July 31, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor to Hold Public Stakeholder Meetings on Reducing Mine Accidents Involving Mobile Equipment and Belt Conveyors

ARLINGTON, VA – The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) will hold six public stakeholder meetings and a webinar on the Agency's Request for Information (RFI) on Safety Improvement Technologies for Mobile Equipment at Surface Mines, and for Belt Conveyors at Surface and Underground Mines. The RFI was published in the Federal Register on June 26, 2018.

July 30, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor to Host Event in New Kensington, Pennsylvania, For Current and Former Nuclear Weapons Workers

NEW KENSINGTON, PA – The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) will host an outreach event on Aug. 22, 2018, in New Kensington, Pennsylvania, to inform current and former nuclear weapons workers from 25 facilities in the state about the benefits available to them under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA). Workers' family members may be entitled to benefits and are encouraged to participate. 

July 30, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Cites Three Companies in Oklahoma After Five Employees Fatally Injured by Explosion and Fire

OKLAHOMA CITY– The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Patterson-UTI Drilling, Crescent Consulting LLC, and Skyline Directional Drilling LLC for exposing employees to fire and explosion hazards after five employees suffered fatal injuries.

July 30, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Cites Kansas Grain Bin Operator

WICHITA, KS – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Gavilon Grain LLC – operator of a grain bin based in Wichita, Kansas – after two workers were fatally engulfed in a soybean storage bin. The company faces proposed penalties of $507,374, and OSHA has placed Gavilon Grain LLC in the Agency's Severe Violator Enforcement Program.

July 27, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in Southern California Garage Door Company Paying $55,764 Owed to 43 Employees

SAN DIEGO, CA – Ziegler Inc. – a Santa Ana, California, garage door supplier – will pay $55,764 owed to 43 employees after a U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation found the employer violated minimum wage and overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

July 27, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Announces an Initial Training and Employment Notice to Expand High-Quality Apprenticeships

WASHINGTON, DC – As the Trump Administration works to equip Americans with necessary skills for family-sustaining jobs, the U.S. Department of Labor today announced the next step in the effort to expand the successful apprenticeship model to new industries and to industry sectors with few apprenticeships. Today's action creates the framework for the creation of high-quality industry-recognized apprenticeship programs.

July 26, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor and Manhattan Construction Company Partner To Enhance Safety and Health at Texas Ballpark Project

DALLAS, TX – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Manhattan Construction Company recently signed a partnership to help protect approximately 1,000 workers during construction of Globe Life Field in Arlington. The 1.7 million-square-foot project will be the new home of the Texas Rangers, Major League Baseball organization.

July 26, 2018

Corrected: U.S. Department of Labor Cites East Texas Countertop Company for Safety and Health Violations

TYLER, TX – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Berry Marble Company Inc. – doing business as U.S. Granite – for exposing employees to machine hazards. The Tyler, Texas, natural stone countertop manufacturer faces $318,687 in proposed penalties.

July 26, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Finds Memphis Charter School Unlawfully Terminated Employee, Violating Family and Medical Leave Act

MEMPHIS, TN – An investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) has found Memphis-based public charter school KIPP: Memphis Collegiate High School violated the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) when the school district terminated an employee after denying her right to take time off for a condition that qualified for protected leave. The school district has paid the employee $39,886 in lost wages.

July 26, 2018

Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report

In the week ending July 21, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 217,000, an increase of 9,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 207,000 to 208,000. The 4-week moving average was 218,000, a decrease of 2,750 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 250 from 220,500 to 220,750.

July 25, 2018

Court Orders Contractor to Pay $250,000 for Safety Violations Following Fatal Fall at Dallas Apartment Complex

DALLAS, TX – U.S. District Court Judge Ed Kinkeade has ordered Design Plastering West LLC to pay criminal and civil penalties for criminal violations of occupational safety and health standards after an employee suffered a fatal fall at an apartment complex in Dallas. The court ordered the company to pay a $150,000 criminal fine, $100,000 civil penalty, admit to eight willful violations, and to undergo monitoring by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for four years.

July 25, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Cites Delaware Manufacturing Company For Exposing Employees to Amputation and Other Hazards

NEW CASTLE, DE – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Wilmington Fibre Specialty Company Inc. for exposing employees at its New Castle, Delaware, facility to workplace safety hazards. The company faces $146,152 in proposed penalties.

July 25, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in Sweet Potato Farm Paying $62,793 in Back Wages and Penalties

WYNNE, AR – As a result of a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation, Matthews Sweet Potato Farm, based in Wynne, Arkansas, has paid $56,193 in back wages to 113 employees, and $6,600 in civil money penalties to settle violations of the labor provisions of the H-2A temporary agricultural visa program.

July 24, 2018

U.S Department of Labor Investigation Results in Florida Keys Restaurant Paying $73,626 in Back Wages

MARATHON, FL – FL Food Services LLC, operating as Porky's Bayside Restaurant and Marina, will pay $73,626 in back wages to 35 employees after a U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation found the employer violated overtime and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

July 24, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Announces $22 Million in Grants To Aid in Opioid Epidemic Recovery in Six States

 

WASHINGTON, DC – As the Trump Administration mobilizes to address opioid abuse, the U.S. Department of Labor today announced more than $22 million in National Health Emergency (NHE) Dislocated Worker Demonstration Grant funding to six state grantees. The grants will be used to provide reemployment services for individuals impacted by the health and economic effects of widespread opioid use, addiction, and overdose.

July 24, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Revokes Georgia Farm Labor Contractor Certification After Investigation Finds MSPA Violations

ADEL, GA – The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) has revoked the certificate of registration for H-2A farm labor contractor Jesus Contreras for violating requirements of the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act (MSPA). Contreras provided 29 farmworkers to harvest and package mixed green vegetables at VPC Produce LLC/4 Way Farms LLC in Adel, Georgia.

As a result of the violations, the WHD has assessed Contreras $77,885 in civil money penalties and found that the employer owes $1,894 in back wages to 10 farmworkers.

July 24, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in Payment Of Back Wages to 82 Employees at Tennessee Energy Company

LENOIR CITY, TN – Proton Power Inc. has paid $143,336 in back wages to 82 employees after a U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation found that the biodiesel fuels company violated minimum wage and overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

WHD investigators found Proton Power Inc. of Lenoir City, Tennessee, failed to pay employees at least the minimum wage and overtime rates at time-and-one-half for hours worked over 40 in a workweek due to missed payroll.

July 24, 2018

Orlando Construction Company Violates Federal Child Labor Law By Allowing Minor to Work in Hazardous Occupation

ORLANDO, FL – An investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) has determined Orlando-based construction company GMH Construction Inc. violated child labor and recordkeeping requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). As a result, WHD issued the company $3,530 in civil money penalties.

July 24, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Cites Alabama Manufacturer For Exposing Employees to Workplace Hazards

OPELIKA, AL – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Packaging Corp. of America for exposing employees to unprotected machinery and amputation hazards. The cardboard box manufacturer, based in Opelika, Alabama, faces proposed penalties of $66,612.

July 24, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Cites New Jersey Contractor For Exposing Workers to Safety Hazards

LAKEWOOD, NJ - The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited GMG Brito Contractors LLC for exposing employees to fall and other safety hazards at a residential construction site in Lakewood, New Jersey. OSHA has proposed penalties totaling $127,436.