ATLANTA – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration is hosting an April 8 webinar to help employers of all industries participate in a 2026 Safety Stand-Down. 

The webinar will offer support to employers planning events as part of the 20th annual Georgia Struck-by Alliance’s Safety Stand-Down, which is celebrated annually during National Work Zone Awareness Week. In observance of the annual Safety Stand-Down, employers pause work to focus on the prevention of serious injuries and fatalities through training, education, and demonstration of safe workplace practices. 

OSHA staff will offer attendees free resources for compliance assistance, share information about consultation services, and give details about its Safety Champions Program. OSHA staff will also provide employers with information on where to get free resources for safety stand-down events, offer practical ideas to help them host safety stand-downs, and show how they can register their events for a workplace safety certificate.  

OSHA recommends employers host a safety stand-down at their workplace during one or more of the following nationally recognized events: 

• National Work Zone Awareness Week (April 20-24)
• Workers Memorial Day (April 20-24)
• National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction (May 4-8)
• Construction Safety Week (May 4-8)
• Mental Health Awareness Month (throughout May)
• National Heat Awareness Day (May 29)
• Trench Safety Stand Down (June 15-19)

Representatives from the department’s Wage and Hour Division will be on the webinar to provide information about tools available for employers to understand the Family and Medical Leave Act, introduce the division’s compliance assistance toolkits, and discuss the recently expanded PAID program meant to help employers resolve potential violations under the Fair Labor Standards Act and FMLA.

The webinar is free with required registration. For more information, contact OSHA’s Atlanta-West Area Office at 678-903-7301, or email velez.marilyn@dol.gov.

Register for the Score Goals at Work webinar being held on April 8 from noon to 1 p.m. EDT.

BOSTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has cited a Massachusetts-based water and sewer line construction contractor for willfully and repeatedly exposing workers to safety hazards in a trench collapse in November 2025 that claimed the life of an employee and seriously injured another at a Yarmouth worksite.   

The department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigation into the Nov. 18, 2025, incident found that workers from Revoli Construction Co. Inc. were removing sandy soil and installing steel plates outside of a trench. While working, the backfilled sand collapsed and trapped two workers inside the trench. One worker was engulfed and sustained fatal injuries.

“This cave-in is a solemn reminder of the dangers construction workers face when basic safety procedures and safe engineering solutions are ignored. Through our trench safety initiatives, the Department of Labor remains committed to ensuring every worker returns home safe at the end of the day,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer. “We will continue holding employers accountable and providing resources dedicated to hazard training and required engineering controls to put a stop to these preventable tragedies.”

The agency cited the employer with seven willful citations, 33 repeat, and 17 serious violations for:

• Failing to provide workers with a safe way to exit the trench. 
• Lack of adequate cave-in protection.
• Having unsupported underground utilities.
• Maintaining spoil piles within two feet of an excavation.
• Neglecting to install a shoring system per the design.
• Using a damaged protective system.
• Exposing employees to numerous electrical and fall hazards. 

In total, the agency assessed Revoli Construction Co. Inc. $4,699,362 in proposed penalties to address the violations. 

The employer has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

Learn more about OSHA, including how to protect employees engaged in trenching and excavation work. OSHA’s National Emphasis Program on Trenching and Excavation addresses the agency’s efforts to identify and reduce hazards which are causing or likely to cause serious injuries and fatalities during trenching and excavation operations. Employers can contact the agency for free compliance assistance and resources.

ATLANTA – A U.S. Department of Labor follow-up inspection of two Cartersville stone product manufacturers found that the employers failed to address safety violations related to silica exposure the department had identified in previous investigations.

After a follow-up inspection, the department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited Stone Atlanta Countertops Inc., which owns the facility, for two repeat, seven serious, and three other-than-serious violations related to exposures to noise and respirable crystalline silica, including failure to develop a written respiratory protection program, a written exposure control plan for silica, and a written hazard communication program for hazardous materials.

OSHA also cited GT Stone Granite LLC with eight repeat, four serious, and two other-than-serious violations for employees overexposed to noise and respirable crystalline silica. In addition, OSHA found the employer failed to implement a written exposure-control plan and a hazard communication program.

OSHA proposed $42,699 in penalties for Stone Atlanta Countertops Inc. and $73,607 in penalties for GT Stone Granite LLC.

The employers have 15 business days from receipt of its citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

For information on silica hazards, read OSHA’s fact sheet on respirable crystalline silica standard for general industry. OSHA’s National Emphasis Program for Respirable Crystalline Silica addresses the agency’s efforts to reduce worker exposures to silica, microscopic dust that without protection can cause lung cancer and respiratory diseases. Employers can contact the agency for free compliance assistance and resources.

PRESCOTT, WI – The U.S. Department of Labor has cited a Wisconsin beauty and personal care products manufacturer after a 55-gallon fiber drum containing nitrocellulose exploded and started a secondary fire involving flammable liquids. 

Investigators with the department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration initiated an inspection into California-based SV Labs Prescott Corp. after the explosion and subsequent fire, and determined the employer did not have a thorough new hire safety and health program in place and failed to provide newly hired employees with chemical and respiratory protection training, respirator fit testing, and medical evaluations. 

OSHA cited SV Labs Prescott Corp. for two repeat violations related to respiratory protection and hazard communication, and 10 serious violations related to flammable liquids; fire extinguisher training and inspections; forklift training and inspections; electrical hazards; and hazard communications. The employer also received six other-than-serious citations for recordkeeping violations, lack of powered industrial truck training, and unsafe material handling. The agency proposed penalties of $275,694.

The employer has contested the citations before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. Penalties and citations may be adjusted throughout the course of the case process. Please check the OSHA establishment search page periodically for any changes in the inspection or penalty status. 

Learn about chemical hazards and toxic substances and respiratory protections. Employers can also contact the agency for information about OSHA’s compliance assistance resources and for free help on complying with OSHA standards.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration today announced the launch of its OSHA Cares initiative, an agency-wide effort focused on helping businesses meet federal workplace safety requirements, while also building strong, successful safety and health programs that benefit employers and workers.

OSHA Cares highlights the ways OSHA can support employers and provide guidance to ensure all workers arrive home safely after every shift. OSHA is encouraging businesses to seek assistance or guidance to improve safety and health at their worksite. To that end, the agency is making a concerted effort to show businesses it is more approachable by emphasizing the benefits of reaching out for help or collaborating with the agency. 

Last month, OSHA unveiled an updated version of the poster employers are required to display in the workplace. The poster, which features a modern design, includes a message that aims to bring employers and workers together to address safety hazards and concerns. 

Additionally, the OSHA Cares initiative hopes to empower employers to improve workplace safety – particularly small and medium-sized businesses who face unique safety and health challenges – by increasing access to OSHA experts and compliance assistance specialists; improving access to educational and training materials; and offering consistent workplace assistance during enforcement visits and meetings. 

OSHA values working closely with small businesses, listening to stakeholders, building greater collaboration, and expanding compliance assistance to give employers the tools and knowledge they need to develop or build on a safety and health program. The agency’s Directorate of Enforcement Programs is launching a training program that will standardize how the agency’s Compliance Safety and Health Officers will offer real time assistance during inspections and enforcement activities. 

Visit OSHA.gov to learn more about OSHA Cares, ways the agency can help, or how to collaborate with OSHA.

DALLAS – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division will hold a hybrid in-person and virtual agricultural seminar to provide guidance on federal laws governing agricultural industry employment for growers, farmers, shippers, contractors, farm labor contractors, buyers, and agricultural workers nationwide.

The division will join other federal agencies to discuss key agricultural labor topics including the H-2A temporary agricultural program, Fair Labor Standards Act, and Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act.

Participating federal agencies include the department’s Office of Foreign Labor Certification and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Immigrant and Employee Rights Section of the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division, and others.

Discussions will include overviews of the requirements for wages, housing, transportation, field sanitation, farm labor contractor certification, the H-2A petition process, and more.

The seminar is scheduled for March 24, from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. CDT. Registration is required. 

CHICAGO – The U.S. Department of Labor has cited a Midwest commercial bakery for repeatedly exposing employees to safety hazards after a worker suffered a broken arm in September 2025 when clearing dough from a machine while working on the production line. 

The department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited Alpha Baking Co. Inc. with repeat violations for lack of lockout tagout training, failing to lockout a machine during servicing, and other hazards related to unguarded machines. The agency also cited the employer for failing to train employees in electrical work, implement safety-related work practices and use personal protective equipment when performing electrical work. 

OSHA cited Alpha Baking Co. Inc. for three repeat and three serious violations, with proposed penalties totaling $326,276. 

The company has 15 business days from receipt of their citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. Please check the OSHA establishment search page periodically for any changes in the inspection or penalty status. 

Learn about controlling hazardous energy and proper machine guarding.

Learn more about OSHA. Employers can also contact the agency for information about OSHA’s compliance assistance resources and for free help on complying with OSHA standards.

WASHINGTON – In an effort to promote workplace safety, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration today announced the launch of its Safety Champions Program, a new cooperative initiative designed to help employers develop and implement effective safety and health programs. 

The Safety Champions Program meets businesses where they are on their pathway to safety and health success and encourages them to take proactive steps with a philosophy of continuous improvement to prevent workplace injuries, illnesses, and fatalities.

“The Department of Labor’s new Safety Champions Program exemplifies the Trump Administration’s commitment to supporting and empowering job creators,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer. “By providing employers with these resources, we are putting American workers first and keeping them healthy and safe on the job.”

The program has three progressive steps: Introductory, Intermediate, and Advanced, each aligned with OSHA’s recommended practices for safety and health programs. This tiered structure allows employers to build their safety and health programs over time and adopt best practices tailored to their needs and operations.

Participants can choose to work independently or collaborate with Special Government Employees – individuals with safety and health experience who work alongside OSHA to provide guidance and technical assistance.

The Safety Champions Program emphasizes seven elements that are essential for effective safety and health programs: management leadership, worker participation, hazard identification, prevention and control, education and training, program evaluation, and communication. By incorporating these elements, employers can create safety and health programs that not only meet regulations but also enhance workplace safety and health.

Upon completion of all three levels of the Safety Champions Program, participants are expected to have implemented all seven elements and show plans for continuous improvement of their safety and health programs, thus demonstrating their commitment to maintaining a safe and healthy work environment.

Outreach materials will include detailed information on how to sign up for the program, making it easy for interested employers to become Safety Champions.

Learn more about the Safety Champions Program and how to sign up!

SEMINOLE, FL – The U.S. Department of Labor cited a Florida utility construction contractor for Duke Energy after one worker was electrocuted and two others injured at a Seminole site in August 2025.

Investigators with the department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration determined a work crew from Primoris Services Corp. – operating as Primoris T&D Services LLC – was replacing a utility pole when the pole contacted an energized overhead transmission line, fatally electrocuting a lineman and sending two other workers to the hospital.

OSHA cited the employer with three serious violations for failing to ensure employees maintained the required minimum approach distance from exposed energized parts or have the transmission line deenergized, assign a designated observer to monitor approach distances and provide warnings, and ensure the job briefing covered special precautions required when working under energized transmission lines.

OSHA proposed $49,650 in penalties.

The employer has contested the citations before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. Penalties and citations may be adjusted throughout the course of the case process. Please check the OSHA establishment search page periodically for any changes in the inspection or penalty status.

Learn more about OSHA, including tips to protect employees when working near overhead power lines. Employers may contact the agency for information about OSHA’s compliance assistance resources and for free help on complying with OSHA standards.

SAN ANTONIO, TX – A federal whistleblower investigation has revealed that Union Pacific Railroad Co. again violated the Federal Railroad Safety Act by terminating a switchman/conductor after they reported and sought medical care for a work-related injury. 

An investigation by the department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration found Union Pacific violated the law by firing the worker after they reported their work-related injury to management and sought medical treatment. 

OSHA has ordered Union Pacific to reinstate the employee and pay back wages, interest, compensatory and punitive damages, and attorney’s fees totaling over $315,000.     

OSHA’s Whistleblower Protection Program enforces 25 whistleblower statutes that protect employees from retaliation for reporting violations of workplace airline, anti-money laundering, commercial motor carrier, consumer product, criminal antitrust, environmental, financial reform, food safety, health insurance reform, maritime, motor vehicle safety, nuclear, pipeline, public transportation agency, railroad, safety and health, securities, and tax laws. 

For information on whistleblower protections, visit OSHA’s Whistleblower Protection Programs webpage.

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Editor’s note: The U.S. Department of Labor does not release the names of employees involved in whistleblower complaints.