PHILADELPHIA — In 2012, 243 workers nationwide died while engaging in tree trimming and clearing activities. Reversing this statistic is at the heart of a Regional Emphasis Program announced today by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration to reduce workplace fatalities that occur during tree trimming and clearing operations throughout the area covered by OSHA's Wilmington, Del., Area Office, which includes the state of Delaware.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez today issued the following statement regarding the resolution under consideration at the meeting of the United States Conference of Mayors in Dallas, Texas, June 20-23 that calls for an increase in the national minimum wage:

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of $74 million in grants to 37 community service organizations to provide employment, training and support services to successfully re-integrate formerly incarcerated adults and youth involved in the juvenile justice system into their communities. Grantees are expected to provide a range of services that include case management, mentoring, education and training that leads to industry-recognized credentials.

HOUSTON, Texas — Gillespie Lumber Ltd. in Nacogdoches was cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for 13 violations, including seven for failure-to-abate previous violations in an August 2013 inspection. The company continues to expose workers to dangerous, unguarded machines. The proposed penalty for this follow-up inspection, which began in January, is $125,282.00.

OMAHA, Neb. — As residents recover from the damage caused by the recent tornadoes and severe storms in Pilger, Neb., Sioux City, Iowa, and other areas of Nebraska and western Iowa, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration urges recovery workers, employers and the public to exercise caution during cleanup and recovery efforts.

DAVIE, Fla. — Westwind Contracting Inc., of Pembroke Park, was cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for one willful and two serious violations for exposing workers to safety hazards while installing concrete catch basins for storm water along State Road 84 in Davie. OSHA began the inspection in January 2014 as part of the agency's National Emphasis Program on Trenching and Excavation. Proposed penalties total $76,300.

CHURCH POINT, La. — Acadian Fine Foods LLC was cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for 16 safety and health violations, including 14 serious, one willful and one repeat violation, following a referral inspection that began in December 2013 at the Church Point processing plant. The food processor faces $121,660 in proposed fines for failing to protect workers from overexposure to carbon dioxide, dangerous machines and other safety hazards.

MAPLEWOOD, N.J. — Maplewood Beverage Packers LLC and temporary employment agency Corporate Resource Services Corp. in Elizabeth have been cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for health and safety violations found at the beverage bottling company's Maplewood plant. OSHA's December 2013 investigation, which found willful and repeat violations, was initiated following a referral from the Maplewood Fire Department after a temporary worker was injured after falling from a ladder.

DALLAS — Four restaurants in the Dallas area have agreed to pay $188,970 in back wages to 61 employees following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division that uncovered violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act's minimum wage, overtime pay and record-keeping provisions. The restaurants are Yes Buffet, Grand Prairie; Crown Buffet and Win Chinese Buffet, Dallas; and Royal Buffet, Rowlett.

VIENNA, W. Va. — Las Trancas Inc., doing business as Las Trancas Mexican Cuisine, a full-service restaurant headquartered in Vienna, will pay a total of $365,834 in back wages to 36 workers employed at two establishments in Clarksburg and Marietta, Ohio. Investigations conducted by the U.S.

SPRINGBROOK, Wis. — A complaint investigation found workers at Buchman Lumber Co. LLC were exposed to excessive noise and amputation hazards at the Springbrook lumber plant. The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited the company for 17 — including four willful — violations and proposed penalties of $145,200. OSHA has placed the company in its Severe Violator Enforcement Program.

Date of Action: June 11, 2014

Type of Action: Complaint

Name of Defendant: First Land Title Agency of New York Inc. Profit Sharing Plan

AVENEL, N.J. — On Dec. 4, 2013, temporary worker Ronald Smith died from injuries sustained after he was caught in between a conveyor system and crushed while performing sorting operations at an Amazon fulfillment center in Avenel. Following an investigation initiated in response to the fatality, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited five companies for serious violations, including the contractor responsible for operating the facility, and four temporary staffing agencies.

LUBBOCK, Texas — To serve the workplaces of a diverse and growing area better, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has expanded its office at 1205 Texas Ave. in Lubbock from a district office to an area office to provide more resources to the community.

SAN ANTONIO — Higuchi International Corp., doing business as Higuchi Manufacturing America LLC, has been cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for nine violations, including eight serious citations and one willful violation, for exposing workers to unsafe noise levels and machinery at its Elmendorf facility.

WASHINGTON — Fulfilling President Obama's commitment to make 2014 a year of action to strengthen the economy and grow the middle class, U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez today announced a proposed rule raising the minimum wage for workers on federal service and construction contracts to $10.10 per hour. The proposed rule implements Executive Order 13658, which was announced by the president on Feb. 12.

WASHINGTON — Lincoln Electric Co. has agreed to settle allegations of hiring discrimination on the basis of race following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs. An investigation by OFCCP compliance officers found that the federal contractor violated Executive Order 11246 by using a hiring process that resulted in systemic discrimination against African American applicants.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of $3,444,620 to the commonwealth of Virginia to identify promising practices and to explore, develop and test strategies to improve the employment outcomes of veterans. The initiative is part of the Obama administration's ongoing focus on job-driven training principles that encourage innovation and creativity in developing effective re-employment strategies to help the unemployed return to the workforce.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced $5,945,825 in grants for the fourth round of the Workforce Data Quality Initiative. These funds will enable six states to build or expand longitudinal databases that link workforce and education data and help these states to better understand how education and workforce development programs complement each other.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $1,321,161 grant to assist approximately 200 workers affected by the closure of TRW Integrated Chassis Systems LLC in Saginaw, Michigan.

"As our nation's economic landscape changes, it is critical that hard-working Americans receive retraining that gives them new skills and opportunities to succeed," U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez said. "This grant will do that — sustaining these workers and revitalizing their community."