WASHINGTON — The federal government is proposing a new standard that would dramatically lower workplace exposure to beryllium, a widely used material that can cause devastating lung diseases. The proposal would apply to an estimated 35,000 workers covered by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

LORAIN, Ohio — While Republic Steel has made a significant investment in personnel, training and safety improvements, workers are still exposed to serious fall and chemical hazards at the company's century-old Lorain steel mill, U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspectors have found.

In a 2014 corporate settlement with OSHA, the company pledged to address earlier health and safety violations.

Deadly 24-hour period prompts closer scrutiny of mining deaths

ARLINGTON, Va. – In the wake of a deadly day in mining in which three miners lost their lives in separate incidents in Nevada, North Dakota and Virginia on Aug. 3, the Mine Safety and Health Administration is stepping up enforcement efforts and intensifying outreach and education nationwide.

Date and Time: Thursday, Aug. 13, 2015 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. CDT

Location:

Nashville Tennessee Main Library Conference Center Room #1 615 Church Street Nashville, Tennessee 37219 (The closest parking is in the parking garage adjacent to library)

Employer name: Superior Holding, Inc., operating as Superior Boiler Works Inc., Hutchinson, Kansas

Citations issued: Aug. 4, 2015.

Investigation findings: The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Wichita area office issued one repeat and 16 serious safety violations to the industrial boiler manufacturer. The violations include:

Employer name: Cox Enterprises Inc. doing business as The Atlanta Journal Constitution

Inspection site: 6455 Best Friend Road, Norcross, Georgia 30071

Date citations issued: The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued citations to the employer on July 30. The inspection was initiated on March 12, 2015, as part of the agency's National Emphasis Program on Amputations.

ARLINGTON, Va. — In the wake of a deadly day in mining in which three miners lost their lives in separate incidents in Nevada, North Dakota and Virginia on Aug. 3, the Mine Safety and Health Administration is stepping up enforcement efforts and intensifying outreach and education nationwide.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships today announced a proposed rule that would provide beneficiaries of social service programs supported by department grants — such as those enrolled in employment and training programs — with religious liberty protections while continuing to ensure equal protection of the laws for faith-based and community organizations that receive federal financial assistance and provide such services.

Date of action: July 24, 2015

Type of action: Summary judgment and order

Names of defendants: Burgess Baird Jr. and DSI Contracting Inc.

MANCHESTER, N.H. — The Fair Labor Standards Act ensures that employees receive proper wages and overtime for all hours worked. It also prohibits employers from retaliating against employees who cooperate with investigations by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division.

Employer name: Pallet Recycle of Alabama Inc.

Inspection site: 2424 Lasso Ave., Lakeland, Florida 30801

Date citations issued: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued 29 citations to the employer on Aug. 3. The safety inspection was initiated in March 2015, as part of the agency's National Emphasis Program on Amputations. A health inspection related to excessive noise was initiated in April.

CINCINNATI — Employees at a Cincinnati nursing care facility will benefit from improvements the company is making to its policies and procedures for transferring residents at Twin Towers, a provider of skilled nursing care services.

Nursing facilities have among the highest rates of serious work-related injuries and musculoskeletal disorders, including those of the neck, upper extremities and lower back, which account for a significant portion of these injuries.

Date of Action: Aug. 4, 2015

Type of Action: Lawsuit for violating the whistleblower provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Act

Name of Defendant: Continental Alloys and Services Inc. in Spring, Texas

OSCEOLA, Wis. — Just one year after a worker amputated part of her right index finger on a spot welding machine at an Osceola metal stamping plant, a 19-year-old female co-worker suffered a similar injury on the same machine. U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspectors found that her employer failed to implement safety procedures they agreed upon to protect workers from machine operating parts.

Date of action: July 24, 2015

Type of action: Summary judgment and order

Names of defendants: Burgess Baird Jr. and DSI Contracting Inc.

Employer name: Chaney Roofing Maintenance Inc. 7040 State Route 101 Clyde, Ohio

Investigation site: 10300 W. US-224 Findlay, Ohio

Date investigation initiated and what prompted inspection: The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Toledo Area Office issued a safety citation to Chaney Roofing Maintenance Inc., July 22. OSHA opened an investigation of the contractor after observing workers exposed to fall hazards while roofing an Art-Van Furniture Store, June 16.

Employer name: Wilbert Inc., Belmont, North Carolina

Investigation site: Wilbert Inc., operating as Wilbert Plastic Services 635 Southwest Street Bellevue, Ohio

Employer: Reliance Electric, Inc.

Site: Bixby, Oklahoma and Hildale, Utah

PHOENIX — For 246 current and former employees of an Arizona cable installation company, a fair day's pay for a fair day's work is finally ringing true as their employer has pay them a total of $350,150 in back wages after failing to pay them overtime rates, as required by federal law.