WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor will host two town hall meetings: the first on Tuesday, Sept. 23, in Amherst, New York, and the second on Thursday, Sept. 25, in Rochester, New York, to notify current and former nuclear weapons employees who worked at 39 covered facilities in New York about the benefits available to them under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act. These meetings are open to the public and preregistration is not required.

RAVENNA, Ohio — Portage Precision Polymers of Ravenna has been cited for 15 serious safety and health violations, carrying proposed penalties of $61,600, by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration after a complaint prompted an inspection. Many of the citations issued to the rubber products manufacturing plant were for exposing workers to combustible dust and amputation hazards.

WAYNE, W. Va. — Wayne Lumber and Mulch Inc. continues to expose employees to willful, repeat and serious safety and health hazards at the company's sawmill in Wayne. The employer faces $85,080 in proposed penalties following two investigations by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

AUSTIN, Texas — Cut limestone manufacturer Mezger Enterprises Ltd. has been cited for 27 safety and health violations, including two willful, by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The company exposed workers to unguarded machines, unsafe electrical equipment, infrequent crane inspections and noise levels that could cause hearing loss at its Kempner facility.

Prohibits federal contractors, subcontractors from discriminating against workers who discuss pay

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced awards totaling more than $87 million to improve state unemployment insurance programs. The funding, awarded to 46 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, will allow state agencies to implement program integrity and system improvement activities, as well as implement or expand reemployment and eligibility assessment programs.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today awarded $10,225,183 to 19 states to implement or improve worker misclassification detection and enforcement initiatives in unemployment insurance programs.

Date of Action: Sept. 10, 2014

Type of Action: Consent order and judgment

Name(s) of Defendant(s): David Kephart, Timothy Kephart, Kephart Trucking Co., and the Kephart Trucking Co. 401(k) plan

Allegations: Based on an investigation conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Secretary of Labor filed a complaint alleging the following:

Date of Action: Sept. 11, 2014

Type of Action: Complaint

Name(s) of Defendants: Polar Dry Ice Inc. and Polar Dry Ice Inc. 401(k) plan

Allegations: Based on an investigation conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Secretary of Labor filed a complaint alleging the following:

HAMMOND, Wis. — After an unguarded laminating machine crushed a worker's hand and partially amputated his thumb, Loparex LLC has been cited for one willful safety violation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration. OSHA initiated the inspection May 8, 2014, after receiving information about the injury at the Hammond facility, a manufacturer of polycoated and silicone-coated papers and films. Proposed penalties total $70,000.

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. — Central Transport LLC has been cited for five, including three repeat, one willful and one serious safety violation, at its trucking terminal in Rock Island following a formal complaint. OSHA's inspection in March 2014 found repeat and willful violations that involved defective powered industrial vehicles and lack of fall protection. Proposed penalties total $108,020.

BRUNDIDGE, Ala. — Supreme Oil Co.-South was cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration for 14 safety and health violations following a March 2014 inspection at the company's oil production facility on North Main Street in Brundidge. OSHA initiated the inspection due to a complaint and to complete a follow-up to a previous inspection it conducted in March 2012. Proposed penalties total $234,960. Since 1994, Supreme Oil has had 11 OSHA inspections conducted at its Alabama and New Jersey facilities.

Agreement includes $537K for 102 female applicants

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $953,415 National Emergency Grant incremental award so that approximately 405 workers affected by the closure of a Cargill Meat Solutions beef processing plant located in Plainview, Texas, can continue receiving re-employment services. These funds are being awarded to the Texas Workforce Commission.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration today announced a final rule requiring employers to notify OSHA when an employee is killed on the job or suffers a work-related hospitalization, amputation or loss of an eye. The rule, which also updates the list of employers partially exempt from OSHA record-keeping requirements, will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2015, for workplaces under federal OSHA jurisdiction.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy today announced a total of $8,422,574 in continued funding for organizations that develop models, provide technical assistance and share best practices to improve employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

"Individuals with disabilities have skills and experiences that employers need," said U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez. "These federal grants will help connect these workers with employers and put them on the path to economic self-sufficiency."

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $953,415 National Emergency Grant incremental award so that approximately 405 workers affected by the closure of a Cargill Meat Solutions beef processing plant located in Plainview, Texas, can continue receiving re-employment services. These funds are being awarded to the Texas Workforce Commission.

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — After receiving information that a worker had suffered severe injuries after being crushed between two machines, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Vallourec Star for 22 serious safety violations. The machine operator suffered multiple fractures to his pelvis, Feb. 27, 2014, and has been unable to return to work. The investigation found that Youngstown steel mill workers were exposed to crushing, amputation and fall hazards.

PEORIA, Ill. — After an inspection by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Rohn Products LLC has been cited for 11 serious safety and health violations at its steel tower manufacturing plant on Plank Road in Peoria. Many of the violations involve exposing workers to amputation and crushing hazards during the daily operation of dangerous machinery. Proposed penalties total $66,700.

HAMILTON, Ohio — Exposing workers to cave-in hazards while installing water mains has resulted in Mt. Pleasant Blacktopping Inc. being cited for one willful and one serious safety violation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration. OSHA opened the April 27 inspection after observing employees working in three separate unprotected trenches on Symmes Road in Hamilton. Proposed penalties total $77,000.