September 29, 2016

Florida roofing contractor exposes workers to dangerous fall, other hazards at Jacksonville work site; OSHA proposes more than $212K in penalties

Employer name: Carlson Enterprises

Inspection site: 1506 Rivergate Drive
Jacksonville, Florida 32223  

Citations issued: OSHA issued four citations to the employer on Sept. 22, 2016.

September 28, 2016

Department of Labor files complaint to recover more than $29K in losses to the Weinhagen Tire Co. Inc. 401(k) Plan

Date of Action: Sept. 27, 2016

Type of Action:  Filing of Complaint

Name(s) of Defendant: Michael E. Weinhagen, Weinhagen Tire Co. Inc., Weinhagen Tire Co. Inc. 401(k) Plan

Allegations: Michael E. Weinhagen is the sole owner and president of St. Paul, Minnesota-based Weinhagen Tire Co. and the fiduciary to the Weinhagen Tire Co. Inc. 401(k) Plan. 

September 28, 2016

OSHA cites Middletown cardboard manufacturer after machine causes temporary worker to suffer severe arm injury at Ohio plant

Employer name: Honey Cell Inc. Midwest
6480 Hamilton-Lebanon Road
Middletown, Ohio           

Citations issued: Sept. 16, 2016

September 28, 2016

US Mine Safety and Health Administration announces results of special impact inspections in August 2016

Who: U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration

What: The Mine Safety and Health Administration announced today that federal inspectors issued 105 citations and one order during special impact inspections conducted at 11 coal mines and six metal and nonmetal mines in August.

Where: MSHA conducted special impact inspections at mines in Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Utah, Virginia and West Virginia.

September 28, 2016

US Labor Department awards $6M to aid recovery effort in Puerto Rico following Zika virus outbreak

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the funding of a $6 million National Dislocated Worker Grant initial award to the Puerto Rico Department of Labor and Human Resources to employ temporary workers to assist with recovery efforts after the Zika virus outbreak in the commonwealth.

September 28, 2016

Wisconsin military explosives manufacturer faces nearly $143K in OSHA penalties for exposing workers to lead and other hazards

SPOONER, Wis. – When a Wisconsin explosive component manufacturer started a new production line at its Spooner facility, the company failed to comply with federal safety standards to protect its employees from the dangers of exposure to lead used in the production process, federal investigators say.

September 27, 2016

OSHA fines roofer, home service contractor more than $61K for ignoring fall risk to workers at Colorado Springs work site

Employers’ names: JD Vigil Home Services Inc.
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Big Valle Roofing
Fountain Springs, Colorado

Citations issued: Sept. 27, 2016

September 27, 2016

Washington housing management company to pay $239K to workers statewide

Employer: Cambridge Management, Inc.

Sites: 1916 64th Ave. West
Tacoma, Washington

Apartment complexes in Tacoma, Olympia, Chehalis, Spokane, Clarkson, Yakima, Pasco, Quincy, Kennewick, Richland Moses Lake, Sunnyside and Walla Walla

September 27, 2016

Global meat-casing manufacturer continues to expose workers to unsafe conditions at Illinois plant, OSHA says

Employer name: Viscofan USA Inc.
Danville, Illinois

Citations issued: Sept. 21, 2016

Investigation findings: The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Peoria Area Office has cited Viscofan USA for one repeated and one serious safety violations.

Investigating reports of unsafe working conditions, the agency’s May 2016 investigation found Viscofan:

September 27, 2016

California to receive $13M in supplemental funding to continue temporary employment services to workers affected by ongoing drought

State: California

Type of Award: National Dislocated Worker Grant supplemental

Supplemental Amount Approved: $13 million    

Total Funds Awarded: $31 million

Funding Awarded to:  California Employment Development Department

Number of Workers Served: Approximately 1,600

September 27, 2016

Landscaping company cited after 23-year-old worker succumbs to fatal heat stroke in 110-degree weather

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. – Federal investigators have cited an Indiana landscaping company in the death of a 23-year-old ground crewman who died after being hospitalized with a core body temperature above 108 degrees. U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigators determined the employee collapsed after working more than nine hours in the direct sun when the heat index soared to 110 degrees near Poplar Bluff on July 22, 2016. His is one of 16 heat-related deaths reported to the OSHA since January 2016.

September 27, 2016

US Labor Department announces supplemental funding to continue reemployment services for dislocated workers in Massachusetts

State: Massachusetts

Type of Award: National Dislocated Worker Grant

Supplemental Amount Approved: $566,250

Total Funds Awarded to Date: $4,901,016

Funding Awarded to:  Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development

Number of Workers Served: Approximately 309

September 26, 2016

North Carolina Commerce Department agrees to improve access to workforce programs after US Labor Department’s compliance review

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor announced today that it has entered into an agreement with the North Carolina Department of Commerce after a compliance review by the federal department’s Civil Rights Center found the state’s unemployment insurance and employment service programs deficient in providing services to those with limited English proficiency.

September 26, 2016

US Labor Department reaches settlement with Sierra Pacific Industries’ Health Benefits Plan

WASHINGTON – Fiduciaries of a health plan covering employees of a major western lumber producer have agreed to settle claims that they did not comply with the Affordable Care Act and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act when providing healthcare benefits and deciding worker claims for healthcare benefits.

September 26, 2016

US Department of Labor sues Silicon Valley tech company for discriminating against Asian job applicants

PALO ALTO – The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a lawsuit charging that Palantir Technologies, a Palo Alto technology company, discriminated systematically against Asian job applicants in its hiring process and selection procedures.

September 26, 2016

Providence restaurant, owner to pay $567K in back wages, damages to 104 employees denied minimum wage, overtime pay

Date of Action: Sept. 23, 2016

Type of Action: Complaint, Consent Judgment and Order

Name of Defendants: Jacky's Galaxie Providence, Inc., doing business as Jacky's Waterplace & Sushi Bar, and Kin Wah Ko. 200 Exchange St., Providence, Rhode Island.

September 22, 2016

US Labor Department sues Exton electrical equipment installation company to restore $166K to employees’ 401(k) retirement plan

Date of Action: Sept. 22, 2016

Type of Action: Complaint

Name(s) of Defendants: Steven Keares Inc.
Harry Keares
Steven Keares Inc. 401(k) Retirement Plan

September 22, 2016

US Department of Labor awards $80.3M in grants to provide at-risk youth in 35 states a second chance at education, career training

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor announced today the award of $80.3 million in YouthBuild grants to non-profit organizations in 35 states to help young people struggling to reach key educational and career milestones and to equip themselves to be successful in the workforce and engaged in their communities.

September 22, 2016

US Labor Department announces more than $150K in research grants to expand portable retirement savings plans for low-wage workers

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced it has awarded a total of $153,836 in grants to organizations to support the planning and research of portable retirement benefit plans for low-wage workers.