Construction Materials

US Department of Labor, Harvey Construction Corp. align to promote safety, health during construction of Mark Stebbins Community Center MANCHESTER, NH – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has signed a strategic partnership with Harvey Construction Corp. to promote worker safety and health during construction of the Mark Stebbins Community Center.The partnership with the Bedford-based commercial construction company seeks to prevent worker injuries and exposure to hazards by developing a contractor-government approach to safety and health. The initiative will also assist contractors in developing and implementing safety and health management systems and providing training to employees, employers and supervisors. Participants will focus on identifying and preventing common hazards on large-scale construction projects, such as falls and being struck by or caught in materials or equipment.The Mark Stebbins Community Center project co...

US Department of Labor announces availability of resources to assist contractors with Davis-Bacon Act payroll reporting requirements WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division announced the availability of two important updates designed to improve compliance and reporting for contractors required to submit weekly payrolls under the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts.The updates for Form WH-347, Davis-Bacon and Related Acts Weekly Certified Payroll Form, are intended to streamline and clarify the reporting process for contractors and subcontractors using the form to report their weekly payroll. The Davis-Bacon and Related Acts require contractors and subcontractors to pay workers prevailing wages on government-funded or assisted construction contracts.The new resources include an online, fillable version of Form WH-347 that provides contractors and subcontractors with an efficient way to submit accurate weekly payroll records and will help reduce co...

Secretary Chavez-DeRemer statement on November jobs report WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer issued the following statement regarding the November 2025 Employment Situation Report:“November’s jobs report shows our economy continues to gain momentum despite the economic mess President Trump inherited from the Biden administration and the reckless Democrat shutdown. With 64,000 jobs added in November, more and more Americans are coming off the sidelines and working in the private sector. Investment has been booming thanks to the President’s America First policies, leading to strong nonresidential construction growth. “Importantly, the growth we are seeing is concentrated in the private sector and among native-born Americans. Federal employment has retreated to the lowest level in over a decade, completely reversing the previous administration’s federal hiring frenzy.“The Trump Administration remains laser-focused on making life more affordable for all Ame...

US Department of Labor cites Connecticut earthwork contractor for continued violations after follow-up inspection, proposes $1.2M fine BRIDGEPORT, CT – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has again cited an Easton concrete and earthwork contractor for willfully failing to protect workers from cave-in and excavation hazards and proposed more than $1.2 million in fines after a follow-up inspection uncovered numerous willful violations. In December 2023, OSHA officials responded to a workplace fatality at a New Canaan worksite that claimed the life of a Sound Construction Inc. worker. As a result of that investigation, OSHA cited the employer for two willful and five serious violations and entered into a settlement agreement requiring the owner to submit monthly lists of active worksites and allow OSHA to randomly inspect them to determine trenching and excavation safety standard compliance. On June 12, 2025, OSHA initiated an inspection ...

US Department of Labor issues 7 letters of interpretation addressing workplace safety, health requirements WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced today that it has issued seven letters of interpretation to ensure the consistent and transparent application of federal workplace safety and health standards.As part of the Trump Administration’s broader emphasis on compliance assistance, OSHA’s letters of interpretation provide official explanations of the agency’s requirements and how they apply to specific workplace situations and hazardous conditions posed by employers, employees, or other parties.“From construction to engineering, OSHA is providing decisive guidance after gathering feedback from employers, demonstrating our opinion letter program has already been effective,” said Deputy Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling. “This effort is a key component of the Trump Administration’s comprehensive strategy to educate the public ...

Federal investigation into fatality at Georgia-based engineering company finds employer exposed workers to chemical, asphyxiation hazards ATLANTA – U.S. Department of Labor safety investigators have determined that an engineering and construction company exposed workers to safety hazards after an investigation into a worker fatality at the Hanwa Q Cells Georgia Inc. plant in White, Georgia.OSHA issued Hyoungwon E&C America Inc. a citation with a serious violation under the Occupational Safety and Health Act’s general duty clause for failing to protect employees against asphyxiation hazards related to nitrogen gas and another serious violation for not providing effective information and training on hazards related to nitrogen gas and oxygen-deficient atmospheres. The employer faces $20,522 in proposed penalties.The company has 15 business days from receipt of their citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA, or contest the finding...

US Department of Labor awards $86M to 14 states for investment in skills training programs for critical in-demand, emerging industries WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of more than $86 million in Industry-Driven Skills Training Fund grants to 14 states to accelerate innovation, strengthen domestic production, and address critical workforce needs across the country, with more than $20 million of the funding supporting the revitalization of the domestic shipbuilding industry, training workers in welding, marine electrical, manufacturing, and other skilled trades.Administered by the department’s Employment and Training Administration, these grants will provide outcome-based reimbursements to employers for providing training in high-demand and emerging industries that align with President Trump’s Executive Order 14278, Preparing Americans for High-Paying Skilled Trade Jobs of the Future, and Executive Order 14629, Restoring America’s Mariti...

US Department of Labor awards $86M to 14 states for investment in skills training programs for critical in-demand, emerging industries WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of more than $86 million in Industry-Driven Skills Training Fund grants to 14 states to accelerate innovation, strengthen domestic production, and address critical workforce needs across the country, with more than $20 million of the funding supporting the revitalization of the domestic shipbuilding industry, training workers in welding, marine electrical, manufacturing, and other skilled trades.Administered by the department’s Employment and Training Administration, these grants will provide outcome-based reimbursements to employers for providing training in high-demand and emerging industries that align with President Trump’s Executive Order 14278, Preparing Americans for High-Paying Skilled Trade Jobs of the Future, and Executive Order 14629, Restoring America’s Mariti...

US Department of Labor recovers $429K in wages, benefits for 12 employees underpaid by contractors on federally funded projects in New Jersey NEW JERSEY – An administrative law judge has ordered three New Jersey-based contractors to pay $429,846 in back wages and fringe benefits to 12 workers employed on multiple federal construction projects, after an investigation and litigation by the U.S. Department of Labor.The department’s Wage and Hour Division found that Above All, Inc., formerly headquartered in Pequannock, violated the Davis-Bacon Act while working on new construction and renovation projects for the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Centers in Lyons and East Orange. Elizabeth-based prime contractors Regiment Construction Corp. and Seawolf Construction Corp. subcontracted Above All to perform carpentry work on a total of three projects. The division found that Above All paid its carpenters less than the required preva...

US Department of Labor to hold online seminars in September for current, prospective federal contractors on prevailing wage requirements WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor announced today that its Wage and Hour Division will offer the last of its fiscal year 2025 webinars on prevailing wage requirements for contractors, contracting agencies, unions, workers, and other stakeholders involved in federally funded construction and service contracts. As part of its ongoing effort to increase awareness and improve compliance, the division will host two-day online seminars with sessions on the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts, Service Contract Act, and other related topics. Participants can choose between the sessions offered on either of the two days. The webinars are scheduled for Sept. 24-25, and they follow similar webinars that were held in March and June. Learn more about related federal wage regulations and check for updates on the seminars.The...

ICYMI: Secretary Chavez-DeRemer highlights maritime, public safety skills training programs on ‘America at Work’ New England swing VERNON, VT – U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer this week wrapped up a six-state swing through New England – visiting Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Vermont – as part of her nationwide America at Work listening tour. Ahead of Labor Day and the department’s official launch of America’s 250th birthday celebration, the Secretary met with lobstermen, shipbuilders, service members, bankers, firefighters, and dairy farmers to highlight the contributions of skilled workers and the importance of educational pipelines in strengthening local communities and bolstering America’s economic and national security.“President Trump has reclaimed Labor Day by building an economy that puts the American Worker First. Whether they are benefiting from fair trade deals, lower taxes, or the cheapest gas prices since the...

US Department of Labor, MEJA Construction partner to promote safety, health during construction projects in Henry, Clayton counties ATLANTA – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration signed two strategic partnerships with MEJA Construction Inc. to promote safety and health practices during the building of the Henry County school construction project in Stockbridge and the Riverdale Early Learning Center project in Riverdale.                                             These partnerships seek to prevent worker injuries and reduce exposure to hazards using a contractor-government collaborative approach. The initiative will assist contractors in developing and implementing safety and health management systems; training employee...

ICYMI: Secretary Chavez-DeRemer highlights President Trump’s successful first 200 days during ‘America at Work’ tour stops in 4 states WASHINGTON – U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer last week completed a four-state swing through Idaho, Utah, Wisconsin, and Wyoming, as part of her America at Work listening tour where she met directly with manufacturers, miners, construction workers, business leaders, and local officials to discuss the Trump Administration’s efforts to expand workforce training and connect hardworking Americans with good-paying, in-demand jobs. “In just 200 days, President Trump has jumpstarted the American economy and ushered in a new Golden Age of prosperity by putting workers, families, and job creators back at the center of our economic agenda,” said Secretary Chavez-DeRemer. “That momentum is clear everywhere I go on my ‘America at Work’ listening tour. From celebrating apprentices in Idaho to meeting with construction workers in Wisconsin,...

US Department of Labor, Newark roofing contractor reach settlement agreement affirming $155K penalty for multiple violations NEWARK, NJ – The U.S. Department of Labor and a Newark roofing contractor have reached a settlement agreement resolving litigation stemming from investigations last summer that found the employer repeatedly exposed workers to fall and safety hazards at two worksites. The department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration initially investigated RRC Home Improvement Inc. in June 2024 at a worksite in Dover, New Jersey after receiving reports of employees working on a roof without fall protection. In July 2024, investigations began at RRC worksites in Lodi as part of the agency’s National Emphasis Program for Falls in Construction. Inspectors again observed employees working without required fall protection. OSHA also uncovered violations involving lack of hard hats, eye protection, and fire extinguishers, as well as non-compliant pu...

US Labor Department cites Georgia counter manufacturer for exposing workers to hazardous levels of crystalline silica ATLANTA – U.S. Department of Labor safety inspectors determined that Brazilian Stone Design LLC, a Powder Springs stone countertop manufacturer, exposed workers to respirable crystalline silica.The department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited the employer, which fabricates and sells kitchen and bathroom countertops, with seven serious citations. The employer will pay $33,000 in penalties.The employer was cited for allegedly exposing workers to high airborne concentrations of respirable crystalline silica and failing to require the use of respirators; perform fit testing and training for workers wearing respirators; conduct air monitoring; and administer an effective hearing conservation program.To help protect workers, OSHA has issued two respirable crystalline silica standards, one for construction and the other for general indus...

Secretary Chavez-DeRemer announces $5M in WANTO grants to expand apprenticeship opportunities, good-paying jobs for women WASHINGTON – U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer today announced a $5 million funding opportunity for up to 14 grants to attract and retain more American workers in Registered Apprenticeship programs and high-growth industries like manufacturing, construction, and cybersecurity. Administered jointly by the department’s Women’s Bureau and Employment and Training Administration, the Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations grant program supports community-based organizations in their efforts to recruit, train, and retain more women in Registered Apprenticeships and high demand occupations. This announcement follows a thorough evaluation and realignment of the program, which will ensure WANTO grants help the department achieve President Trump’s goal of reaching one million new active apprentices. “Under Pre...

ICYMI: Secretary Chavez-DeRemer promotes One Big Beautiful Bill during ‘America at Work’ tour stops in Michigan, Indiana GOSHEN, IN – U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer continued her swing across the country as part of her “America at Work” listening tour to promote President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill, which passed the U.S. Senate today in a huge win for the American people. Secretary Chavez-DeRemer visited Shafer, a ready-mix concrete supplier in Lansing, Michigan, and Brinkley RV, a manufacturing start-up in Goshen, Indiana, to hear directly from American workers who stand to benefit most from this legislation. “I continue to be inspired by the American entrepreneurial spirit shown by the hardworking men and women I’ve met on my listening tour,” said Secretary Chavez-DeRemer. “From the concrete crews at Shafer in Michigan to the RV manufacturers at Brinkley in Indiana, these workers are exactly who this Administration is fighting for as we work to pass the One...

US Department of Labor awards nearly $84M in grants to expand Registered Apprenticeships WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of nearly $84 million in grants to 50 states and territories to increase the capacity of Registered Apprenticeship programs, representing an important step toward meeting the Administration’s goal of expanding the program to 1 million active apprentices.Since the beginning of the Trump Administration, over 134,000 new apprentices have registered across the nation. Today’s awards represent the base formula funding and competitive funding to states to increase their ability to serve, improve, and expand Registered Apprenticeship programs. This represents the third round of State Apprenticeship Expansion Formula funding the department has awarded. This investment will further accelerate Registered Apprenticeship programs, incentivize the creation and ongoing success of programs, reduce barriers to entry for new employer...

US Department of Labor awards more than $37M in continued grants to help homeless, at-risk veterans reenter workforce WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of more than $37 million in grants to organizations that help veterans experiencing or at-risk of homelessness find meaningful employment and assist them in overcoming barriers to transition back successfully into the workforce.Administered by the department’s Veterans’ Employment and Training Service, the Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program awarded more than $37 million to 98 organizations now in their second or third years in the program. These organizations provide participating veterans with occupational skills, connect them with Registered Apprenticeships or other on-the-job training, and deliver job search and placement services.VETS awards HVRP grants competitively to nonprofit and for-profit organizations, Native American Tribal governments, state and local workforce dev...

Secretary Chavez-DeRemer marks 100 days championing American workers WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer today celebrated 100 days since she was sworn in as the 30th Labor Secretary, marking a key milestone in her efforts to advance President Trump’s America First agenda by quickly delivering on her mission to empower U.S. workers and employers.Since taking office, Secretary Chavez-DeRemer has hit the ground running to support the President’s bold, pro-growth policies that have spurred job creation, cut red tape, and ushered in a new Golden Age of economic opportunity for the American workforce.“From day one, I promised to put American workers first and deliver on President Trump’s commitment to revitalize our workforce,” said Secretary Chavez-DeRemer. “Since then, we’ve jumpstarted a new Golden Age for American workers by creating hundreds of thousands of jobs, cutting burdensome regulations, saving taxpayer dollars, and investing in the skills and training that ...