OSHA partners with 25K businesses to prevent falls in construction and save lives

BRAINTREE, Mass. — A 46-year-old worker at a Boston steel fabrication shop died on Dec. 9, 2013, when a 12,000-pound steel bridge arch beam that he was spray painting fell and crushed him. An investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration found that his employer, Boston Bridge & Steel Inc., failed to ensure that the fallen beam and three similar beams were adequately braced or supported to prevent them from falling while workers painted them.

HOUSTON, Texas — Tanner Timber Services LLC was cited with five violations, including one willful, by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for failing to protect workers from hazardous, unguarded machines. An employee was struck and killed by a piece of lumber in excess of 800 pounds that kicked out of a machine at the company's Kountze facility.

Date of Action: May 22, 2014

Type of Action: Complaint

Name(s) of Defendant(s): Stephen Scott Danby, Jr., Danby Lumber and Millwork Co. Inc. and Danby Lumber and Millwork Co. Inc. 401(k) profit sharing plan

Allegations: Based on an investigation conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Secretary of Labor filed a complaint alleging the following:

ATLANTA — The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division will offer a comprehensive compliance seminar for federal contractors, unions and employees on the rules governing prevailing wage requirements under the Davis-Bacon Act, McNamara-O'Hara Service Contract Act and Executive Order 13495 wage rules for nondisplacement of qualified workers.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — American Made Tires, an Elmira Heights, tire retreader, failed to correct 12 hazards cited during a 2013 inspection by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Because of that inaction, and the discovery of new and recurring hazards during a follow-up OSHA inspection, the company faces an additional $160,280 in proposed fines.

AUSTIN, Texas — Lindamood Demolition Inc. and Texas Cutting & Coring were both cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for a total of five violations, including two willful, following the death of a skid-steer loader operator during the redevelopment of Kyle Field Stadium at Texas A&M University.

ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced that federal inspectors issued 147 citations and 15 orders during special impact inspections conducted at 12 coal mines and four metal and nonmetal mines in April.

CHICAGO — For the second time this year, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Pan-Oceanic Engineering Co. Inc. for failing to protect workers from trenching hazards at a job site at East 93rd Street and South Woodlawn Avenue in Chicago. OSHA cited the company for willful violations for again failing to protect workers from trench cave-ins while installing water and sewer lines in November 2013. Proposed penalties total $147,000.

PARK FALLS, Wis. — The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Flambeau River Papers for failing to protect workers from hazards associated with exposure to sulfur dioxide at the Park Falls paper mill. Sulfur dioxide is used in treating wood pulp for paper manufacturing and can cause numerous adverse effects to the respiratory tract when vapors are inhaled. OSHA cited eight violations, carrying proposed penalties of $42,300.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $771,218 National Emergency Grant to Arkansas following damage caused by the severe weather events that occurred on April 27. These funds are being awarded to the Arkansas Department of Workforce Services to hire temporary workers to assist in cleanup and recovery efforts.

ARLINGTON, Va. — In the wake of two mine stakeholder safety summits held in less than four weeks, the U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration announced today it is stepping up efforts even further to counteract the recent spike in mining deaths.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a total of $4,204,401 for two National Emergency Grants to assist approximately 650 workers affected by recent layoffs in Idaho.

"Workers affected by these layoffs will need to be trained in the latest skills in order to be competitive in today's workforce," said U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez. "This funding will provide the resources these workers need to become employed in the region's fastest growing industries and occupations."

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $771,218 National Emergency Grant to Arkansas following damage caused by the severe weather events that occurred on April 27. These funds are being awarded to the Arkansas Department of Workforce Services to hire temporary workers to assist in cleanup and recovery efforts.

Date of Action: April 18, 2014

Type of Action: Consent Judgment and Order

Name(s) of Defendant(s): Robert Mack Durham, Sharon Kaye Durham, Palmetto Family Medical Group Inc.

PHOENIX — The U.S. Department of Labor has recovered $198,085 in back wages for 23 workers employed by Glendale-based Tierra Contracting Inc. for willful violations of the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts and the Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act. Tierra Contracting and its owner, Richard Juarez Sr., also have been debarred from applying for federally funded contracts for a period of three years because of the egregious nature of the violations found.

SAN ANTONIO — The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services, Alamo Area Disability Alliance and Workforce Solutions Alamo are sponsoring two events May 29 to encourage diversity in hiring.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of approximately $15 million in grants to state workforce agencies to develop flexible and innovative strategies to increase the participation of people with disabilities in existing career pathways programs in the public workforce system.

"Water. Rest. Shade." and acclimatization are critical in preventing heat illness and fatalities

NEW YORK — Enviro & Demo Masters Inc. and Gladiators Contracting Corp., along with the companies' owner Jover Naranjo and foreman Luperio Naranjo Sr., have been ordered to pay a total of $656,646 to 37 workers after failing to pay them the required prevailing wage rates and fringe benefits on a federally funded construction project in New York City. Due to the extent and willful nature of the violations, all parties have been ordered to be debarred from seeking and obtaining federal contracts for a three-year period.