December 1, 2015

WHD News Brief: Puerto Rico security guard company to pay more than $166K in back wages, liquidated damages to 243 employees misclassified as independent contractors [12/01/2015]

Date of action: Oct. 30, 2015

Type of action: Consent Judgment

Names of defendant: Optimus Investigations Corp. and Jorge Rivera Berrios

December 1, 2015

OWCP News Brief: Assistance available for current, former nuclear weapons workers and uranium miners in Northwest New Mexico [12/01/2015]

Event: U.S. Department of Labor representatives will host outreach sessions in New Mexico — in Farmington on Dec. 8 and in Grants on Dec. 9 — to assist current and former nuclear weapons workers and uranium miners in the state. Division of Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Denver District Office staff will provide information about the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act and the medical benefits available under the program.

December 1, 2015

OSHA News Brief: Workers exposed to multiple safety hazards at Norwalk, Ohio, packaging plant [12/01/2015]

Employer name: Americraft Carton Inc., Norwalk, Ohio

Citations received: Nov. 23, 2015

Investigation findings: The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Toledo Area Office cited the paperboard packaging plant for seven serious safety violations.

OSHA opened an inspection of the Norwalk plant after receiving a complaint alleging unsafe working conditions that exposed workers to amputation and other hazards.

December 1, 2015

OSHA News Release: 3 OSHA citations since April 2015 for nation's largest cookie, cracker manufacturer [12/01/2015]

MCCOMB, Ohio — A 41-year-old worker cleaning product waste from a factory floor suffered severe scalp injuries and multiple lacerations when a machine caught her hairnet, resulting in her hospitalization for four days. This is the third serious injury involving machine hazards reported this year by Hearthside Food Solutions LLC, which bakes cookies and crackers for national brands.

December 1, 2015

OSHA News Release: Bronx hair salon must pay $165K to fired employee who warned co-workers of formaldehyde hazards [12/01/2015]

NEW YORK — A receptionist fired illegally at a Bronx hair salon in June 2012 for telling her colleagues about the hazards of a formaldehyde-containing straightener the salon used will be compensated for unlawful retaliation, and her former employer will take corrective action, according to a federal consent judgment obtained by the U.S. Department of Labor.

December 1, 2015

OSHA News Brief: Luzerne County box manufacturer failed to abate safety violations and continued exposing workers to hazards [12/01/2015]

Employer name: Midvale Paper Box Co. Inc. located at 19 Bailey Street in Plains, Pennsylvania.

Citations issued: On Nov. 25, 2015, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued citations for one willful, two failure-to-abate, six repeat, and thirteen serious violations.

November 30, 2015

US Labor Department secures judgment to distribute retirement funds to participants in 401(k) Plan in Emeryville, California

Date of action: November 12, 2015

Type of action: Default Judgment

Name of defendant: Lance Silva, National Upholstering Company Inc.

November 30, 2015

OSHA News Brief: US Labor Department investigation reveals Athens Rehab and Senior Care in Alabama failed to pay overtime [11/30/2015]

Employer name: Best Health LLC, doing business as Athens Rehab and Senior Care

Investigation site: 6111 West Market St, Athens, Alabama 35611

November 30, 2015

OSHA News Release: OSHA finds Seaford, Delaware, ice plant failed again to guard machinery, resulting in employee suffering amputation of both legs [11/30/2015]

SEAFORD, Del. — The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration launched an investigation on May 28, 2015, after learning of a worker amputation at Seaford Ice Inc. The agency found that the employee fell into an unguarded conveyer opening while breaking ice, which resulted in the amputation of both of his legs below the knee.

November 30, 2015

OSHA News Brief: Essex County gutter and roof cleaning company again fails to provide workers with fall protection at Bergen County worksites[11/30/2015]

Employer name: Ned Stevens Gutter Cleaning and General Contracting Inc., at 11 Daniel Road East in Fairfield, New Jersey.

The inspected worksites were 349 Windsor Terrace in Ridgewood, New Jersey, and 728 9th Street in Carlstadt, New Jersey.

Citations issued: On November 24, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued citations for two repeat and four serious violations.

November 30, 2015

EBSA News Brief: US Labor Department secures judgment to distribute retirement funds to participants in 401(k) Plan in Emeryville, California [11/30/2015]

Date of action: November 12, 2015

Type of action: Default Judgment

Name of defendant: Lance Silva, National Upholstering Company Inc.

November 24, 2015

MSHA announces results of October impact inspections

ARLINGTON, Va. – The Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced that federal inspectors issued 231 citations and seven orders during special impact inspections at 11 coal mines and five metal and nonmetal mines in October.

November 24, 2015

WHD News Release: US Labor Department secures nearly $290K in back wages, damages for employees of La Bella Vida Assisted Living Facility [11/24/2015]

TAMPA, Fla. — La Bella Vida Assisted Living Facility Inc., a Tampa business, and its owner, Mavel Infante, are paying $287,087 in back wages and liquidated damages to 20 workers. Judge Virginia Hernandez Covington of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida issued a judgment against the firm and its owner on Nov. 17.

November 24, 2015

WHD News Release: Middlefield, Ohio, pallet maker fined for illegally employing 14-year-old to operate machine, resulting in hand amputation [11/24/2015]

MIDDLEFIELD, Ohio — A teenage worker's life was altered forever when his Middlefield employer illegally allowed him to operate a wood planer, which amputated a 14-year-old's hand.

November 24, 2015

WHD News Brief: US Labor Department's investigation of Trademark Garage Floors Inc. in Florida yields nearly $42K in back wages for 22 employees [11/24/2015]

Employer name: Trademark Garage Floors Inc.

Investigation site: 5839 Trouble Creek Road, New Port Richey, Florida 34652

November 24, 2015

WHD News Brief: U.S. Labor Department secures a seven-year debarment against an unregistered farm labor contractor in Hawaii [11/24/2015]

Employer: Tomasa Rincon-Ibarra, as an individual, and doing business as Tomasita Farm Service

Site: Holualoa, Hawaii

November 24, 2015

OSHA News Brief: Gravedigger engulfed in cave-in of unguarded grave at Long Island cemetery [11/24/2015]

Employer name: St. John Cemetery Corp., 80-01 Metropolitan Avenue, Middle Village, New York 11379, which owns and operates five cemeteries throughout the greater New York City area.

Reason for inspection: An employee of St. Charles/Resurrection Cemeteries in Farmingdale, New York, was seriously injured on May 7, 2015, when the walls of the grave opening in which he was working collapsed and buried him up to his waist.

November 24, 2015

OSHA News Brief: Two employers cited for exposing workers to cave-in hazards at an unprotected trench in Conroe, Texas; fines total $65,900 [11/24/2015]

Employers' names: North Texas Contracting Inc. and K&S Contractors

Citations issued: Nov. 19, 2015

November 24, 2015

MSHA News Release: MSHA announces results of October impact inspections [11/24/2015]

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced that federal inspectors issued 231 citations and seven orders during special impact inspections at 11 coal mines and five metal and nonmetal mines in October.