WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the National Industry Liaison Group (NILG) to support contractor education and training; enable proactive compliance with OFCCP's regulations; and minimize, to the extent feasible, the cost of compliance by contractors.  

SANDUSKY, OH – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Cedar Fair LP – which operates as Cedar Point – for failing to protect workers from fall hazards after an employee suffered serious injuries at its Sandusky, Ohio, amusement park. The company faces proposed penalties of $142,270 for one willful and one serious safety violation, the maximum penalties allowed under the law.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of a Disaster Recovery National Dislocated Worker Grant (DWG) to the North Carolina Department of Commerce to assess workforce needs in response to Hurricane Florence.

MONTGOMERY, AL – Ozark Safety Services LLC – based in Montgomery, Alabama – has paid a former employee $10,095 in lost wages after a U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation found the company violated the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).

WHD investigators found Ozark Safety Services LLC discharged the employee for absences that qualified for FMLA-protected leave. Rather than categorizing the absences as allowed and covered under the FMLA, the company labeled them as unauthorized, and took improper disciplinary action.

OPELIKA, AL – An investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) has resulted in the Opelika, Alabama, Police Department paying $56,681 in back wages to seven officers for violations of overtime and recordkeeping requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

SAN ANTONIO, TX – Today, U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta delivered the keynote address at the Texas Workforce Commission's 2nd Annual ApprenticeshipTexas Conference in San Antonio, Texas.  Secretary Acosta spoke on the Trump Administration's efforts to expand apprenticeships across all industries.

"I want to thank Commissioner Alvarez and the Texas Workforce Commission for the great work that is being done to expand apprenticeships in the Lone Star State," said Secretary Acosta.

ELLWOOD CITY, PA – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Boehm Family Enterprises LLC – doing business as McElwain Brothers Paint and Collision in Ellwood City, Pennsylvania – has paid $33,731 in back wages and an equal amount in liquidated damages to 12 mechanics and painters to resolve violations of the overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

GAHANNA, OH – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Rocky Fork Hunt and Country Club – located in Gahanna, Ohio – for failing to protect employees from rollover hazards after a worker suffered fatal injuries when the lawnmower he was operating tipped over.

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) announced two directives focused on providing more transparency in OFCCP activities as an essential tool for promoting compliance. These directives, which continue the goals of the Department's recently announced Office of Compliance Initiatives (OCI), encourage and facilitate fair and transparent OFCCP compliance evaluations, and OFCCP efficiency and consistency:

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today released two reports that shine a spotlight on child labor and forced labor in nations around the world: the eighth edition of the List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor and the 17th annual edition of the Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor.

In the week ending September 15, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 201,000, a decrease of 3,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 204,000. This is the lowest level for initial claims since November 15, 1969 when it was 197,000. The 4-week moving average was 205,750, a decrease of 2,250 from the previous week's unrevised average of 208,000. This is the lowest level for this average since December 6, 1969 when it was 204,500.

BRIDGEPORT, CT – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited L.L.E. Construction LLC for exposing employees to fall and other hazards at a construction worksite in Bridgeport, Connecticut. The company faces $146,554 in proposed penalties.

ATLANTA, GA – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) urges emergency crews in the areas affected by Hurricane Florence to be aware of hazards from flooding, power loss, structural damage, fallen trees, and storm debris.

"Workers involved in storm recovery can face a range of safety and health hazards," said OSHA Regional Administrator Kurt Petermeyer. "Risks can be minimized with knowledge, safe work practices, and personal protective equipment."

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced actions it is taking to assist Americans in states affected by Hurricane Florence.

"The Department of Labor is actively engaged in Administration-wide efforts to help those impacted by Hurricane Florence's devastation," said U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta. "As Americans come together to help each other recover from this hurricane, the Department of Labor is committed to supporting the American worker."

MIAMI, FL – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) on Friday, September 14, cited multiple contractors for safety violations after one employee suffered fatal injuries and five other employees sustained serious injuries when a pedestrian bridge at the Florida International University campus in Miami collapsed. The five companies collectively received seven violations, totaling $86,658 in proposed penalties.

LEESBURG, GA – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Great Southern Peanut LLC for safety and health violations after conducting a follow-up inspection as part of a formal settlement with the agency. The Leesburg, Georgia, peanut processing facility faces $309,505 in proposed penalties.

RUTHERFORDTON, NC – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) has assessed D&M Logging Inc. a civil penalty of $9,112 for violating Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) child labor requirements after a minor suffered a hand injury while employed at the company’s sawmill in Rutherfordton, North Carolina. D&M Logging Inc. paid the civil money penalty. Additionally, D&M Logging Inc. paid $12,692 to 11 employees to correct the overtime violations.

GREENBELT, MD – The U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, Southern Division, has sentenced a Maryland business owner to one year and one day of imprisonment, and $354,175 in restitution for violations of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). Nathan G. Williams pleaded guilty to one count of theft or embezzlement from his company's employee benefit plan in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 664.

ARCHBOLD, OH – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Napoleon Spring Works Inc. for willful and serious safety violations after a temporary employee's arm was amputated. The Archbold, Ohio, garage door hardware manufacturer faces proposed penalties totaling $284,540.

OSHA investigators found the company failed to implement lockout/tag out procedures to prevent equipment from moving unintentionally during production, train employees on lockout/tagout practices, and install adequate machine guarding.

UTICA, MS – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited Midway Tower Service Inc. and Bracken Equipment Holdings LLC for exposing employees to fall and struck-by hazards after an employee suffered fatal injuries at a Utica, Mississippi, worksite.