BARBERTON, OH ‒ In less than two years, three workers at a leading tool manufacturer in Barberton suffered injuries from unguarded machinery.

The latest injury occurred on Oct. 26, 2022, when a worker suffered a left thumb amputation while hand-feeding parts into a drill press using air-activated clamps. The worker had been on the job for just three months. In December 2020 and June 2022, two other workers performing similar tasks suffered laceration injuries.

Responding to the employer report of the amputation, investigators with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited Wright Tool for one willful violation of machine guarding standards, as well as two serious and one other-than-serious violations. The company faces proposed penalties of $164,742. Employers are required to report amputations to OSHA within 24 hours.

“Wright Tool was aware of the need to improve their guarding but failed to do so,” explained OSHA Area Director Howard Eberts in Cleveland. “Without proper guards and safety procedures in place, moving machine parts can cause severe workplace injuries. Employers have a legal responsibility to protect workers from hazards and train them on how to do the job safely.”

OSHA found the company also failed to conduct hazard assessments to identify personal protective equipment needs and other requirements, did not test energy control procedures at least annually or train each employee to ensure they understood hazardous energy control procedures, and failed to enclose shafting.

Since 1927, Wright Tool Company has forged wrenches, ratchets, sockets and attachments with distribution to the automotive, hardware and industrial markets.

The company has 15 business days from receipt of the 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 and safeguarding equipment and protecting workers from amputations.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh has made several appointments and changes to the staffing of the appeals boards that review a variety of workplace and worker rights claims. The actions will increase efficiency, ensure workplace justice and improve the quality of services provided to the nation’s workers and families.

With these appointments, the Administrative Review Board, Employee Compensation Appeals Board and the Benefits Review Board all contain their full complements of judges.

The changes made by Secretary Walsh are as follows:

Administrative Review Board: On Feb. 13, 2023, Ned Miltenberg was appointed as the board’s newest member.  Since his 2022 arrival, the Secretary has appointed four out of the five ARB members, including Chair and Chief Judge Susan Harthill, Vice Chair Tammy Pust and Board Members Ivey Warren and, now Miltenberg. Thomas Burrell also remains a member.

Employee Compensation Appeals Board: Judge James D. McGinley, formerly of the ARB, now joins the ECAB which gives the board full membership. All other board members remain in place.

Benefits Review Board: Vice-Chair Daniel T. Gresh is the newly reassigned to the BRB Chair; Member Jonathan Rolfe will now serve as Vice Chair; Former Chair Judith Boggs, Greg J. Buzzard and Melissa Lin Jones all remain as Members. 

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh joined Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health Doug Parker today to sign a memorandum that gives the Occupational Safety and Health Administration the authority to issue certifications in support of applications for U Nonimmigrant Status and T Nonimmigrant Status visas.

“U Visas” and “T Visas” allow victims of specific crimes to help law enforcement detect, investigate and prosecute crimes without fear of retaliation based on their immigration status. These visas provide immigration status to non-citizen victims and allow them to remain in the U.S. to assist authorities in combatting human trafficking and other crimes.

For the first time, OSHA will be able to issue these visa certifications – during its workplace safety investigations – when the agency identifies qualifying criminal activities, including manslaughter, trafficking, extortion, felonious assault, forced labor and obstruction of justice.

OSHA’s new authority – effective March 30, 2023 – will strengthen its ability to protect all workers, including those whose immigration status or other social and cultural inequities discourage them from sharing information with investigators or reporting workplace safety and health issues. The authority will also provide the agency with a critical tool for protecting immigrant and migrant worker communities regardless of their lack of immigration status or temporary employment authorization.

“Expanding OSHA’s U and T visa certification authority helps the agency better fulfill its mission to make U.S. workplaces as safe and healthy as possible,” said Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health Doug Parker. “Workers in the U.S. need to feel empowered and able to trust OSHA and the U.S. Department of Labor enough to voice their concerns about workplace safety regardless of their immigration status and fears of retaliation.”

“By enabling OSHA to issue U and T visa certifications, we will be empowering some of our economy’s most vulnerable workers to tell us if their jobs are jeopardizing their safety and health, and that of their co-workers, and to support our enforcement efforts,” Parker added.

The initiative announced today aligns with the department’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility plan and the Biden-Harris administration’s effort to advance racial equity and support for underserved communities across the federal government and improve job quality nationwide.

Learn more about worker rights and protections.  

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh issued the following statement about the December 2022 and January 2023 sentencings of six trade union leaders in Belarus:

“The U.S. is deeply concerned about the sentencing of six trade union leaders to prison in closed proceedings in Belarus on charges of ‘harming national security,’ ‘inciting social hatred,’ and ‘creating or participating in an extremist group.’ These actions gravely harm the labor movement in Belarus.

“On Dec. 27, 2022, Aliaksandr Yarashuk, Siarhei Antusevich and Iryna Bud-Husaim – leaders of the Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions – were sentenced to one-and-a-half to four years in prison. On Jan. 5, 2023, Henadz Fiadynich, Vasil Berasnieu and Vatslau Areshka – leaders of the Radio-Electronic Industry Workers Union – received sentences of between eight and nine years in prison. All of these people suffer from health conditions that require specialized treatment, and we urge their urgent release on humanitarian grounds.  

“This latest development in Belarus continues an ongoing and serious deterioration of labor rights there. Democratic and independent trade unions are essential to healthy, inclusive democracies and thriving economies.

“We call on the Lukashenka regime of Belarus to end its human and labor rights abuses, which include arbitrary arrests, acts of violence, harassment and intimidation against citizens in Belarus, including trade unionists who exercise their human and labor rights. Specifically, we urge the immediate and unconditional release of all trade union leaders and members, and the more than 1,400 political prisoners unjustly imprisoned for participating in peaceful assemblies or for exercising their fundamental freedoms.”

TULSA, OK – In a visit to Tulsa, Oklahoma today, Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh highlighted the need to promote economic justice for people in Black and other underserved communities and how the U.S. Department of Labor is working to help business owners create good-paying jobs and equip workers to fill these positions in these communities.   

Secretary Walsh first met with Greenwood Chamber of Commerce President Dr. Freeman Culver, then visited the Greenwood Rising Black Wall Street History Center and then toured the city’s historic Greenwood District with chamber leaders and a group of small business owners.

During the tour, Secretary Walsh learned about the critical role the district, also known as “Black Wall Street” played in Tulsa’s economic development and about the contributions made by area residents to America’s civil rights movement. He visited the Greenwood Rising Black Wall Street History Center, which memorializes how a once thriving, 35-square-block area of successful Black-owned businesses was leveled during the Tulsa Race Riot of 1921. As many as 300 people were killed here in one of the worst acts of racial violence in American history.

At the history center, Secretary Walsh spoke with descendants of some of the survivors of the devastation.

He talked about the importance of supporting Black business owners to create good jobs and how the U.S. Department of Labor is working to improve the lives and opportunities of Black workers and underserved communities.

“Understanding history’s successes and failures allows us to change our present and our future by ending economic injustice and making sure people in underserved communities share in our nation’s prosperity,” explained Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh. “The Biden-Harris administration is empowering Black entrepreneurs in places like Tulsa with new investments that will lead to business start-ups, innovation and job creation. Supporting Black businesses builds Black wealth and provides good-paying jobs for workers in these communities.”

Before departing, Secretary Walsh spoke with students from the Tulsa Job Corps Center and met  with journalism students from Langston University and Tulsa Community College.

The Secretary also met with the following small business owners:

• Wanda J. Armstrong and Ty Walker of Wanda J’s Soul Food  
• Cleo Harris of Black Wall Street T-Shirts and Souvenirs 
• Angela Robinson of Black Wall Street Corner Store and More 

Secretary Walsh also visited several area facilities supported by the Biden-Harris administration’s efforts to respond better to the needs of underserved communities. These visits included the U.S. Black Chambers of Commerce’s Greenwood Women’s Business Center – where he offered brief remarks on workforce development and expanding training opportunities – and the Talking Leaves Job Corps Center in Park Hill, where he joined leaders of the Cherokee Nation for a facility tour.

WASHINGTON – To help meet the need for auto technicians in the growing electric vehicle industry, the U.S. Department of Labor today announced a national partnership with Mercedes-Benz USA to train Job Corps students initially at centers in Kentucky, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Utah for automotive industry careers.

The agreement between the global automaker and the nation’s largest job training and education program will enable Mercedes-Benz USA to develop the curriculum, train Job Corps instructors to deliver it, provide technical support and donate materials, tools and equipment needed to educate the students.

The public-private partnership is designed to create pathways for students from 16 to 24 years of age toward good-paying jobs as auto technicians, including potential employment with Mercedes-Benz.

“Job Corps’ partnership with Mercedes-Benz reflects the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to expanding and strengthening training opportunities for our next generation of working Americans,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh. “This initiative will equip students with the skills they need for good jobs today and careers in the emerging energy economies of tomorrow.”

Job Corps will now offer students opportunities to study high-voltage and electric vehicles, and training opportunities with high-voltage vehicles at the following campuses: Earle C. Clements Job Corps in Morganfield, Kentucky; Westover Job Corps in Chicopee, Massachusetts; Edison Job Corps in Edison, New Jersey; and Clearfield Job Corps in Clearfield, Utah.

“This training program is an ideal entry point for students who want to become professionals in the automotive industry, especially aspiring electric vehicle mechanics,” said Job Corps National Director Rachel Torres. “Having Mercedes-Benz train our Job Corps students is a great example of the public and private sectors working together to prepare students for careers and provide companies with skilled workers.”

Established in 1965, Mercedes-Benz USA is headquartered in Atlanta and is responsible for the distribution, marketing and customer service for all Mercedes-Benz products in the U.S. The company employs about 1,600 people at its U.S. manufacturing, distribution, testing and other locations. The company also has 383 associated dealerships in the U.S. selling its model line of 16 vehicles.

Founded in 1964, Job Corps is the nation’s largest job training and education program. Mostly a residential program in urban and rural areas, it provides students from 16 to 24 years of age with vocational training and academic experiences to increase opportunities towards gainful employment and career pathways. Job Corps offers career technical skills training in 10 high-growth industry sectors, including welding, information technology, hospitality, health care and automotive repair at no cost to students.

The Job Corps network currently has 121 centers in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

Learn more about Job Corps.

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh issued the following statement on the January 2023 Employment Situation Report:

“Today, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the American economy added 517,000 jobs in the month of January, and the unemployment rate ticked down to 3.4 percent, the lowest rate since May of 1969. With 12.1 million jobs added since President Biden took office and a monthly average of 356,000 jobs over the past three months, we began 2023 with more strong, steady job growth that benefits workers and their families.

“Growth was widespread across industries, with notable gains in restaurants and bars, retail stores, healthcare facilities, professional and business offices, and construction. We saw jobs added in the care economy that make it possible for more people to work, and labor force participation increased among workers between the ages of 25 and 54. The unemployment rate for Black workers dropped to near an all-time low – although at 5.4 percent it remains higher than the overall rate and indicates an important area of focus for our economic equity policies.

“With unemployment down, and infrastructure and manufacturing investments moving forwards across the nation, we are truly seeing what it looks like to build an economy from the bottom up and the middle out. At the Department of Labor, we remain focused on making sure all the jobs being created are good jobs and making sure all workers have access to these opportunities.”

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor announced today that it is accepting applications for the 2023 HIRE Vets Medallion Award. The award is presented annually to employers that meet standards for excellence in the recruitment, hiring and retention of America’s military veterans.

Initiated by the Honoring Investments in Recruiting and Employing American Military Veterans Act, the award recognizes small businesses, non-profit organizations and large companies for leadership in promoting veterans’ employment. The open application period begins the 2023 HIRE Vets Medallion Award cycle. Employers meeting criteria for the award will join more than 1,600 employers recognized by the department for their support of America’s veterans.

“The HIRE Vets Medallion Award is the only federal-level veterans’ employment award that recognizes a proven commitment to veteran hiring,” said Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh. “The HIRE Vets Medallion Award is a meaningful and important recognition. Veterans and their families benefit from careers with real growth potential and employers gain dedicated, qualified employees who can make a significant contribution to the bottom line.”

To complete the application process, employers must verify that their organization meets award requirements, pay the application fee and comply with the rules promulgated by the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act and the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Act. Employers must apply by April 30, 2023.

Apply for the 2023 HIRE Vets Medallion Award.

WASHINGTON – The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement’s Interagency Labor Committee for Monitoring and Enforcement today requested that the government of Mexico conduct another review at the VU Manufacturing parts facility in Piedras Negras, Coahuila, in response to an allegation the facility continues to deny workers’ rights.

The request follows the ILC’s receipt of a new petition filed under the USMCA that claims the auto parts manufacturer continues to deny workers the rights of freedom of association and collective bargaining. The Interagency Labor Committee is co-chaired by the U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. Trade Representative.

“This is the second time in less than a year we’ve received allegations of workers’ rights violations by VU Manufacturing. The Biden administration is unrelenting in its efforts to champion workers’ rights to organize and bargain collectively, here and abroad,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh. “The Rapid Response Mechanism addresses real workplace issues and helps to get the parties to do what they should, which is to resolve issues in good faith at the bargaining table.”

 “A core tenet of the Biden administration’s worker-centered trade policy is ensuring workers’ right to organize and collectively bargain without fear of retribution or intimidation. Despite this facility taking positive actions in 2022, some of the failures we identified previously appear to be recurring,” said U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Katherine Tai. “The Rapid Response Labor Mechanism allows us to return to a facility to address new concerns, and we look forward to working with the government of Mexico to promptly address this issue.”

On Dec. 29, 2022, the department received a second USMCA Rapid Response Labor Mechanism petition filed by the Liga Sindical Obrera Mexicana, a Mexican union, and the Comité Fronterizo de Obreras, a Mexican labor rights organization. The two groups allege that VU Manufacturing has continued to illegally discriminate by favoring the minority company union. They also report the facility has denied access rights to LSOM organizers in violation of Mexican law, and allowed members of the company union to intimidate and threaten LSOM members.  

The committee found sufficient and credible evidence of a new denial of rights at VU Manufacturing, which enabled the good faith invocation of the Rapid Response Labor Mechanism. Mexico’s government has 10 days to agree to conduct a review and 45 days to investigate the claims and to present its findings. 

The USMCA Rapid Response Labor Mechanism is the first of its kind and allows the U.S. to take enforcement action based on the labor situation at an individual factory in Mexico if such facility fails to comply with domestic freedom of association and collective bargaining laws.

Learn more about the department’s international work.

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh today issued a statement regarding the release of the Telecommunications Workforce Interagency Group’s report to Congress:

“The telecommunications industry provides access to critical communications tools for people across the country and significant opportunities to create good jobs for U.S. workers, including people in underserved communities. Today’s report reflects the substantial work done by the Telecommunications Workforce Interagency Groups to identify strategies for addressing the industry’s needs.

Allow me to join Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel in expressing our appreciation for the interagency group’s efforts, and extend special thanks to the group’s Chair Amy Brett, acting chief of staff of the Federal Communication Commission’s Wireless Bureau; and Vice Chair Scott Ketcham, director of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Directorate of Construction, for their contributions and leadership.”

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law directed the Chairwoman of the Federal Communications Commission to work with the Secretary of Labor to establish an interagency working group to issue a report to Congress on recommendations for addressing the needs of the telecommunications industry, including the safety of its workforce.