PATERSON, N.J. — On Jan. 16, Paterson-based F&G Sons Contractors Inc., doing business as F&G Stucco and Stone Contractors Inc., was cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for two repeat and two serious safety violations for failing to provide required protective equipment and to protect workers from serious fall hazards. The company was working on a building at 231 Union Blvd. in Totowa at the time of the inspection.

CLEVELAND — New Wave Plastics has been cited for 13 safety violations after the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration found a lack of training and personal protective equipment at the Cleveland facility, a recycler and plastic products supplier. After receiving a complaint in November 2013, OSHA initiated an inspection of the facility. Proposed penalties total $51,800.

WASHINGTON — The Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Benefit Plans, also known as the Employee Retirement Income Security Act Advisory Council, will hold its first meeting of 2014 on Wednesday, March 26 in Washington, D.C., at the U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Ave. NW, Room S-2508, from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. EDT. The meeting, which is open to the public, will begin with the introduction of the new council chair and vice chair.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez issued the following statement about the February 2014 Employment Situation report released today:

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending March 1, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 323,000, a decrease of 26,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 349,000. The 4-week moving average was 336,500, a decrease of 2,000 from the previous week's revised average of 338,500.

Date of Action: March 5, 2014

Type of Action: Complaint

Name(s) of Defendant(s):  American Therapeutic Corp. Inc., Marianella Valera, and American Therapeutic Corp. Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan

CHICAGO — The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has found Grand Trunk Western Railway Co. and Union Pacific Railroad Co. in violation of the Federal Railroad Safety Act for suspending and/or disciplining five workers following the reporting of workplace injuries or illnesses.

ALBION, Neb. — Werner Construction Inc. has been cited for three safety violations by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration after a maintenance worker was fatally injured after being struck by a front-end loader. The worker became pinned between the loader and a semitrailer. The 35-year-old full-time employee died of his injuries on Sept. 14, 2013.

DAYTON, Ohio — The U.S. Department of Labor has filed suit to recover back wages and liquidated damages for 83 workers at Dayton-area cellular phone retailers owned by Zam LLC, Reham LLC and Mohammed Rihan. An investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division found violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act's minimum wage, overtime and record-keeping provisions at the 14 retail stores operating as Zam Cricket and World Wireless. The investigation determined that the company owes $226,905 in back wages to its workers.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Coastal Building Systems of Amelia Inc., in Fernandina Beach, has been cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for two repeat violations following a September 2013 inspection. OSHA found employees working on a residential roof without fall protection. Proposed penalties total $55,000.

FINDLAY, Ohio — Pressed Paperboard Technologies LLC has been cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for nine safety and health violations at the company's Findlay facility.

The company has entered into a settlement agreement to resolve the citations that includes providing enhancements to their safety and health program to further protect employees. The company will pay penalties of $81,450.

ARLINGTON, Va. — In a meeting on March 5 with the National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association in Las Vegas, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health Joseph A. Main updated NSSGA's board of directors on recent actions taken by the Mine Safety and Health Administration to improve miner safety and health. The NSSGA represents companies that produce more than 90 percent of the crushed stone and 70 percent of the sand and gravel consumed annually in the United States.

CHICAGO — The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division will offer a comprehensive compliance seminar for federal contractors, unions and employees to provide information on the rules governing prevailing wage requirements under the Davis-Bacon Act, McNamara-O'Hara Service Contract Act and Executive Order 13495 wage rules for nondisplacement of qualified workers.

AKRON, Ohio — The U.S. Department of Labor has filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Eastern Division, to recover unpaid wages and liquidated damages for 18 workers at Brown Derby Roadhouse in Akron. In addition to wages and damages, the suit also seeks a court order permanently enjoining CPS Foods Ltd., and its operators Gillian Harris and Gary Harris, from violating the Fair Labor Standards Act in the future.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez today released the president's fiscal year 2015 budget for the Department of Labor, which supports the president's plan to further grow the economy and create more jobs in America.

NEW YORK – The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a default judgment from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York that orders the appointment of M. Larry Lefoldt, Lefoldt & Co. PA, as independent fiduciary to the 401(k) plan of the defunct David J. Hardy Construction Co. of Syracuse. With his appointment, Lefoldt can administer and distribute assets to plan participants and beneficiaries.

Date of Action: Feb. 26, 2014

Name(s) of Defendants: Mark Kinser, Joyce Bennett, Unlimited Construction Inc.

BLUE SPRINGS, Mo. — Workers at China Town Super Buffet in Kansas City, Independence and Blue Springs will receive a total of $196,971 in unpaid wages after an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division found violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act's minimum wage, overtime and record-keeping provisions.

PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh-based industrial painting company QSC Contracting LLC paid a total of $25,468 in back wages and liquidated damages to 26 painters following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division. The firm was in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act's overtime and record-keeping provisions.

NEW YORK — The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a default judgment from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York that orders the appointment of M. Larry Lefoldt, Lefoldt & Co. PA, as independent fiduciary to the 401(k) plan of the defunct David J. Hardy Construction Co. of Syracuse. With his appointment, Lefoldt can administer and distribute assets to plan participants and beneficiaries.