Acting Secretary Sonderling statement on April jobs report

Acting Secretary Sonderling statement on April jobs report WASHINGTON – U.S. Acting Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling issued the following statement regarding the April 2026 Employment Situation Report:“Despite doom-and-gloom rhetoric from pundits and economists, America’s economic comeback is clearly accelerating under President Trump, with job growth now shattering expectations two months in a row. 115,000 jobs were added in April, doubling expectations and proving 94% of Bloomberg economists wrong. The unemployment rate remained steady and total private sector job growth under this Administration now stands at more than 700,000 new jobs.“Thanks to President Trump’s Working Families Tax Cuts, job creators were clearly feeling empowered this tax season and are investing in American workers. Our skilled workforce is seeing the benefits, with continued job growth in construction and a strong 5.2% year-over-year increase in manufacturing weekly earnings.“The President is bringing work...

US Department of Labor cites construction contractor with 7 willful, 33 repeat violations after fatal Yarmouth cave-in

US Department of Labor cites construction contractor with 7 willful, 33 repeat violations after fatal Yarmouth cave-in
BOSTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has cited a Massachusetts-based water and sewer line construction contractor for willfully and repeatedly exposing workers to safety hazards in a trench collapse in November 2025 that claimed the life of an employee and seriously injured another at a Yarmouth worksite.   The department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigation into the Nov. 18, 2025, incident found that workers from Revoli Construction Co. Inc. were removing sandy soil and installing steel plates outside of a trench. While working, the backfilled sand collapsed and trapped two workers inside the trench. One worker was engulfed and sustained fatal injuries.“This cave-in is a solemn reminder of the dangers construction workers face when basic safety procedures and safe engineering solutions are ignored. Through our trench safety initiatives, the Department of Labor remains committed to ensuring every worker returns home safe at the end of the day,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer. “We will continue holding employers accountable and providing resources dedicated to hazard training and required engineering controls to put a stop to these preventable tragedies.”The agency cited the employer with seven willful citations, 33 repeat, and 17 serious violations for:Failing to provide workers with a safe way to exit the trench.  Lack of adequate cave-in protection. Having unsupported underground utilities. Maintaining spoil piles within two feet of an excavation. Neglecting to install a shoring system per the design.Using a damaged protective system.Exposing employees to numerous electrical and fall hazards. In total, the agency assessed Revoli Construction Co. Inc. $4,699,362 in proposed penalties to address the violations. The employer has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.Learn more about OSHA, including how to protect employees engaged in trenching and excavation work. OSHA’s National Emphasis Program on Trenching and Excavation addresses the agency’s efforts to identify and reduce hazards which are causing or likely to cause serious injuries and fatalities during trenching and excavation operations. Employers can contact the agency for free compliance assistance and resources.

Published at 2026-04-01T12:00:00Z
Read more at https://dol.gov

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