February 28, 2024

Readout: Department of Labor joins Restaurant Opportunities Centers United for listening session on impacts of indoor heat in the restaurant industry

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration joined Restaurant Opportunities Centers United for a listening session with restaurant workers on the importance of protecting workers from extreme indoor heat in the workplace on Feb. 21, 2024.

February 28, 2024

US Department of Labor cites Alabama electrical contractor after 22-year-old worker suffers severe burns at Auburn worksite

AUBURN, AL – A Camp Hill electrical contractor could have prevented a 22-year-old electrician from incurring life-threatening arc flash burns by following safety procedures they knew were standard in the industry, a U.S. Department of Labor investigation found.

February 27, 2024

US Labor Department cites Selma brick manufacturer for exposing workers to respiratory hazards that can lead to incurable lung disease

SELMA, AL – U.S. Department of Labor safety investigators found a Selma brick manufacturer exposed workers to silica crystalline respiratory hazards that have the potential to lead to lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and kidney disease. 

February 22, 2024

US Department of Labor proposes nearly $2.5 million in penalties for Alabama sawmill, finds willful disregard for safety led to fatality

PHENIX CITY, AL – A federal investigation into an August 2023 horrific fatal incident at a Phenix City sawmill revealed, for the second time in three years, that the employer could have prevented a tragedy by following required safety rules. 

February 22, 2024

US Labor Department cites global manufacturer of metal cast, auto parts for exposing workers to respiratory, electrical hazards at its Columbus facility

COLUMBUS, GA – Six days after opening a complaint inspection at a Columbus auto parts manufacturer in August 2023, federal safety investigators learned that a 41-year-old maintenance technician at the site endured severe injuries from an electrical transformer explosion and opened a second investigation. 

February 21, 2024

US Department of Labor finds Oklahoma aeronautical parts manufacturer exposed workers to numerous serious safety hazards

OKLAHOMA CITY –The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited an aeronautical parts manufacturer for exposing workers to nearly two dozen safety hazards following a complaint about a lax safety environment at the company’s plant in Catoosa. 

OSHA cited LMI Finishing Inc. – operating as Sonaca North America – for 23 serious violations of OSHA safety standards related to confined spaces, fall hazards and blocked exit routes.

OSHA inspectors found the employer did not: 

February 21, 2024

Massachusetts contractor, repeat violator, again exposes workers to potentially fatal falls, leading to $306K in OSHA penalties

BRAINTREE, MA – A Framingham roofing contractor with a history of fall-related safety violations again exposed its employees to potentially fatal falls, this time to falls of up to 20 feet at a residential worksite in Boston’s Hyde Park neighborhood. 

February 20, 2024

New Jersey steel fabrication company fined $348K after federal safety inspectors find employees exposed to workplace hazards

MILLVILLE, NJ – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited a steel fabrication business after finding the company willfully exposed workers to safety and health hazards at its Millville shop.

February 13, 2024

Building futures: US Department of Labor promotes safety to newest generation of construction workers in Southeast’s largest student career event

ATLANTAExperts from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration will welcome thousands of students – from Georgia’s middle, high and tech schools – to the 2024 Construction Ready Career Expo in Atlanta. The event highlights the importance of on-the-job safety to the industry’s next generation of workers.

February 13, 2024

US Labor Department cites 2 employers after 39-year-old worker suffers fatal injuries at Fort Lauderdale work site

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – A federal investigation into the death of a 39-year-old maintenance employee found that the two contractors responsible for the job site could have prevented the incident by communicating and following safety rules designed to prevent the unexpected startup of machinery.

February 12, 2024

New Jersey contractor’s ongoing disregard for safety laws leads to $1M penalty after federal inspection finds workers exposed to falls

PATERSON, NJ – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited a New Jersey contractor for again exposing workers to fall hazards, this time while working at a construction site in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey.

February 12, 2024

Illinois construction contractor faces $264K in proposed fines for again failing to protect employees from deadly fall hazards

NAPERVILLE, IL – An Illinois construction contractor – with a history of ignoring federal safety regulations – has again been found exposing workers to deadly fall hazards on a jobsite in Naperville.  

February 9, 2024

US Department of Labor again cites Green Bay cleaning products manufacturer after worker suffers amputation, fines company $194K

GREEN BAY, WI – A federal investigation into how a Tufco LP employee’s fingertip was amputated in August 2023 determined that the Green Bay household cleaning products manufacturer violated federal regulations for the control of hazardous energy during service and maintenance tasks and failed to report the amputation injury, as required 

February 8, 2024

US Labor Department cites Melbourne crane service provider after investigation finds lack of safety protocols led to 34-year-old employee’s electrocution

PALM BAY, FL – U.S. Department of Labor safety investigators have found that a Melbourne rental crane service provider could have prevented the electrocution of a 34-year-old crane operator at a Palm Bay work site in August 2023 by ensuring required safety measures were in place and followed. 

February 7, 2024

Court orders Connecticut sports bar, owner to pay $359K for retaliating against employees

HARTFORD, CT – After investigations and litigation by the U.S. Department of Labor, a federal court ordered a Milford sports bar and its owner to pay employees a total of $359,485 in back pay, emotional distress damages, withheld compensation and punitive damages for violating the anti-retaliation provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Occupational Safety and Health Act.

February 7, 2024

US Department of Labor finds Case Farms Processing again exposes workers to multiple hazards at Ohio chicken processing plant

WINESBURG, OH ‒ A chicken processing plant – with a long history of violations ‒ again failed to comply with federal safety regulations and exposed workers to multiple hazards while they processed chickens for commercial sale, federal inspectors found. 

February 5, 2024

US Department of Labor offers webinar for hospitality industry employers, workers, other stakeholders for Hospitality Worker Appreciation Day

Who:               U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division          

What:             Labor law webinar for Hospitality Worker Appreciation Day 

February 5, 2024

US Department of Labor cites Alabama construction employer after heat illness claims life of 33-year-old worker at Huntsville job site

HUNTSVILLE, AL – During the peak of summer in July 2023, a 33-year-old concrete finisher collapsed at a Huntsville construction site after showing clear signs of heat illness, a tragedy that federal safety investigators found could have been prevented had the employer followed established safety practices for heat hazards.

January 31, 2024

Department of Labor fines New Jersey transportation company $437K after inspectors find workers exposed to safety, health hazards at Paulsboro site

PAULSBORO, NJ – A transportation company is facing $437,860 in federal penalties after an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration found workplace safety and health hazards at its Paulsboro site.

January 31, 2024

US Department of Labor cites Homestead drywall service employer after 22-year-old worker suffers fatal head injury at Miami Beach worksite

HOMESTEAD, FL – A Homestead drywall contractor could have prevented a hoisting incident in July 2023 by following required safety regulations, a federal workplace investigation has found. A 22-year-old worker suffered a fatal head injury following the incident.