WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced the appointment of four new members and re-appointment of two current members to the Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health. They will serve two-year terms and represent the interests of the public, employers, employees and government.

The 15-member committee meets at least twice a year. The newly appointed and re-appointed members will join nine other current members serving the remainder of their terms on the committee.

30 states, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands receive funding

New process will increase ease, accessibility and transparency of filing process

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration today announced that it will introduce electronic processing for H-2A and H-2B foreign labor certification applications filed by U.S. employers or their authorized representatives. A notice about the new process is in the Sept. 28 edition of the Federal Register, which can be viewed at http://s.dol.gov/WT.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending September 22, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 359,000, a decrease of 26,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 385,000. The 4-week moving average was 374,000, a decrease of 4,500 from the previous week's revised average of 378,500.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced an award of a $950,000 grant to the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America in Arlington, Va., to establish the Office of Disability Employment Policy's Accessible Technology Action Center, a national resource that will facilitate and promote the use of accessible technology in the hiring, employment, retention and career advancement of individuals with disabilities.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy today awarded a $1,098,573 grant to the National Disability Institute in the District of Columbia to establish the National Center on Leadership for the Employment and Advancement of People with Disabilities. The new center will focus on improving employment outcomes and promoting the economic advancement of people with disabilities.

ARLINGTON, Va. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today awarded $1,250,000 in grants through its Brookwood-Sago program to seven organizations that provide education and training within the mining industry. The funding will be used to develop and implement training and related materials for mine emergency preparedness, as well as for the prevention of accidents in underground mines.

WASHINGTON — Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced the release of three revised reports on global child labor and forced labor that were prepared by the department's Bureau of International Labor Affairs. At an event to release the reports, held at U.S. Department of Labor headquarters, Secretary Solis was joined by Sen. Tom Harkin of Iowa; Gayle Smith, special assistant to the president and senior director at the National Security Council; and Ian Solomon, U.S. executive director of the World Bank.

Kentucky coal mine undergoes 10th targeted inspection, served with judgment by default

ARLINGTON, Va. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced that federal inspectors issued 255 citations, 13 orders and two safeguards during special impact inspections conducted at 11 coal mines and four metal/nonmetal mines last month.

Departments of Commerce and Labor partner to help companies create jobs, invest in America

AUSTIN, Texas — The U.S. Department of Labor has settled a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, Austin Division against Hao Hao Inc., doing business as Hao Hao Restaurant, in Austin, and its owner Kevin Quach, for violations of the minimum wage, overtime and child labor provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act. The company and Quach have agreed to pay more than $70,000 owed to 10 current and former kitchen staff and servers.

JERSEY CITY, N.J. – The U.S. Department of Labors Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Continental Terminals Inc., based in Jersey City, with 18 alleged safety and health violations at the companys warehouse in Kearney.OSHA initiated an inspection upon receiving a complaint. Proposed fines total $162,400.

WASHINGTON – Preliminary results from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' National Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries were released today. Findings show that the number of fatal work injuries in 2011 was slightly lower than final results from 2010. Last year, 4,609 workers died from work-related injuries, down from a final count of 4,690 in 2010. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis issued the following statement in response to the census:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Labor today awarded a $5,790,739 National Emergency Grant increment to assist with continuing cleanup and recovery efforts in New York in the wake of Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee in 2011.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending September 15, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 382,000, a decrease of 3,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 385,000. The 4-week moving average was 377,750, an increase of 2,000 from the previous week's revised average of 375,750.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced $20,654,352 for seven states under the Disability Employment Initiative to improve education, training, and employment opportunities and outcomes for youth and adults with disabilities who are unemployed, underemployed and/or receiving Social Security disability benefits. The initiative is jointly funded and administered by the department's Employment and Training Administration and its Office of Disability Employment Policy.

MT. LOOKOUT, W.Va. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Roger Shortridge Construction, based in Mt. Lookout, for one willful and two serious violations at a Tridelphia work site. OSHA initiated an investigation in March after a compliance officer observed fall hazards while conducting an inspection of another contractor at the work site. Proposed penalties total $47,400.

ALPHARETTA, Ga. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited SEI Group of Norcross with four repeat safety violations for exposing workers to fall hazards while they were wrapping insulation material for a new residence located in Alpharetta's Castleberry Estates. OSHA initiated an inspection in June as part of the agency's Local Emphasis Program on Falls in Construction.

NEW YORK – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Blade Contracting Inc., based in Staten Island, with seven safety – including one willful – violations for fall hazards at a Jersey City, N.J., work site. The investigation was initiated after a worker with the masonry contractor was injured by falling from a sixth floor balcony while attempting to access a suspension scaffold. Proposed penalties total $136,290.

DELAWARE CITY, Del. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Formosa Plastics Corp. USA with 16 alleged safety and health violations at its Delaware City site. A March investigation was a follow-up to two inspections opened in October 2009. Proposed penalties total $148,700.