November 6, 2014

US Labor Department achieves restoration of nearly $2M in health benefits for welfare benefit plan clients of Cox Enterprises Inc.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has secured a nearly $2 million correction by Cox Enterprises Inc. after the Atlanta, Georgia-based company violated the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. Cox placed annual limits on the dollar amount of benefits that participants and beneficiaries of adult preventive care could claim in plan years 2011, 2012 and 2013. The law prohibits companies from placing annual limits on health benefits.

November 6, 2014

OSHA News Release: Bremer Manufacturing Co. cited in death of worker at Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, aluminum foundry [11/06/2014]

ELKHART LAKE, Wis. — A 55-year-old worker was found unresponsive in a restroom at Bremer Manufacturing Co. Inc. on May 6, 2014, and later died. The man, who had been employed at the Elkhart Lake foundry for the past 38 years, worked with resin-containing isocyanates on the sand molding line. Following an inspection, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration found that the company failed to train workers on the physical and health hazards of chemicals in the workplace.

November 4, 2014

OSHA finds that overloading led to Providence, Rhode Island, circus fall

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus cited for serious safety violation

November 4, 2014

OSHA News Release: Southern Wood Works of Freeport, Florida, cited for exposing workers to safety hazards; more than $70K in penalties proposed [11/04/2014]

WATERSOUND, Fla. — Southern Wood Works LLC was cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for five safety violations following an August 2014 inspection at a Compass Point Way residence in Watersound. Citations were issued for failure to provide employees with fall protection equipment and exposure to falls from heights of up to 17 feet. OSHA initiated the inspection as part of its Regional Emphasis Program on Falls in Construction. Proposed penalties total $71,069.

November 4, 2014

OSHA News Release: Workers exposed to combustible dust and other serious hazards at Paris, Illinois, cornstarch processing facility [11/04/2014]

PARIS, Ill. — Workers were exposed to combustible cornstarch dust, dust particles in excess of permissible exposure limits and other hazards at Septimus Inc. The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited the company for 21 serious safety and health violations, carrying proposed penalties of $46,400. A complaint prompted the inspection at the facility, which processes cornstarch for use in laundry detergent and other products.

November 4, 2014

OSHA News Release: Bricklayers exposed to fall hazards as high as 30 feet at residential construction sites in Philadelphia [11/04/2014]

PHILADELPHIA — Bricklayers were exposed to fall hazards as high as 30 feet above the ground while creating the exterior finish of new single-family dwellings at two work sites in Philadelphia, according to workplace safety and health citations issued against Vyacheslav Leshko, doing business as T and S Masonry LLC. U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration officials conducted the inspections after inspectors from the Philadelphia Department of License and Inspections made referrals to the department.

November 4, 2014

OSHA News Release: AGE Industries Ltd. in Conway, Arkansas, cited for exposing workers to struck-by, amputation and electric shock hazards [11/04/2014]

CONWAY, Ark. — For exposing workers to struck-by, amputation and electric shock hazards, custom design and packaging manufacturer AGE Industries Ltd. is being cited for 14 safety violations, with a proposed penalty of $78,500, by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

November 4, 2014

OSHA News Release: OSHA finds that overloading led to Providence, Rhode Island, circus fall [11/04/2014]

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — A "Hair Hang Act" performance during a Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus show on May 4 in Providence took a disastrous turn when the apparatus the performers were hanging from suddenly fell to the ground. An investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has determined this incident occurred because the carabiner used to support the performers failed from being improperly loaded.

November 4, 2014

OSHA News Release: Frozen bread-maker exposed workers to amputation, electric shock hazards [11/04/2014]

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Service and maintenance machine workers at Good Old Days Foods Inc. are being exposed to amputation and electric shock hazards due to a lack of machine guarding and lockout/tagout procedures. These violations, 14 in total, are being cited by the U.S.

November 4, 2014

EBSA News Release: US Labor Department files suit against fiduciaries of Wheeling, West Virginia, retirement plans [11/04/2014]

PITTSBURGH — The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a lawsuit to protect participants in the Wheeling Corrugating Company Retirement Security Plan and the Salaried Employees' Pension Plan of Severstal Wheeling Inc. The department seeks to correct fiduciary breaches by the plans' investment manager and plan administrator, which caused the plans to sustain losses and lost earnings in excess of $7 million.

October 31, 2014

US Labor Department sues metal and wood fabrication company in Reading, Pennsylvania, to restore employee contributions to retirement plan

Date of Action: Oct. 29, 2014

Name(s) of Defendant: David Braunsberg, Quality Control Pattern & Model Inc. and Quality Control Pattern & Model Inc. SIMPLE IRA

Allegations: Based on an investigation conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Secretary of Labor filed a complaint alleging the following:

October 31, 2014

More than $66,000 to be restored to AAR Inc. 401(k) Plan in Newark, California, under consent judgment obtained by US Labor Department

Date of Action:  Oct. 28, 2014

Type of Action: Consent Judgment and Order

Names of Defendants: All American Rentals Inc., Michael Carter, and the AAR Inc. 401(k) Plan

October 31, 2014

OFCCP News Release: More time to comment on proposed rule to collect summary pay data from federal contractors [10/31/2014]

US Labor Department will extend Equal Pay Report comment period through Jan. 5, 2015

October 31, 2014

MSHA News Release: MSHA announces results of September impact inspections [10/31/2014]

ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced that federal inspectors issued 192 citations, five orders and one safeguard during special impact inspections conducted at nine coal and four metal and nonmetal mines in September.

October 31, 2014

EBSA News Release: Trustees and owner of DirecTV installer ordered to restore more than $6.48M to pension plans [10/31/2014]

MERIDIAN, Miss. — Following a 19-day trial, a U.S. District Court judge has issued a judgment and order requiring fiduciaries to pay more than $6.48 million to the two employee stock ownership plans sponsored by Bruister and Associates Inc. The order stems from a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Labor in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Northern Division, alleging that the fiduciaries caused the plans to pay too much for BAI stock.

October 30, 2014

OSHA News Release: Employee fatally injured after being caught in machinery at Alpha Baking Co. [10/30/2014]

CHICAGO — A 31-year-old engineer was fatally injured on May 27, 2014, when his head was struck by an unguarded rotating gear arm on a piece of bakery equipment at Alpha Baking Co. Inc. The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited the Chicago baking plant for six serious safety violations following the tragic incident.

October 30, 2014

OSHA News Release: OSHA cites Central Transport again for forklift, fall hazards [10/30/2014]

ELGIN, Ill. — Bosco Custom Homes Inc. has again been cited for failure to provide fall protection to workers on three separate residential framing projects. The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited the company for 30 violations, including three willful, 20 serious and seven repeat safety violations. Proposed penalties total $174,240.

October 29, 2014

U.S. Department of Labor sues Spartan Roofing Company Inc. to distribute more than $397,300 of profit sharing plan assets following investigation

Date of Action: Oct. 23, 2014

Type of Action: Complaint Filed

Name of Defendant: Spartan Roofing Company Inc. and the Spartan Roofing Company Inc. Profit Sharing Plan in Lansing, Michigan

Allegations: Spartan Roofing Company Inc. failed to formally terminate the Spartan Roofing Company Inc. Profit Sharing Plan and process distributions to employees who were entitled to their retirement benefits in the Plan, in violation of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. As of June 27, 2014, the Plan had 13 participants and assets totaling $397,369.23.

October 29, 2014

OSHA News Release: Alabama's Wayne Farms poultry plant cited for exposing workers to musculoskeletal, other repeat, serious safety and health hazards [10/29/2014]

Alabama's Wayne Farms poultry plant cited for exposing workers<BR /> to musculoskeletal, other repeat, serious safety and health hazards

JACK, Ala. — Wayne Farms LLC, which makes products under brand names Dutch Quality House and Platinum Harve