Violations exposed miners to black lung, explosion hazards

ARLINGTON, Va. — An impact inspection at the Rhino Eastern LLC's Eagle Mine 3 in Wyoming County, West Virginia, found conditions that put miners at risk of developing black lung disease and that increased the potential for deadly explosions, underscoring the importance of mine safety vigilance and the need for continued improvements in controlling coal dust.

TAMPA, Fla. — Burgos Construction Corp. has been cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for four willful, one repeat and two serious safety violations after OSHA inspectors observed employees performing residential construction without using a fall protection system at four work sites in Lithia, Tampa, Riverview and Land O' Lakes. The company was hired to build a new apartment complex in Tampa and work on three new residences.

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

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — An employee of Nueces Electrical Co-op in Corpus Christi has received $46,920 in back wages and damages after an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division found the company in violation of the Family and Medical Leave Act.

BOSTON — Donald Pottern, doing business as Crown Furniture, will pay a former employee $12,500 and take other corrective action to resolve an anti-discrimination lawsuit filed in May by the U.S. Department of Labor.

HARTFORD, Conn. — An inspection by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has found that workers at the TLD Ace Corp. manufacturing plant in Windsor were exposed to potential falls, burns and electric shock due to missing or inadequate safeguards at the company's manufacturing plant.

BRAINTREE, Mass. — Employees at the Dollar Tree Stores Inc. location in Boston's Roslindale neighborhood repeatedly faced the dangers of blocked exits and hazardous conditions in the store's stockroom, according to an inspection by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Dollar Tree Stores faces a total of $177,800 in proposed fines following a complaint inspection by OSHA's Braintree Area Office.

SMYRNA, Ga. — Jose M. Hernandez Cruz, doing business as JA Siding Construction Services LLC, of Marietta, has been cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for three repeat and four serious safety violations. Citations were issued to the employer for exposing workers to falls and other hazards while employees were installing siding at a new residence on Westwood Road SE in Smyrna. OSHA began its inspection in February 2014 as part of the region's emphasis program on falls in construction. Penalties total $42,240.

ARLINGTON, Va. — Although improvements in roof control technology have led to a significant decrease in accidents related to roof and rib (wall) falls, such accidents are still a leading cause of injuries in underground coal mines, according to the U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has established an alliance with Project BEST (Building Efficiency by Striving Together) to help protect construction workers from four hazards: falls, struck-by, caught-in and electrical.

MINNEAPOLIS — A consent judgment entered in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota has returned a total of $203,212 to clients of the Pro Systems Corp. Group Health Plan. The company provided health care services for clients of Detroit Lakes-based Pro Systems, PRO Resources and MICROPRO. The judgment resolves a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Labor alleging violations of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act for failing to disclose to clients that some fees collected for insurance costs were used for nonhealth plan purposes.

NEW YORK — The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a consent judgment in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York ordering the restaurant chain Manna's to pay a total of $956,482 in back wages and liquidated damages to 85 low-wage workers following an investigation by the department's Wage and Hour Division. The restaurant chain, owned by Betty Park, Kenny H.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Two Pep Boys-Manny, Moe & Jack of Delaware Inc. work sites in Aurora and Lone Tree were cited for two repeat and one serious violation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for failing to abate previously cited violations and continuing to expose workers to hazards from dangerous equipment. OSHA began its inspection of the automotive service centers in December 2013 after receiving a worker complaint. Proposed penalties total $58,300.

SAN ANTONIO — Fresh From Texas Inc., a fresh fruit and vegetable processer for H-E-B Grocery stores and fast-food markets, and staffing agency iWorks Personnel Inc. have been cited for 18 violations by the U.S.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez issued the following statement today regarding the U.S. Supreme Court's Harris v. Quinn decision:

"Home care workers do heroic work, providing high-quality, compassionate care that allows seniors and people with disabilities to live at home with independence and dignity.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $1,064,034 grant to assist approximately 148 workers affected by layoffs at Haemonetics Corp., located in Braintree, Massachusetts.

"Workers impacted by these layoffs will need assistance to gain suitable employment in new industries and occupations," said U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez. "This federal grant we're awarding today will help these individuals by providing a full array of re-employment services, opening up paths to new careers."

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $1,593,803 National Emergency Grant to provide re-employment services to approximately 330 workers affected by the closure of the H.J. Heinz Co. LP facility, located in Pocatello, Idaho.

"This federal grant will help Idahoans receive the job training and assistance needed to obtain new middle-class jobs," said U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez. "During this time of transition for these workers, this support is vital to helping them continue to climb the ladder of success."

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and their Government of Jordan counterparts met and issued a joint statement regarding the second Labor Subcommittee meeting under the U.S-Jordan Free Trade Agreement in Amman, Jordan.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced grants totaling $154,757,547 awarded to 32 states, Puerto Rico and the Cherokee tribal nation through the Job-Driven National Emergency Grant program. The funding will be used to train workers who lost a job through no fault of their own for jobs in high-demand industries.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez today announced grants totaling $36,710,368 awarded to 156 organizations nationwide to provide more than 12,000 veterans with training to help them succeed in civilian careers. The grants are being awarded under the department's Homeless Veterans' Reintegration Program, administered by the Veterans' Employment and Training Service.