BLUE RIDGE, Ga. — Blue Ridge Manufacturing LLC was cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for 20 serious safety and health violations for exposing workers to safety hazards following an inspection at the company's truck body manufacturing facility in Blue Ridge. The agency initiated the March 2014 inspection because of a complaint. Penalties total $64,400.

ANDOVER, Mass. — Workers at a Salisbury manufacturing plant were at risk of being caught in machinery or crushed, based on findings in an inspection by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Andover Healthcare Inc., a maker of coated fabrics and adhesives for the health care industry, faces $93,200 in proposed fines for two repeat and seven serious violations.

CHICAGO — Grand Trunk Western Railroad Co. has been ordered to reinstate a conductor and pay him more than $244,000 in back wages and damages following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration. OSHA found that the company was in violation of the whistleblower provisions of the Federal Railroad Safety Act for terminating an employee in Flint, Mich., for failing to perform an inspection of a passing train under hazardous safety conditions.

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Bennett Building Systems LLC, which builds metal and wooden structures, such as barns, carports and garages, has been cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for eight violations, including one willful violation, six serious violations and one other-than-serious violation. The agency initiated the November 2103 inspection at the company's facility on Dixon Airline Road in Augusta because of a complaint. The proposed citations total $89,000.

BOISE, Idaho — After a worker was seriously injured from a fall at a construction site, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited TKO Inc., doing business as TKO Custom Homes, with three serious and one willful violation related to fall hazards. OSHA began its inspection of the Twin Falls-based company in November 2013. The employer faces $27,600 in proposed fines for the violations.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Following the death of 23-year-old construction worker Kyle Brown, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration found that his employer, Watertown-based general construction contractor MTL Design Inc., failed to provide and ensure the use of fall protection safeguards that would have prevented his death. OSHA cited the company for a willful and a serious violation.

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. — A Stamford-based contractor faces $196,000 in fines for two willful and 12 serious violations following an inspection by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Cesar Mendoza, d.b.a.

COSHOCTON, Ohio — A follow-up inspection by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration at San Cast Inc. found workers still exposed to amputation and fall hazards at the Coshocton, Ohio, casting and foundry facility. The facility was previously cited after a worker suffered a leg amputation in June 2013. OSHA has issued 17 additional violations, carrying proposed penalties of $155,900 as a result of the November 2013 inspection.

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. — A Stamford-based contractor faces $196,000 in fines for two willful and 12 serious violations following an inspection by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Cesar Mendoza, d.b.a.

SOMERSET, N.J. — After a follow-up inspection that began in October 2013, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Rasi Laboratories Inc. for failing to correct previously cited serious violations. The violations included failing to protect workers from dangerous levels of noise that can cause permanent hearing loss and failing to protect them from dangerous equipment. Following the inspection, the nutritional supplement manufacturer faces a $210,000 proposed penalty.

AUSTIN, Texas — After a worker's leg was entangled in an auger in November 2013, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigated the safety and health practices of American Plant Food Corp.'s Bartlett facility. OSHA issued citations for 12 violations and proposed a penalty of $181,000 for exposing employees to workplace hazards by failing to implement proper energy control procedures that protect workers who service or maintain machines.

EL PASO, Texas — As part of its continuing effort to keep workers safe and healthy by improving working conditions for construction workers, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has renewed its 2007 strategic partnership with the El Paso Chapter of the Associated General Contractors of America.

BARTONVILLE, Ill. — Five Star Commercial Roofing Inc. has been cited for a willful safety violation after exposing workers to fall hazards of 29 feet at a commercial roofing project in Bartonville. The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration found workers exposed during a March 3 investigation and proposed civil penalties of $49,000.

WASHINGTON — A series of severe storms has been raging through parts of the Midwest, South and Eastern United States since Sunday. The violent weather stretched from Iowa and Oklahoma to states across the south, including deadly tornadoes in Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee. Due to ongoing heavy rain, flash flood watches have been issued from Northern Florida up to New England. As residents recover from these events, the U.S.

DALLAS — A series of severe storms has been raging through parts of the Midwest, South and Eastern United States since Sunday. The violent weather devastated a number of communities in Arkansas and Oklahoma. As residents recover from these events, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration urges recovery workers, employers and the public to be aware of the hazards they can encounter and take necessary steps to stay safe.

SOUTH MILWAUKEE, Wis. — Following injuries to seven workers at Cooper Power Systems LLC, including chemical burns to the skin and irritation to their respiratory tracts requiring urgent medical treatment, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited the company for six violations, including two willful violations. The workers were injured after exposure to an acid mixture while cleaning a spill that occurred at the facility on Oct. 30, 2013.

AURORA, Ill. — R.C. Wegman Construction Co. and the Fox Valley Building and Construction Trades established a strategic partnership with the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration to protect workers during the construction project for the New Main Aurora Public Library. The Illinois On-Site Safety and Health Consultation Program is also a partner in the project.

CANTON, Ohio — The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration today announced that Republic Steel has agreed to settle alleged health and safety violations at the company's facilities in Lorain, Canton and Massillon, Ohio, as well as Blasdell, N.Y. The comprehensive settlement, in which the company agrees to abate all cited hazards and implement numerous safeguards to prevent future injuries, addresses more than 100 safety and health violations found by OSHA at the company's facilities during inspections conducted in the fall of 2013.

DALLAS — To enhance workplace safety and health for workers in North Texas, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration signed two alliance agreements today with the Regional Hispanic Contractors Association and the Workers Defense Project in Dallas to commemorate Workers' Memorial Day.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Serious safety and health violations for exposing workers to dangerous welding fumes and other hazards has prompted citations for Dixie Tank Co. in Jacksonville. The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited the company for 23 safety and health violations, including exposing full-time and temporary workers to health hazards from exposure to the toxic chemical hexavalent chromium in excess of federal standards.