US Department of Labor investigation finds Chicago construction employer exposed workers to continued safety hazards, proposes $265K in penalties

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US Department of Labor investigation finds Chicago construction employer exposed workers to continued safety hazards, proposes $265K in penalties CHICAGO – The U.S. Department of Labor has cited a Calumet City-based residential construction and carpentry employer after two separate investigations into its continued failure to provide fall protection for workers. The department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigated two worksites operated by Martin Araujo – doing business as Araujo Construction Corp. – and found that carpenters and general construction laborers were installing roof rafters and roof sheeting without fall protection, exposing them to falls of up to 25 feet. OSHA cited Araujo Construction with two willful violations for not providing fall protection, while working from heights during residential construction at the two worksites. OSHA also cited the employer with nine repeat safety violations for failing to provide head and eye protection, l...
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US Department of Labor recovers $46K in back wages for Indiana construction workers on federal projects

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US Department of Labor recovers $46K in back wages for Indiana construction workers on federal projects
Employer:  Force Construction Company Inc., Columbus, Indiana Investigation findings:  U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division investigators recovered $46,125 in back wages for 35 employees after evaluating the company’s pay practices on 10 government contracts. Investigators determined the construction company violated the Davis Bacon and Related Acts and the Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act by: Exceeding the number of apprentices permitted under their respective apprenticeship programs in ratio to journeymen. Failing to pay the applicable basic hourly rate to all laborers and mechanics on the job site. This resulted in overtime being calculated and paid at the wrong rate. Some workers were paid a percentage of the required rate when they should have been paid the full hourly rate. Back Wages Recovered: $46,125 in overtime back wages for 35 employees.                                                Quote: “As more companies negotiate contracts for projects under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, they must fully understand the specific wage rules that govern government contracts,” explained Acting Wage and Hour Division District Director Fernando Hernandez in Indianapolis. Background: Learn more about Protections for Workers in Construction under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Learn more about the Wage and Hour Division, including a search tool to use if you think you may be owed back wages collected by the division and how to file an online complaint. For confidential compliance assistance, employees and employers can call the agency’s toll-free helpline at 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243), regardless of where they are from. Download the agency’s new Timesheet App for iOS and Android devices – also available in Spanish –to ensure hours and pay are accurate.

Published at March 21, 2023 at 05:00PM
Read more at https://dol.gov

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