WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy invites state governments and other interested stakeholders to participate in an online dialogue from Monday. Aug. 4, to Monday, Aug. 18, on hiring, retaining and advancing workers with disabilities. "State Governments: What Can We Do? Join the Conversation for Change," will help inform ODEP's technical assistance to states.

WASHINGTON — U.S Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez issued the following statement about the July 2014 Employment Situation report released today:

MARION, Ill. — An investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division has determined that Topeka, Kansas-based Assisted Transportation Inc. failed to pay $616,187 in prevailing wages, fringe benefits and overtime to 52 employees, in violation of the Service Contract Act and Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act. The employees provided wheelchair van services to veterans, transporting them between their homes and the Marion and Evansville, Indiana, VA Medical Centers.

AKRON, Ohio — Packaging Corporation of America has been cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for eight — including five repeat — safety violations for failing to protect workers from amputation and other serious hazards. OSHA initiated an inspection Jan. 21, 2014, after receiving a complaint that workers were reaching in to unjam machines without turning off the machinery.

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Tonawanda Coke Corp. and Kirchner LLC face a total of $161,100 in fines from the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration following an explosion that occurred Jan. 31, 2014, at the 3875 River Road plant in Tonawanda. The explosion collapsed brick walls, damaged electrical equipment and injured two permanent plant employees and one temporary employee.

LAKE MILLS, Wis. — Fiberdome Inc. has agreed to limit employee exposure to styrene, pay a $2,000 penalty and accept a general duty clause citation under the Occupational Safety and Health Act alleging that an employee was exposed to styrene over the industry agreed-upon level. The agreement resolves all outstanding citations issued to Fiberdome in September 2013 by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

EAST CAMDEN, Ark. — Austin Powder Co. has been cited for 22 serious and one repeat safety and health violations by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for failing to correct multiple deficiencies in its chemical process safety management and other workplace safety hazards at its East Camden facility. The proposed penalty totals $178,400.

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — Following the collapse of a Clarksburg communication tower in February 2014 that seriously injured two and claimed the lives of two employees and a volunteer firefighter, S and S Communication Specialists Inc. has been cited for two serious workplace safety violations. The citations issued to the Hulbert, Oklahoma-based company follow an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

MANSFIELD, Ohio — Major Metals Co. has been cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for 10 serious safety violations after receiving a complaint alleging hazards at the facility. OSHA proposed penalties of $41,300 for failing to protect workers from amputation, fall and other hazards at the Mansfield-based steel tubing manufacturer.

ARLINGTON, Va. — Implementation of the landmark regulation aimed at preventing black lung disease begins on Aug. 1, according to the U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration.

BILLINGS, Mont. — A 55-year-old finish sander at Oak Creations Inc. died after acute exposure to wood dust during his 15 years with the company.

CHICAGO — Home Depot USA Inc. has been cited for six, including two repeat, one willful and three serious safety violations, at its home improvement store on North Kimball Avenue in Chicago. The repeat and willful violations involved lack of training and maintenance for powered industrial vehicles. Proposed penalties total $110,700.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of International Labor Affairs today announced a $750,000 competitive solicitation for a project to strengthen respect for worker rights in the country of Georgia. The project will advance worker rights primarily through activities to improve the ability of worker organizations to engage effectively with the government and employers.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $2.5 million grant to assist about 650 individuals who were laid off because of the closure of Harrah's Casino Tunica resort, located in Tunica, Mississippi.

"The closure of this resort will have a significant economic impact on the lives of families in the area," said U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez. "This funding will help provide a wide range of reemployment services to prepare these former workers for good jobs in high-demand industries."

ATLANTA — Pablo Lopez of Norcross has been cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for three repeat and one serious safety violation following inspections at two work sites in Milton and Smyrna where employees were performing roofing work without fall protection. The inspections began in February and April 2014 as part of the agency's Regional Emphasis Program on Falls in Construction.

ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration announced today it will publish a proposed rule that would amend its existing civil penalty regulations by simplifying the criteria for assessing health and safety violations and increasing emphasis on more serious safety and health conditions, thus providing improved safety and health for miners. The proposed rule will be published in the Federal Register on July 31.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of International Labor Affairs today announced a $10 million competitive solicitation for a project to address exploitative child labor in Ethiopia.

The project must meet the following criteria:

Date of Action: July 22, 2014

Type of Action: Consent Order and Judgment

Name of Defendant: Stephen Schneider, fiduciary to the Pinnacle Telemarketing Inc. 401(k) Plan in Kaiser and Lebanon, Mo.       

BOSTON — Employees of P. Gioioso & Sons Inc. were exposed to possible electrocution from working close to energized power lines at a Cambridge work site where required safeguards were not used. A May 9 inspection by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration found that employees used a trench rod and a fiberglass pole with a metal end to lift overhead power lines, so that workers could move excavating equipment under the lines and onto the work site. The Hyde Park contractor faces $70,290 in proposed fines

ALBANY, N.Y. — Workers at Keymark Corp.'s aluminum extruding plant on Route 334 in Fonda were exposed to the hazardous substance chromium, high noise levels and falls of up to 17 feet due to the employer's failure to provide and ensure proper safeguards.