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US Department of Labor cites Illinois utility construction company for repeated exposure to trenching hazards

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US Department of Labor cites Illinois utility construction company for repeated exposure to trenching hazards CHICAGO – The U.S. Department of Labor has cited a Frankfort-based utility construction company for repeatedly exposing employees to excavation safety hazards after federal investigators observed employees working in an unprotected trench.The department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration initiated an investigation of Always Underground LLC as part of its National Emphasis Program on Trenching after witnessing employees working in an unprotected trench deeper than eight feet.OSHA cited the employer for three repeat violations for failing to provide workers with a safe means of egress, to install a trench protective system that would protect against cave-ins, and to keep excavated or other materials and equipment at least 2 feet from the edge. Additionally, the agency cited the employer for a serious violation for failing to provide workers with protective hardhats ...
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US Department of Labor cites Illinois utility construction company for repeated exposure to trenching hazards

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US Department of Labor cites Illinois utility construction company for repeated exposure to trenching hazards CHICAGO – The U.S. Department of Labor has cited a Frankfort-based utility construction company for repeatedly exposing employees to excavation safety hazards after federal investigators observed employees working in an unprotected trench.The department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration initiated an investigation of Always Underground LLC as part of its National Emphasis Program on Trenching after witnessing employees working in an unprotected trench deeper than eight feet.OSHA cited the employer for three repeat violations for failing to provide workers with a safe means of egress, to install a trench protective system that would protect against cave-ins, and to keep excavated or other materials and equipment at least 2 feet from the edge. Additionally, the agency cited the employer for a serious violation for failing to provide workers with protective hardhats ...
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US Department of Labor awards $95.5M in grants to support innovative programs for reskilling, reemploying dislocated workers

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US Department of Labor awards $95.5M in grants to support innovative programs for reskilling, reemploying dislocated workers WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of $95.5 million in funding to support the creation of innovative models of training and employment services that connect workers affected by layoffs to high-growth industries.Administered by the department’s Employment and Training Administration, Rapid Reskill Dislocated Worker Grants support 20 projects across 17 states to quickly connect workers affected by layoffs to employment and training services that lead to high-wage, in-demand occupations in industries expected to grow, including domestic manufacturing, aerospace, energy production, construction, and other occupations important to reindustrialization.Reskill DWG projects are designed to swiftly assess participants’ prior experience and existing skillsets and chart a course to an in-demand occupation or industry. Particip...
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US Department of Labor awards $81.5M in grants to support industry-driven job training programs in rural communities

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US Department of Labor awards $81.5M in grants to support industry-driven job training programs in rural communities WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of $81.5 million in funding to address the critical workforce needs of employers in high-growth and emerging industries across the Appalachian, Delta, and Northern Border regions. Administered by the department’s Employment and Training Administration, the seventh round of Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities program funding supports 13 projects across 11 states to stimulate employment and wage growth, as well as economic mobility, self-sufficiency, and increased labor force participation. The demonstration grants support the workforce needs of regional employers in predominantly rural areas to enable them to better compete economically and enable residents of the regions to obtain or retain family-sustaining employment opportunities so they can remain and thrive in their ...
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US Labor Department finds 6 New York, New Jersey construction employers exposed workers to safety hazards, assesses combined $648K in penalties

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US Labor Department finds 6 New York, New Jersey construction employers exposed workers to safety hazards, assesses combined $648K in penalties MONROE, NY – The U.S. Department of Labor has cited six construction employers for willful and serious safety violations involving excavation hazards at the site of a planned 408,000 square-foot mixed-use commercial building and proposed a combined $648,094 in penalties. The department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration responded to an allegation of struck-by and collapse hazards associated with a large excavation at the Monroe Commons project – also known as Magna Square development – a planned 4-story, approximately 408,000 square-foot mixed-use commercial building with retail, office space, and a 39-room hotel located on an 18-acre site. The excavation had a steep, unstable embankment nearly 75 feet high which was not adequately sloped or shored. OSHA issued a total of 23 serious and five willful citations to the proje...
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US Department of Labor cites Pennsylvania excavation employer for failing to provide trench protection following fatal trench cave-in

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US Department of Labor cites Pennsylvania excavation employer for failing to provide trench protection following fatal trench cave-in CHAMBERSBURG, PA – The U.S. Department of Labor has cited an excavation contractor for willful and serious safety violations after a young worker was fatally injured in a trench collapse. The department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration opened an investigation into Jonas David Wagoner – doing business as J.D. Wagoner Excavating – on April 2, 2026, and found workers were installing a storm sewer system 12 feet below ground level in a trench that was not adequately protected from soil collapse. When a portion of the trench's wall failed, the unrestrained soil engulfed one worker. The agency issued a willful violation for failure to protect workers from cave-ins and two repeat violations for failing to assign a competent person to conduct daily trench inspections and removing employees from hazardous conditions.In addition,...
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Secretary Sonderling statement on September jobs report

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Secretary Sonderling statement on September jobs report WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling issued the following statement regarding the September 2026 Employment Situation Report:“President Trump’s economic agenda continues to deliver for American workers and businesses. Construction employment rose 11,000 in September, marking seven straight months of growth. Manufacturing employment also continues to expand, adding 9,000 jobs in September and 72,000 for the year.“After years of decline under the previous administration, President Trump is driving an industrial renaissance that continues to expand. Thanks to trillions of dollars of investment and the historic relief provided by the Working Families Tax Cuts, American workers are keeping more of what they earn while businesses have the certainty to invest and hire.” Published at 2026-10-02T12:00:00Z Read more at https://dol.gov
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US Department of Labor awards $10.2 million to 67 organizations to promote workplace safety and health training

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US Department of Labor awards $10.2 million to 67 organizations to promote workplace safety and health training WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration today announced the award approximately $10.2 million in grant funds to 67 organizations across the nation to support education and training focused on worker safety to help employees and employers recognize serious workplace hazards and employ safety and health programs.Funded through the Susan Harwood Training Grant Program, the grants aim to advance worker safety and health by providing instructor-led training opportunities for workers and employers in small businesses with an emphasis on industries with high injury, illness, and fatality rates.The grants will fund training and education on hazard awareness, prevention, and controls to protect workers from on-the-job hazards through the development of quality classroom-ready training and educational materials that identify a...
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US Department of Labor awards $43 million to 7 states to support skills training in shipbuilding, manufacturing, aerospace, other critical industries

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US Department of Labor awards $43 million to 7 states to support skills training in shipbuilding, manufacturing, aerospace, other critical industries WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of $43 million in Industry-Driven Skills Training Fund grants to seven states to invest in employer-driven skills training programs for critical industries like shipbuilding, advanced manufacturing, and nuclear energy.Administered by the department’s Employment and Training Administration, the second round of Industry-Driven Skills Training Fund grants will provide funding to State Workforce Agencies to provide outcome-based reimbursements to employers who provide training that is responsive to rapidly evolving skill requirements and local workforce needs. More than $10 million of the awarded funding supports occupations in the domestic shipbuilding industry and the maritime supply chain.“President Trump is restoring American manufacturing dominance, especi...
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US Department of Labor awards $65M to develop, expand access to training opportunities through Workforce Pell Grants

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US Department of Labor awards $65M to develop, expand access to training opportunities through Workforce Pell Grants WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of $65 million in grants to consortia in seven states to help community colleges develop high-quality, short-term programs that can qualify for Workforce Pell funding. Administered by the department’s Employment and Training Administration, this sixth round of Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants funding is awarded to statewide community college systems, or a consortia of community colleges to ensure effective development and expansion of the new programs and support the statewide coordination that is necessary for successful implementation of Workforce Pell Grants.       “Thanks to President Trump’s leadership, we are building an industry-driven education and workforce system that prepares Americans for the new, high-skilled, high-paying private-s...
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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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This Labor Day, the US Department of Labor celebrates 250 years of the American worker, our nation’s greatest asset

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This Labor Day, the US Department of Labor celebrates 250 years of the American worker, our nation’s greatest asset WASHINGTON – As America celebrates Labor Day and its 250th anniversary, the U.S. Department of Labor is honoring the generations of American workers whose skill, strength, ingenuity, and determination built the greatest nation and most powerful economy the world has ever known.For 250 years, American workers have built our cities, cultivated our land, powered our factories, forged our steel, laid our railroads, pioneered new technologies, and carried American industry to every corner of the globe. From the workshops and farms of 1776 to the factories, construction sites, small businesses, and cutting-edge industries of today, the American worker has always been the backbone of our nation.“American workers are the greatest workers in the world,” said Acting Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling. “For 250 years, their skill, ingenuity, determination, and hard work have built...
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Acting Secretary Sonderling statement on August jobs report

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Acting Secretary Sonderling statement on August jobs report WASHINGTON – Acting Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling issued the following statement regarding the August 2026 Employment Situation Report:“President Trump’s economic comeback continues to deliver for American workers and businesses, as this Administration has now surpassed 1 million new private-sector jobs. In August, the economy added 162,000 jobs, tripling expectations and marking the second-largest monthly gain of President Trump’s second term. This year alone, the U.S. economy has added 643,000 jobs.“After years of decline, American manufacturing continues to rebound exactly as President Trump promised. Fueled by trillions of dollars in historic investments, manufacturing and construction have now added jobs for three consecutive months.”  Published at 2026-09-04T12:00:00Z Read more at https://dol.gov
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Acting Secretary Sonderling statement on July jobs report

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Acting Secretary Sonderling statement on July jobs report WASHINGTON – Acting Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling issued the following statement regarding the July 2026 Employment Situation Report:“The labor market is seeing continued growth in private sector employment, adding 30,000 jobs in July and 426,000 this year. Additionally, we are adding jobs in key sectors with gains in construction and manufacturing driven by the trillions of dollars of investments that are pouring into the United States.” Published at 2026-08-07T12:00:00Z Read more at https://dol.gov
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Federal investigators cite Florida roofing contractor for willfully, repeatedly ignoring fall protection standards, propose $349K in fines

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Federal investigators cite Florida roofing contractor for willfully, repeatedly ignoring fall protection standards, propose $349K in fines ORLANDO, FL – The U.S. Department of Labor has cited a Florida roofing company for willfully putting workers at risk of falling at residential construction sites. Investigators with the department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration found that on Jan. 21, 2026, Orchids Builders LLC exposed workers to a 10-foot fall hazard when it failed to provide them with fall protection while they installed sheathing on a sloped roof at a Rockledge worksite. On March 10, 2026, OSHA investigators found the employer exposed a worker to a 9-foot fall hazard while installing metal hurricane clips at another Rockledge worksite. OSHA also found that Orchids Builders failed to prepare and maintain written fall protection training certificates for employees at both worksites, did not ensure workers had eye protection while using nail guns,...
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US Department of Labor fines Houston utility contractor $343K after worker hospitalized following excavation collapse at Brazoria County work site

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US Department of Labor fines Houston utility contractor $343K after worker hospitalized following excavation collapse at Brazoria County work site HOUSTON – A U.S. Department of Labor investigation concluded that a Houston utility construction company exposed employees to safety hazards after an excavation collapse hospitalized a worker.The department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration initiated an investigation into Blazey Construction Services LLC following the incident, which occurred while crews were installing sewer and water pipes for a residential development in Alvin, Texas. OSHA determined that the employer failed to adequately protect the excavation, provide a safe means of egress, and report the hospitalization within 24 hours as required by federal law. OSHA cited Blazey Construction Services for two repeat violations and one other-than-serious violation and proposed $343,797 in proposed penalties.The company has 15 business days from receipt of ...
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US Department of Labor seeks input from West Virginia highway construction industry to establish prevailing wage rates

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US Department of Labor seeks input from West Virginia highway construction industry to establish prevailing wage rates WEST VIRGINIA – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division is asking the highway construction industry of West Virginia to participate in a survey to help the agency establish prevailing wage rates, as required under the Davis-Bacon Act and Related Acts, for the payment of construction workers on federally funded and federally assisted construction projects.The survey requests information about wages paid to workers on highway construction projects in West Virginia where construction occurred between Aug. 3, 2025, and Nov. 2, 2026. This is a statewide survey and is not limited to only federally funded construction projects. The data collection period will begin Aug. 3, 2026, and will conclude on Nov. 2, 2026. Participation in the survey process is critical to the publication of prevailing wage and fringe benefit rates that accurately reflect the ra...
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Acting Secretary Sonderling statement on June jobs report

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Acting Secretary Sonderling statement on June jobs report WASHINGTON – Acting Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling issued the following statement regarding the June 2026 Employment Situation Report:“The policies championed by President Trump and the Working Families Tax Cuts continue to drive private-sector employment, accelerating from last year. This administration has created more than 900,000 jobs while keeping government employment at its lowest levels since 1966. The certainty that our manufacturers and construction sectors are seeing thanks to the permanency of key tax provisions will fuel economic growth for American businesses, families, and workers across the country. The June Jobs Report added 57,000 jobs marking the fourth consecutive month of positive payroll growth. Manufacturing employment, which was devastated under the Biden Administration, continues to grow as we secure historic investments and reshoring of critical industries.President Trump’s America first ...
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US Department of Labor announces nearly $13M available in funding for worker safety, health training grants

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US Department of Labor announces nearly $13M available in funding for worker safety, health training grants WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of $12.7 million in Susan Harwood Training Grants to support the delivery of training and education to help workers and employers identify and prevent workplace safety and health hazards.Administered by the department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the grants aim to advance the job quality of the American workforce by providing instructor-led training opportunities for workers and employers in small businesses with an emphasis on industries with high injury, illness, and fatality rates.The grants will fund training and education on hazard awareness, avoidance, and controls to protect workers from on-the-job hazards, and to inform workers of their rights and employers of their responsibilities under the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Applicants may apply in the fol...
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Acting Secretary Sonderling statement on May jobs report

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Acting Secretary Sonderling statement on May jobs report WASHINGTON – Acting Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling issued the following statement regarding the May 2026 Employment Situation Report:“President Trump and this Administration once again produced the best month of job creation since taking office, demolishing economists’ expectations. This Administration is proving the cynics wrong and American workers, families, and businesses are winning.The May Jobs Report overperformed on every level, adding 172,000 jobs and marking the third consecutive month of positive payroll growth. Thanks to President Trump, manufacturing jobs are up 25,000 in 2026 and construction jobs have increased by 71,000 since he took office – a true testament to this Administration’s priorities.Under the President’s leadership, American workers are seeing benefits in real time: rising wages, increased affordability, and over 903,000 private sector jobs added. The Department of Labor remains committe...
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Acting Secretary Sonderling statement on April jobs report

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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...
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