Date of Action: Sept. 11, 2014

Type of Action: Complaint

Name(s) of Defendants: Polar Dry Ice Inc. and Polar Dry Ice Inc. 401(k) 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:

Date of Action: Sept. 10, 2014

Type of Action: Consent order and judgment

Name(s) of Defendant(s): David Kephart, Timothy Kephart, Kephart Trucking Co., and the Kephart Trucking Co. 401(k) 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:

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. — Central Transport LLC has been cited for five, including three repeat, one willful and one serious safety violation, at its trucking terminal in Rock Island following a formal complaint. OSHA's inspection in March 2014 found repeat and willful violations that involved defective powered industrial vehicles and lack of fall protection. Proposed penalties total $108,020.

BRUNDIDGE, Ala. — Supreme Oil Co.-South was cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for 14 safety and health violations following a March 2014 inspection at the company's oil production facility on North Main Street in Brundidge. OSHA initiated the inspection due to a complaint and to complete a follow-up to a previous inspection it conducted in March 2012. Proposed penalties total $234,960. Since 1994, Supreme Oil has had 11 OSHA inspections conducted at its Alabama and New Jersey facilities.

HAMMOND, Wis. — After an unguarded laminating machine crushed a worker's hand and partially amputated his thumb, Loparex LLC has been cited for one willful safety violation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration. OSHA initiated the inspection May 8, 2014, after receiving information about the injury at the Hammond facility, a manufacturer of polycoated and silicone-coated papers and films. Proposed penalties total $70,000.

Agreement includes $537K for 102 female applicants

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $953,415 National Emergency Grant incremental award so that approximately 405 workers affected by the closure of a Cargill Meat Solutions beef processing plant located in Plainview, Texas, can continue receiving re-employment services. These funds are being awarded to the Texas Workforce Commission.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration today announced a final rule requiring employers to notify OSHA when an employee is killed on the job or suffers a work-related hospitalization, amputation or loss of an eye. The rule, which also updates the list of employers partially exempt from OSHA record-keeping requirements, will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2015, for workplaces under federal OSHA jurisdiction.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy today announced a total of $8,422,574 in continued funding for organizations that develop models, provide technical assistance and share best practices to improve employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

"Individuals with disabilities have skills and experiences that employers need," said U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez. "These federal grants will help connect these workers with employers and put them on the path to economic self-sufficiency."

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $953,415 National Emergency Grant incremental award so that approximately 405 workers affected by the closure of a Cargill Meat Solutions beef processing plant located in Plainview, Texas, can continue receiving re-employment services. These funds are being awarded to the Texas Workforce Commission.

NEW YORK — Inadequate safeguards to protect workers against potential ammonia releases at its Brooklyn, N.Y., ice plant have resulted in $264,700 in U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration fines for Arctic Glacier U.S.A., Inc., a nationwide ice manufacturer and distributor. OSHA cited the company for 19 violations of workplace safety standards following a comprehensive inspection by OSHA's Manhattan Area Office that began in March.

HARTFORD, Conn. — Gleason Roofing Co. deliberately and repeatedly failed to use legally required fall protection for its employees at two New Britain work sites and exposed workers to potentially fatal falls, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration determined. The Enfield roofing contractor faces four willful and two serious violations of safety standards and $294,000 in fines.

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — After receiving information that a worker had suffered severe injuries after being crushed between two machines, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Vallourec Star for 22 serious safety violations. The machine operator suffered multiple fractures to his pelvis, Feb. 27, 2014, and has been unable to return to work. The investigation found that Youngstown steel mill workers were exposed to crushing, amputation and fall hazards.

PEORIA, Ill. — After an inspection by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Rohn Products LLC has been cited for 11 serious safety and health violations at its steel tower manufacturing plant on Plank Road in Peoria. Many of the violations involve exposing workers to amputation and crushing hazards during the daily operation of dangerous machinery. Proposed penalties total $66,700.

HAMILTON, Ohio — Exposing workers to cave-in hazards while installing water mains has resulted in Mt. Pleasant Blacktopping Inc. being cited for one willful and one serious safety violation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration. OSHA opened the April 27 inspection after observing employees working in three separate unprotected trenches on Symmes Road in Hamilton. Proposed penalties total $77,000.

More than 3,600 African American, Asian American, Hispanic and female applicants to benefit

MIDLAND, Texas — To continue its mission to keep oil and gas workers safe, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has renewed its 2008 alliance with the Permian Basin Service, Transmission, Exploration and Production Safety Network in Midland.

ONEONTA, Ala. — Diversified Fabricating Inc. was cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for 23 safety and health violations, including exposure to amputation and fall hazards, following an inspection at the company's facility on Commerce Drive. At the time of the inspection, initiated as part of OSHA's National Emphasis Program on Amputations, workers were engaged in fabricating steel drums used in the lumber mill industry. Proposed penalties total $73,500.

SAN ANTONIO — Roma Construction Inc., a stucco plastering subcontractor of Monticello Homes, is being cited for five repeat and seven serious violations by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The company exposed workers to falls hazards of up to 20 feet as a result of improper scaffolding at the Hastings Ridge at Kinder Ranch residential development. The proposed penalty is $79,200.

SAGINAW, Mich. — Aleda E. Lutz Veterans Administration Medical Center employees in Saginaw were exposed to asbestos, bloodborne pathogens and unsafe operation of powered industrial vehicles, a U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspection found.