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

Department of Labor will celebrate benefits of Registered Apprenticeships as valuable pathway to good jobs during first Youth Apprenticeship Week

Department of Labor will celebrate benefits of Registered Apprenticeships as valuable pathway to good jobs during first Youth Apprenticeship Week
WASHINGTON – The Department of Labor today announced that the nation will celebrate the benefits of Registered Apprenticeships and the opportunities they create for youth and young adults with 320 special events and more than 70 proclamations scheduled across the U.S. to mark the first annual Youth Apprenticeship Week from May 5-11. Built on the success of National Apprenticeship Week, Youth Apprenticeship Week will give employers, unions, educators, state agencies, workforce partners, community-based organizations and other Registered Apprenticeship sponsors the opportunity to showcase their programs and successes in youth apprenticeships. The annual commemoration also offers youth apprentices a platform on which they can share their apprenticeship experiences and educate the public about the benefits of local youth apprenticeship programs.“Youth Apprenticeship Week recognizes the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to create employment opportunities for young adults and the critical role they play in our nation’s workforce infrastructure,” said Acting Secretary Julie Su. “Youth apprenticeships are not just pathways to careers, they are bridges to futures filled with promise, opportunity and endless potential.” During Youth Apprenticeship Week, Apprenticeship Trailblazers will gather May 6 at the department’s Washington headquarters for a kickoff event, and the department’s Employment and Training Administration will welcome new youth apprentices for a signing event. At the event, more than 40 youth and young adults will join Registered Apprenticeship programs at several government agencies in the district, including the nation’s first Historically Black Colleges and Universities public service apprenticeship program. These apprentices will represent industries central to the “Investing in America” agenda such as construction, advanced manufacturing, clean energy, education, cybersecurity and healthcare. Throughout the week, Acting Secretary Su and Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training José Javier Rodríguez will discuss the importance of various youth apprenticeship models across the country. These models are providing opportunities for young adults to develop in-demand skills in diverse industry sectors such as the public sector through the Federal Youth Apprentice Pathway Program. The program seeks to establish a model to help federal agencies partner with Registered Apprenticeship Intermediaries to create high-quality career pathways to good jobs. Since 2021, the Biden-Harris administration has expanded Registered Apprenticeships with more than 7,100 new programs, 12,000 new employer partners and more than 1.4 million apprentices hired, including more than 541,000 youth apprentices from 16 to 24. Learn more about Youth Apprenticeship Week 2024 and how to participate. 

Published at May 03, 2024 at 05:00AM
Read more at https://dol.gov

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