March 31, 2015

OSHA News Brief: OSHA fines Dayton, New Jersey, companies $64,200 after investigation finds blocked exit routes and chemical, noise and energy control hazards [03/31/2015]

Employers name and location: Imagine Screen Printing & Productions LLC, which imprints graphic design images onto apparel such as t-shirts and sweatshirts. Central Mills Inc., doing business as Freeze, sorts, packs and distributes the apparel to some of the nation's largest retailers, including Walmart, Macy's and Target.

Both companies are located at 473 Ridge Road in Dayton, New Jersey, and have the same management, maintenance employees and safety departments.

March 30, 2015

Fiduciaries to restore $485K to Bridgeport, Connecticut, retirement plan

Date of Action: March 19, 2015

Type of Action: Amended Consent Judgment and Order

Names of Defendant: Fletcher-Thompson, Inc. Savings Plan and Michael S. Marcinek, in their capacities as fiduciaries of the Fletcher-Thompson Inc. Savings Plan

March 30, 2015

Fiduciaries to restore $485K to Bridgeport, Connecticut, retirement plan

Date of Action: March 19, 2015

Type of Action: Amended Consent Judgment and Order

Names of Defendant: Fletcher-Thompson, Inc. Savings Plan and Michael S. Marcinek, in their capacities as fiduciaries of the Fletcher-Thompson Inc. Savings Plan

March 30, 2015

WHD News Release: US Department of Labor finds oil and gas industry workers in New Mexico, west Texas underpaid by more than $1.3M [03/30/2015]

ALBUQUERQUE — A day's work in an oilfield usually means long hours in physically demanding and exhausting conditions. Industry workers deserve every penny of their hard-earned wages. In the oil-and-gas-rich Southwest, the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division is making sure these workers get their pay. Since it launched an enforcement initiative covering New Mexico and west Texas in 2014, the agency has recovered more than $1.3 million owed to more than 1,300 workers.

March 30, 2015

OSHA News Release: Food warehouse avoids potential for catastrophic incident [03/30/2015]

HONOLULU — After two years of litigation to correct dozens of hazards that might have had catastrophic effects on its workers and the surrounding community, Unicold Corp. has agreed to make health and safety improvements at its refrigerated food warehouse in Honolulu. The company will also end its fight against $197,000 in penalties assessed in 2013 by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

March 30, 2015

OSHA News Release: Wood pellet manufacturer ignores serious safety hazards and fines, places workers at repeated risk of amputation and fire [03/30/2015]

NIAGARA, Wis. — For the fifth time in the past three years, U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspectors found workers at Wood Fibers Inc. at risk of amputation, fire and other life-threatening hazards in October 2014. Despite OSHA's effort, the company has failed to provide proof that hazards had been fixed or pay penalties from previous inspections.

March 30, 2015

OSHA News Release: Koser Iron Works faces penalties of more than $102K for exposing workers to machine, fire and explosion hazards, lack of training [03/30/2015]

BARRON, Wis. — Once again, workers were exposed to dangerous amputation hazards while fabricating metal products because safety mechanisms were not in place at Koser Iron Works Inc. Responding to a complaint, inspectors from the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration found during an inspection initiated on Oct. 1, 2014, two willful, four repeated and 12 serious safety violations, including lack of training and personal protective equipment.

March 27, 2015

OSHA News Release: Jacksonville, Florida, roofing contractor ignores fact that fall protection can be the difference between life and death [03/27/2015]

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Since 2013, 294 workers have been killed by falls, the leading cause of death in the construction trade. These incidents can often be prevented when employers use proper safety protections. Unfortunately for its employees, Great White Construction Inc. has repeatedly put the safety of its workers at risk, the U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspectors found.

March 27, 2015

OSHA News Brief: Florida-based contractor exposes its workers to 200-foot falls and silica dust at two work sites; OSHA cites company for serious safety and health hazards [03/27/2015]

Employer name: Maxim Construction Group Corp. of Hallandale Beach, Florida.

Inspection sites: 230 174th Street Sunny Isles Beach, Florida 33160 1400 S. Ocean Drive, Hollywood, Florida 33019

Date investigation initiated: OSHA initiated the October 2, 2014 safety and health inspections after receiving complaints alleging fall hazards at two work sites.

March 27, 2015

OPA News Release: Statement of US Labor Secretary Perez about Sen. Reid's retirement [03/27/2015]

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

"From his roots in a mining community, to the boxing ring, to his work as an officer with the Capitol Police, to the top position in the United States Senate, few public servants in America embody the values of hard work, humility and sacrifice better than Senator Harry Reid.

March 27, 2015

OSHA News Release: Labor Secretary announces bulletin on preventing green tobacco sickness [03/27/2015]

WASHINGTON — Dehydration, dizziness, headaches and vomiting are just a few of the symptoms of nicotine poisoning, also known as "green tobacco sickness." Workers who plant, cultivate and harvest tobacco are particularly at risk. U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez today announced the release of a recommended practices bulletin with guidance on reducing the hazards for tobacco workers.

March 27, 2015

OFCCP News Release: Comment period on proposed sex discrimination rule extended [03/27/2015]

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor has announced a two-week extension of the comment period for its proposed rule governing the obligations of federal contractors and subcontractors not to discriminate on the basis of sex in their employment practices.

March 26, 2015

WHD News Release: More than 1,100 New Jersey gas station attendants receive $5.5 million in back wages and damages in US Labor Department enforcement initiative [03/26/2015]

MOUNTAINSIDE, N.J. — In the past five years, more than 1,100 attendants at Shell, Exxon, BP and other leading brand gas stations in New Jersey have been denied the minimum wage and, in some cases, overtime pay. These workers have received $5.5 million in back wages and damages recovered thanks to a multiyear enforcement initiative conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division.

March 26, 2015

WHD News Release: U.S. Labor Department lawsuit seeks back wages, damages for 34 Chicago limo drivers employed by Town & Country Limousine [03/26/2015]

Date of Action: March 6, 2015

Type of Action: FLSA lawsuit

Names of Defendants: DT & C Global Management LLC d/b/a/ Town & Country Limousine, John Jansen, William Lynch

March 26, 2015

OSHA News Brief: New Hampshire electrical contractor exposes employee to fall and electric shock hazards at Concord jobsite [03/26/2015]

Employer name: Daniels Electric Corp., an electrical contractor based in Gilford, New Hampshire.

Inspection site: 8 Loudon Rd., Concord, New Hampshire 03301.

Date inspection initiated: The inspection began Dec. 8, 2014. An OSHA inspector driving by the worksite observed a Daniels Electric Corp. employee without fall protection replacing a light fixture on the roof atop the Buffalo Wild Wings Restaurant. An inspection was immediately opened.

March 26, 2015

WHD News Release: More than 1,100 New Jersey gas station attendants receive $5.5 million in back wages and damages in US Labor Department enforcement initiative [03/26/2015]

MOUNTAINSIDE, N.J. — In the past five years, more than 1,100 attendants at Shell, Exxon, BP and other leading brand gas stations in New Jersey have been denied the minimum wage and, in some cases, overtime pay. These workers have received $5.5 million in back wages and damages recovered thanks to a multiyear enforcement initiative conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division.

March 26, 2015

MSHA News Release: MSHA announces results of February impact inspections [03/26/2015]

ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced that federal inspectors issued 195 citations and 15 orders during special impact inspections conducted at 12 coal mines and five metal and nonmetal mines in February.

Begun in force in April 2010, the monthly inspections involve mines that merit increased agency attention and enforcement due to their poor compliance history or particular compliance concerns. The following are the details of one mine's inspection:

March 25, 2015

WHD News Release: Security firm fails to protect fair wages and benefits of 650 guards in Puerto Rico, owes them nearly $350K in back wages and damages [03/25/2015]

GUAYNABO, Puerto Rico — Alpha Guards Management Inc. provides security guards to ensure the safety of employees of businesses and government agencies in Puerto Rico. Yet, the San Juan-based employer failed to protect its own employees by violating their right to a fair day's pay for a fair day's work.