Department of Labor alleges subcontractor knowingly exposed employees to asbestos hazards during former Waukegan hospital demolition

Department of Labor alleges subcontractor knowingly exposed employees to asbestos hazards during former Waukegan hospital demolition WAUKEGAN, IL – Alleging that K.L.F. Enterprises — a Chicago demolition subcontractor — knew it was exposing its employees and others to the serious dangers of asbestos at a Waukegan work site, the U.S. Department of Labor has cited the company for 36 safety and health violations after a federal investigation. In November 2023, investigators with the department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration opened a complaint inspection after they observed K.L.F. employees not wearing protective equipment amid piles of debris and steel I-beams during structural demolition of the eight-story former Lakes Behavioral Health hospital. OSHA determined that K.L.F. continued demolition activities — disturbing and removing asbestos used to fireproof the building’s interior — despite recognizing the debris piles outside were likely asbestos-laden. The company did

US Department of Labor recovers $61K in back wages for 79 air conditioning repair technicians in Texas

US Department of Labor recovers $61K in back wages for 79 air conditioning repair technicians in Texas
Employer name:                    Envirotech Mechanical Systems LLC                                                                                          Investigation site:                 270 Lake Meadows Drive                                                          Montgomery, TX  77316 Investigation findings: The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division found Envirotech Mechanical Systems LLC – a heating, ventilation and air conditioning contractor in Montgomery – failed to pay air conditioning repair technicians the overtime premium at one and one-half the regular rate of pay for hours over 40 in workweek as the Fair Labor Standards Act requires. Back wages recovered:         $61,591 in back wages to 79 employees                                          Quote: “By not paying the proper overtime, this employer denied employees their hard-earned wages,” explained the Wage and Hour Division’s District Director Robin Mallett in Houston. “The law requires employers to pay workers all of their rightful wages, including overtime pay for hours over 40 in a workweek.  Employers who fail to pay workers legally gain an unfair competitive advantage over those employers who abide by the law.” Background:  In fiscal year 2021, the Wage and Hour Division recovered more than $36 million for more than 21,000 construction industry workers. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that more than 242,000 industry workers quit their jobs in March 2022, matching the all-time high in November 2005. As job openings and employment levels continue to increase, employers whose pay practices violate federal law will likely find it more difficult to recruit and retain workers, than employers who pay their workers their rightful wages and benefits. Lea esta aviso en Español

Published at June 27, 2022 at 05:00PM
Read more at https://dol.gov

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