines.

NEW YORK — Citations issued to MB Consultants Ltd., doing business as Murray's Chickens, for health and safety violations were affirmed by an administrative law judge from the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission, upholding an earlier decision by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The violations occurred at the company's South Fallsburg chicken processing plant.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — GP Roofing & Construction LLC and Archer Exteriors Inc. were cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for 12 safety violations for exposing workers to falls and other hazards at two residential work sites in the Whisper Dunes subdivision of Panama City Beach and at one work site in The Davenport subdivision of Panama City.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today released the findings of its investigation into an accident in May at Brody Mine No. 1 that killed two miners. The underground coal mine, located in Boone County, West Virginia, is operated by Brody Mining LLC, a subsidiary of Patriot Coal Corp.