SAIPAN, NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited USA Fanter for serious confined space violations after three employees died from exposure to hydrogen sulfide gas.

On July 7, 2017, USA Fanter employees were working in and around a well that was not identified as a permit-required confined space. When one employee was overcome by fumes after entering the well, two other employees attempted to rescue him, and were also overcome by the gas.

APOLLO BEACH, FL – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Tampa Electric Co. and Gaffin Industrial Services Inc. after five employees were fatally injured, and one other suffered serious burns.

In the week ending December 23, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 245,000, unchanged from the previous week's unrevised level of 245,000. The 4-week moving average was 237,750, an increase of 1,750 from the previous week's unrevised average of 236,000.

LOS ANGELES, CA – Investigations in Southern California by the U.S. Department of Labor have found $1.6 million in back wages and liquidated damages due to 1,377 garment industry employees since January. Those amounts resulted from violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) found in 94 percent of 129 Wage and Hour Division investigations of garment facilities in the region during that period.

The Department also assessed an additional $36,000 in civil money penalties associated with those investigations.

CHICAGO, IL – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited three Chicago area companies that worked on the renovation of Chicago’s Old Post Office for failing to protect employees from lead and cadmium exposure. The companies face a total of 31 citations and proposed penalties of $220,497.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced nearly $60 million in grants to NGOs and a range of organizations to promote labor law enforcement and help end exploitative labor practices in 25 trade partner countries. The grants will support projects to combat some of the most abusive labor practices, including the use of child labor, forced labor, and human trafficking in global supply chains. New technical assistance will also support trade partners’ compliance with the labor requirements of U.S. trade agreements and preference programs.

MANCHESTER, NH – The U.S. Department of Labor has reached a settlement with a Maine vegetable farm after an investigation found that it willfully violated terms of the H-2B non-immigrant visa program under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). Under the settlement agreement, Green Thumb Farms Inc. of Fryeburg has paid $10,164 in penalties to the Department and agreed to comply with the law, applicable H-2B regulations, and the obligations agreed and attested to in all of its temporary employment certification applications.

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta issued the following statement today regarding President Trump’s signing of tax reform legislation:

“Tax reform will continue the strong economic growth we’ve seen this year. Tax reform is about job creation and is great news for any American who has a job, is looking for a job, or creates jobs.

CHARLESTON, WV – The U.S. Department of Labor and a West Virginia nursing home and rehabilitation company have reached an agreement to resolve alleged overtime violations of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

Stonerise Healthcare LLC will pay $61,840 in back wages and an equal amount in liquidated damages to 498 healthcare employees at 16 facilities in West Virginia.

ATGLEN, PA – The U.S. Department of Labor and a Pennsylvania manufacturing company reached an agreement to resolve alleged overtime, recordkeeping, and child labor violations of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

Stoltzfus Structures LLC will pay $188,572 in back wages and an equal amount in liquidated damages to 47 employees. The company also has been assessed, and has not contested, a penalty in the amount of $30,800 for violations of the child labor provisions of the FLSA.

FOSTORIA, OH – Nox US LLC, an Ohio manufacturer of luxury vinyl tile, faces $514,236 in proposed penalties after inspectors from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited the company for machine safety violations.

CONCORD, NH – A New Hampshire man has pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of obstruction of justice in connection with a U.S. Department of Labor wage and hour investigation and litigation. It is believed to be the first federal criminal prosecution arising from a Department wage and hour investigation in New Hampshire.

NEW HAVEN, CT – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Connecticut Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Division (CONN-OSHA), New Haven Building Trades, and Dimeo Construction Company, have established a strategic partnership to promote workplace safety and health, and educate employees on construction hazards during construction of a new science building in New Haven.

In the week ending December 16, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 245,000, an increase of 20,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 225,000. The 4-week moving average was 236,000, an increase of 1,250 from the previous week's unrevised average of 234,750.

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta issued the following statement today in response to Congressional approval of tax reform legislation:

“Passage of tax reform is welcome news for American workers, job seekers, and job creators. We’ve seen strong job growth since President Trump took office, with 1.7 million jobs added since January. Tax reform that makes America more competitive will bolster continued job creation and will help increase wages for American workers.”

ATCHISON, KS – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Bartlett Grain Company LP have signed a comprehensive settlement requiring the company to implement safeguards, training, and audit procedures at its 20 grain handling facilities in six states.

LOUISVILLE, KY – American Security Programs Inc., a security service providing armed guards, will pay $277,306 in back wages to 61 employees after a U.S. Department of Labor investigation found the company violated the McNamara-O’Hara Service Contract Act (SCA), the Contract Work Hours and Safety Standard Act (CWHSSA), and the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

WASHINGTON, DC – The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Census of 2016 Fatal Occupational Injuries reports there were 5,190 workplace fatalities in 2016, a 7-percent increase from 2015. The fatal injury rate also increased from 3.4 per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers in 2015 to 3.6 in 2016.

LOGANVILLE, GA – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited R.A.W. Construction LLC for exposing its employees to trench collapse hazards. The Tallahassee-based company faces proposed penalties of $148,845.

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta visited Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands this past weekend to meet with senior officials managing the recovery efforts and to inspect Job Corps centers damaged during hurricanes Irma and Maria.

“My visit to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands allowed me to see firsthand the resilience of our fellow Americans who are recovering from the devastation of this year’s hurricanes,” said Secretary Acosta.  “We will continue to support the workforce as local communities continue to rebuild.”