NORTH PLATTE, NE - The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Western Engineering Company Inc. after an employee suffered fatal injuries after being pulled into an unguarded slat/drag conveyor at the company's North Platte, Nebraska, asphalt plant. OSHA proposed penalties totaling $89,032.

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta and Hubertus Heil, the Minister of Labor and Social Affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany, signed a Joint Declaration of Intent underlining the value of cooperation in various areas of international labor policy and practice between the two countries. 

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta issued the following statement regarding the selection of the Department's Continuous Process Improvement team for the Gears of Government Award:

BILLINGS, MT – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and general contractor Langlas & Associates Inc. have established a partnership to protect employees and enhance workplace safety and health at the Lockwood High School construction project in Billings, Montana.

ATLANTA, GA – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Hilti Inc. – a hardware merchant wholesaler – for exposing employees to struck-by hazards after an employee was injured while operating a forklift at a distribution center in Atlanta, Georgia. The Plano, Texas-based company faces penalties of $164,802.

FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, IL – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has renewed an alliance with Teksolv-American Allied Safety Council (AASC), Southwestern Illinois Building Trades Council (SIBTC), and the Council of Owners and Construction Associates Inc. (COCA) to prevent exposures to hazards in the industrial and utility sectors.

In the week ending February 16, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 216,000, a decrease of 23,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 239,000. The 4-week moving average was 235,750, an increase of 4,000 from the previous week's unrevised average of 231,750. This is the highest level for this average since January 20, 2018 when it was 237,500.

NATCHEZ, MS – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited von Drehle Corp. – a paper products manufacturer – for several workplace safety hazards that put employees at risk of injury at its facility in Natchez, Mississippi. The paper manufacturer faces $303,657 in penalties, including one for the maximum amount allowed by law.  

LIGONIER, PA - After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Bethlen Home of the Hungarian Reformed Federation of America – a continuing care retirement community based in Ligonier, Pennsylvania – paid $39,704 in back wages and liquidated damages to 92 employees for violating the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

BRISTOL, TN – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Frizzell Construction Co. Inc. – based in Bristol, Tennessee – will pay $195,193 in back wages, and fringe benefits to 27 employees for violating requirements of the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts (DBRA), the Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act (CWHSSA), and the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

CLEARWATER, FL – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Advanced Marketing & Processing Inc. – a warrantee insurance company based in Clearwater, Florida – has paid $89,866 in back wages to 138 employees for violations of the overtime and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

JEFFERSON, GA – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Hubbell Inc. – a lighting manufacturer based in Shelton, Connecticut – will pay $138,753 in back wages and liquidated damages to 829 employees for violating overtime and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) at its distribution facility in Jefferson, Georgia.

HONOLULU, HI – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Edwin De Luz Trucking & Gravel LLC – a trucking company based in Waimea, Hawaii – has paid $59,888 in back wages and liquidated damages to 12 employees for violating overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

EDGEWOOD, md – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland has entered a consent judgment ordering hotel owner and manager Akhilbhai Patel to pay $78,575 in back wages and an equal amount in liquidated damages to 34 current and former employees at two Edgewood, Maryland locations. The Department also assessed Patel a $6,440 civil money penalty due to the willful nature of the violations.

PALMETTO, FL – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Utopia Fresh South LLC – operating as Taylor & Fulton Packing LLC in Palmetto, Florida – has paid $87,920 in back wages to 109 employees for violating overtime and recordkeeping requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

KENNETT SQUARE, PA - After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania has entered a consent judgment ordering Blown Away Dry Bar and Salon – based in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania – to pay a $40,000 settlement to a fired hair stylist. The legal action resolves a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Labor.

ATLANTA, GA – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Eye Productions Inc. for failing to protect employees from hazards while filming a television show in Chattahoochee Hills, Georgia. Proposed penalties total $9,472.

PHILADELPHIA, PA – Two Philadelphia restaurants, J.H.S.K, Inc. and Osaka Japan Restaurant, Inc., both doing business as Osaka, and their owner, have agreed to a consent judgment ordering them to pay $935,000 in back wages and liquidated damages to 201 employees for willful violations of the minimum wage and overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The employers must also pay a $65,000 civil money penalty. The consent judgment must be approved by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

OAKLAND, CA – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), EWC & Associates Inc. – a Northern California owner and operator of two horse training facilities – will pay $1,270,683 in back wages and damages to 30 employees for multiple work visa program and wage violations.

PORTLAND, OR – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Vasquez Family Services – a farm labor contractor – and housing provider Jorge Vasquez were assessed $35,000 in civil penalties after violations of the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act (MSPA) left farm workers living in squalid living conditions at their facility in Silverton, Oregon. Vasquez Family Living Services will pay $30,000 in civil penalties for the violations, and housing provider Jorge Vasquez will pay $5,000.