August 5, 2015

MSHA calls for stepped-up enforcement after accidents claim 3 miners' lives

Deadly 24-hour period prompts closer scrutiny of mining deaths

ARLINGTON, Va. – In the wake of a deadly day in mining in which three miners lost their lives in separate incidents in Nevada, North Dakota and Virginia on Aug. 3, the Mine Safety and Health Administration is stepping up enforcement efforts and intensifying outreach and education nationwide.

August 5, 2015

WHD News Release: US Labor Department's Wage and Hour Division to offer free compliance seminar in Nashville, Tennessee on August 13 [08/05/2015]

Date and Time: Thursday, Aug. 13, 2015 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. CDT

Location:

Nashville Tennessee Main Library Conference Center Room #1 615 Church Street Nashville, Tennessee 37219 (The closest parking is in the parking garage adjacent to library)

August 5, 2015

OSHA News Brief: The Atlanta Journal Constitution cited for repeatedly exposing workers to amputation, electrocution and other workplace hazards [08/05/2015]

Employer name: Cox Enterprises Inc. doing business as The Atlanta Journal Constitution

Inspection site: 6455 Best Friend Road, Norcross, Georgia 30071

Date citations issued: The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued citations to the employer on July 30. The inspection was initiated on March 12, 2015, as part of the agency's National Emphasis Program on Amputations.

August 5, 2015

OSHA News Brief: Workers exposed to multiple safety and health hazards at boiler manufacturer [08/05/2015]

Employer name: Superior Holding, Inc., operating as Superior Boiler Works Inc., Hutchinson, Kansas

Citations issued: Aug. 4, 2015.

Investigation findings: The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Wichita area office issued one repeat and 16 serious safety violations to the industrial boiler manufacturer. The violations include:

August 5, 2015

MSHA News Release: MSHA calls for stepped-up enforcement after accidents claim 3 miners' lives [08/05/2015]

ARLINGTON, Va. — In the wake of a deadly day in mining in which three miners lost their lives in separate incidents in Nevada, North Dakota and Virginia on Aug. 3, the Mine Safety and Health Administration is stepping up enforcement efforts and intensifying outreach and education nationwide.

August 5, 2015

US Labor Department proposes rule extending religious liberty protections to participants in federally-funded job training, social service programs [08/05/2015]

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships today announced a proposed rule that would provide beneficiaries of social service programs supported by department grants — such as those enrolled in employment and training programs — with religious liberty protections while continuing to ensure equal protection of the laws for faith-based and community organizations that receive federal financial assistance and provide such services.

August 4, 2015

Labor Department receives judgment for more than $1.3M from DSI Contacting Inc. after misuse of employee retirement funds

Date of action: July 24, 2015

Type of action: Summary judgment and order

Names of defendants: Burgess Baird Jr. and DSI Contracting Inc.

August 4, 2015

WHD News Release: Nashua, New Hampshire, painting contractor to pay nearly $500K in wages, damages and penalties [08/04/2015]

MANCHESTER, N.H. — The Fair Labor Standards Act ensures that employees receive proper wages and overtime for all hours worked. It also prohibits employers from retaliating against employees who cooperate with investigations by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division.

August 4, 2015

OSHA News Brief: U.S. Labor Department sues Continental Alloys and Services Inc. in Houston for wrongfully firing an employee [08/04/2015]

Date of Action: Aug. 4, 2015

Type of Action: Lawsuit for violating the whistleblower provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Act

Name of Defendant: Continental Alloys and Services Inc. in Spring, Texas

August 4, 2015

OSHA News Release: OSHA again cites Kapco Inc. after portion of employee's finger amputated; co-worker has similar injury in 2014 on same machine [08/04/2015]

OSCEOLA, Wis. — Just one year after a worker amputated part of her right index finger on a spot welding machine at an Osceola metal stamping plant, a 19-year-old female co-worker suffered a similar injury on the same machine. U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspectors found that her employer failed to implement safety procedures they agreed upon to protect workers from machine operating parts.

August 4, 2015

OSHA News Brief: Florida pallet recycling company exposes temporary and full-time workers to deadly safety hazards following OSHA inspection [08/04/2015]

Employer name: Pallet Recycle of Alabama Inc.

Inspection site: 2424 Lasso Ave., Lakeland, Florida 30801

Date citations issued: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued 29 citations to the employer on Aug. 3. The safety inspection was initiated in March 2015, as part of the agency's National Emphasis Program on Amputations. A health inspection related to excessive noise was initiated in April.

August 4, 2015

OSHA News Release: Nursing facility to implement procedures to reduce musculoskeletal injuries suffered by workers providing resident care [08/04/2015]

CINCINNATI — Employees at a Cincinnati nursing care facility will benefit from improvements the company is making to its policies and procedures for transferring residents at Twin Towers, a provider of skilled nursing care services.

Nursing facilities have among the highest rates of serious work-related injuries and musculoskeletal disorders, including those of the neck, upper extremities and lower back, which account for a significant portion of these injuries.

August 4, 2015

EBSA News Brief: Labor Department receives judgment for more than $1.3M from DSI Contacting Inc. after misuse of employee retirement funds [08/04/2015]

Date of action: July 24, 2015

Type of action: Summary judgment and order

Names of defendants: Burgess Baird Jr. and DSI Contracting Inc.

August 3, 2015

OSHA News Brief: OSHA cites Chaney Roofing Maintenance for exposing workers to fall hazards [08/03/2015]

Employer name: Chaney Roofing Maintenance Inc. 7040 State Route 101 Clyde, Ohio

Investigation site: 10300 W. US-224 Findlay, Ohio

Date investigation initiated and what prompted inspection: The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Toledo Area Office issued a safety citation to Chaney Roofing Maintenance Inc., July 22. OSHA opened an investigation of the contractor after observing workers exposed to fall hazards while roofing an Art-Van Furniture Store, June 16.

August 3, 2015

OSHA News Brief: Worker suffers severe burns at Bellevue, Ohio, plastic company [08/03/2015]

Employer name: Wilbert Inc., Belmont, North Carolina

Investigation site: Wilbert Inc., operating as Wilbert Plastic Services 635 Southwest Street Bellevue, Ohio

July 30, 2015

WHD News Release: Cable installation company pays more than $350K in overtime wages to 246 workers after US Labor Department investigation [07/30/2015]

PHOENIX — For 246 current and former employees of an Arizona cable installation company, a fair day's pay for a fair day's work is finally ringing true as their employer has pay them a total of $350,150 in back wages after failing to pay them overtime rates, as required by federal law.

July 30, 2015

OSHA News Release: Steel roller fatally crushed maintenance worker, safety guards ignored [07/30/2015]

MILWAUKEE — Proper safety guards would have stopped a 1,500-pound steel roller before it crushed and killed a 59-year-old maintenance worker, but his employer did not use them, a U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspection has found.

July 30, 2015

OSHA News Brief: Plastics company exposes workers to combustible dust, corrosive chemicals and other safety hazards [07/30/2015]

Employer name: BWay Corp.

Location: Bryan, Texas

Date citations issued: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued the citations on July 30, 2015. The inspection was opened in February in response to a complaint of unsafe working conditions.

July 30, 2015

OFCCP News Release: Crowley, Louisiana, packaging manufacturer settles charges of hiring discrimination, will pay $235K in lost wages to more than 300 applicants [07/30/2015]

NEW ORLEANS — Hiring choices based on the belief that a person of one race works harder than others are wrong and they are illegal, federal investigators have reminded a Louisiana packaging manufacturer.

In an agreement with the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, La Pac Manufacturing Inc. settled allegations of systemic hiring discrimination against more than 300 applicants at its Crowley facility. The company, a federal contractor, has agreed to pay $235,000 in lost wages.