LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The goal of a new strategic partnership formed today between the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration and general contractor CDI Contractors LLC is to ensure the health and safety of workers during the construction of the Little Rock Outlets Mall in Little Rock.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Burlington Northern Santa Fe LLC wrongfully terminated an employee in Kansas City after he reported an injury to his left shoulder, according to the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy today announced the launch of http://www.PEATworks.org — a comprehensive Web portal spearheaded by ODEP's Partnership on Employment & Accessible Technology. From educational articles to interactive tools, the website's content aims to help employers and the technology industry adopt accessible technology as part of everyday business practice so that all workers can benefit.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of International Labor Affairs today announced a $1 million competitive solicitation for a project to assist the government of the Philippines with improving compliance with labor laws and regulations, including those related to occupational safety and health.

WASHINGTON — Kathy Pierce expected her son, Chad Weller, to come home on March 19, 2014, at the end of his shift as a cell tower climber. But Weller, always ready with a smile for his mother, never came back. He was sent up alone to fix a communication signal on top of a water tower in the rain while wearing a harness two sizes too big — and he lost his life in a fatal fall. Chad Weller is one of 11 workers who have lost their lives in 2014 while constructing or repairing cell towers.

AUSTIN, Texas — A newly upgraded Wage and Hour Division district office has opened in Austin to connect employees, employers, community organizations and other stakeholders with resources and assistance to ensure compliance with federal wage and hour laws. The district office is located in the J.J. Pickle Federal Building at 300 E. 8th St., Suite 865, Austin, 78701.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of International Labor Affairs today announced a $1,389,000 competitive solicitation for a project to assist the government of Mexico to combat labor discrimination by supporting enforcement of the strengthened anti-discrimination provisions in Mexico's Federal Labor Law Reform of 2012.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez issued the following statement today on the awarding of the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize:

"I want to congratulate two courageous human rights champions, Kailash Satyarthi and Malala Yousafzai, for receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. Kailash Satyarthi's tireless campaign to end forced child labor and Malala Yousafzai's fearless global advocacy for the right of boys and girls to an education are helping to transform the global landscape of children's rights.

WASHINGTON — From Ray Suarez's "Latino Americans" to Jeffrey Marcos Garcilazo's "Traqueros: Mexican Railroad Workers in the United States," books that focus on Hispanics and work are being highlighted during Hispanic Heritage Month as part of the U.S. Department of Labor's Books that Shaped Work in America initiative.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration announced today that the Nationwide Coal Mine Rescue Skills Championship, hosted by the Mining Technology and Training Center in Prosperity, Pennsylvania, drew 24 mine rescue teams from across the country for two days of competition. The winners were announced on Oct.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration today announced it is launching a national dialogue with stakeholders on ways to prevent work-related illness caused by exposure to hazardous substances. The first stage of this dialogue is a request for information on the management of hazardous chemical exposures in the workplace and strategies for updating permissible exposure limits.

TOLEDO, Ohio — Two employees of Industrial Power Systems were exposed to cave-in hazards while installing steam and chill water piping for the construction of a recreation center on the University of Toledo campus. The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited the company for one willful and one serious safety violation, carrying proposed fines of $75,000.

CINCINNATI — An employee was severely injured when he became caught in unguarded arbor rollers at Kloeckner Metals Corp. on April 22, 2014. The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited the Cincinnati manufacturing plant with one repeat and three serious safety violations, carrying proposed penalties of $56,000.

HAVERHILL, Ohio — Following the death of an employee at Haverhill Chemicals LLC, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited the manufacturer for 21 serious and two other-than-serious safety violations. Many of the violations involve OSHA's Process Safety Management Standards, which contain specific requirements for managing highly hazardous chemicals used in work. The company has been placed in OSHA's Severe Violator Enforcement Program.

ANDOVER, Mass. — FedEx Ground Packaging System Inc. failed to guard a conveyor belt properly at its Wilmington shipping distribution center and exposed its employees to potential injuries, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has found.

Date of Action: October 8, 2014

Type of Action: Complaint

Name of Defendant: Raydar Inc., formerly known as Raydar & Associates Inc., Raydar & Associates Inc. Safe Harbor 401(k) Plan

Date of Action: October 8, 2014

Type of Action: Complaint

Name of Defendant: Raydar Inc., formerly known as Raydar & Associates Inc., Raydar & Associates Inc. Safe Harbor 401(k) Plan

HARTFORD, Conn. — Manchester-based Rockville Construction LLC has been cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for 25 serious violations of workplace safety and health standards. The contractor, responsible for the Hockanum Mill renovations in Rockville, faces $107,100 in fines for inadequate safeguards against lead exposure, respirator deficiencies, falls and electrical hazards.

Date of Action: October 6, 2014

Type of Action: Complaint

Name of Defendant: H.C. Watson Corp., doing business as Interim HealthCare, James C. Watson and Melissa Moore

Date of Action: October 6, 2014

Type of Action: Complaint

Name of Defendant: H.C. Watson Corp., doing business as Interim HealthCare, James C. Watson and Melissa Moore