HARTFORD, Conn. — Emergency exits blocked by piles of store inventory appears to be a recurring hazard at Forever 21. The fashion retailer's employees at Westfarms Mall in Farmington were among the chain's workers put at risk of not being able to exit the store swiftly because of fire or another emergency, U.S. Department of Labor inspectors determined after receiving a complaint.

NEW ALBANY, Ohio — When a 23-year-old diver descended to the bottom of a New Albany pond in November 2014, he thought his air supply would last during underwater work. He drowned when his air supply depleted while SCUBA diving.

PEORIA, Ill. — Workers stamping metal automotive parts at a Peoria manufacturer were at risk of lacerations and amputations and in danger of being struck-by robotic welding equipment because their employer ignored machine safety rules.

Acting on a complaint, U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspectors identified two willful and eight serious safety and health violations at USA Technologies Inc. in November 2014. The company faces $114,100 in proposed penalties.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Inspectors from the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration were headed back to their Providence office on Jan. 22, 2015, after completing one site inspection when they saw a dangerous situation in clear view at another site in North Smithfield.

Lloyd Industries Inc., named severe safety violator, defies federal safety inspectors

MONTGOMERYVILLE, Pa. – Lloyd Industries Inc. manufacturers the ventilation, duct and fire safety products used at places like New York's Chrysler Building, Philadelphia International Airport, and the stadiums the New York Yankees and Baltimore Ravens call home.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor – in partnership with the Department of Commerce, the Small Business Administration and the Appalachian Regional Commission – today announced the availability of up to $35.5 million to help communities and workers successfully adapt to changes in the coal industry and power sector.

NASHPORT, Ohio — It takes only 60 seconds for a worker to be submerged in flowing grain; more than half of those engulfed in grain die. Workers at Hanby Farms in Nashport were exposed to being buried in grain or overcome by noxious fumes because the company did not verify that conditions were safe before allowing employees to enter bins at the grain elevator and feed mill.

Employer Name and Location: Americold Logistics LLC is located at 60 Steamboat Boulevard in Manchester, Pennsylvania. The company provides temperature-controlled warehousing and logistical support to the food industry, and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.

Date Investigation Initiated: The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration initiated an inspection on Nov. 6, 2014, in response to three complaints alleging workplace safety hazards.

GRANTSBURG, Wis. — For most of his adult life, a 52-year-old man avoided the dangers of working at a Grantsburg feed mill. In November 2014, he was trying to unclog a sump when he was engulfed by corn and died in a grain bin.

MONTGOMERYVILLE, Pa. — Lloyd Industries Inc. manufacturers the ventilation, duct and fire safety products used at places like New York's Chrysler Building, Philadelphia International Airport, and the stadiums the New York Yankees and Baltimore Ravens call home.

WASHINGTON – With the release of the April 2015 Employment Situation Report today, U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez says there are five things you should know about the numbers:

Date of Action: April 28, 2015

Type of Action: Complaint

Names of Defendants: Law Partners LLC, Milton Bryan Peoples, and the Law Partners LLC 401(k) Salary Reduction Plan

Employer name: Shivam Hospitality LLC, formerly doing business as Super 8 motel, and as of early 2015 doing business as the Florence Aston Hotel.

Investigation site: 7928 Dream Street, Florence, Kentucky 41042

Date of Action: April 28, 2015

Type of Action: Complaint

Names of Defendants: Law Partners LLC, Milton Bryan Peoples, and the Law Partners LLC 401(k) Salary Reduction Plan

Funding prepares workers for jobs with growing, high-wage employers

Participants: U.S. Department of Labor, Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training

Participants: U.S. Department of Labor, Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training

State: Massachusetts

Type of Award: National Emergency Grant funding

Initial Award Amount Released: $980,499

Total Award Amount Approved: $3,214,752

Funding Awarded to: The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development

Number of Workers to Be Served: About 400

Employer name: James Marlowe, doing business as DHC Contracting, Statesboro, Georgia

Inspection site: At the time of the inspection, workers were installing a replacement manhole at the South Effingham Waste Water Effluent Pump Station on Hodgeville Road, Guyton, Georgia 31312

State: Colorado

Type of Award: National Emergency Grant incremental funding

Incremental Award Released: $637,464

Total Award Amount Approved: $4,609,937

Funding Awarded to: Colorado Department of Labor and Employment

Number of Workers to Be Served: About 230