Construction Materials

US Department of Labor highlights safe construction practices during 2026 National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration is encouraging construction employers and workers nationwide to participate in the 13th annual National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction, taking place May 4-8, 2026.The nationwide event focuses on preventing falls, the leading cause of fatalities in the construction industry, and reinforces the importance of planning, training, and hazard awareness to protect workers.Because falls continue to pose a significant risk in construction, OSHA is making prevention a top priority. Through efforts like the Safety Stand-Down, the agency is working to drive real change and emphasizing that lasting progress is achieved through employers, workers, and industry partners working together.OSHA encourages employers to pause work throughout the week and engage employees ...

Department of Labor finds New Mexico company wrongfully fired inspector who raised concerns during gas pipeline installation at Oklahoma site OKLAHOMA CITY – The U.S. Department of Labor has ordered a New Mexico-based inspection company to reinstate and compensate a terminated worker who reported safety concerns during installation of a natural gas pipeline in Watonga, Oklahoma.The department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigated a whistleblower complaint filed against Legacy Energy and Distribution LLC that alleged a construction crew was installing a pipeline without following federal regulations. The complainant used “stop work authority” to halt the installation and contacted an independent, third-party testing company to verify observed concerns, which Legacy later confirmed as valid. Legacy subsequently fired the inspector, alleging failure to follow the established chain of command and complete the probationary period.OSHA determined that Legacy wrongfull...

US Department of Labor investigation finds Alabama construction company exposed workers to trenching hazards following fatal incident HUNTSVILLE, AL – The U.S. Department of Labor has cited a Huntsville-based home builder with eight serious safety violations after an investigation into a worker’s fatality in December 2025 found the employer exposed construction workers to multiple safety hazards during groundwork prep.Investigators with the department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration learned that workers for Breland Homes Inc. were installing a sewage drainpipe in a Madison County subdivision when a trench collapsed on a construction laborer. OSHA concluded that Breland Homes had allowed the decedent to work in an unprotected and unsupported section of the trench. In addition, OSHA found multiple safety violations, including failure to train workers to recognize unsafe conditions in trenching, allowing workers to conduct duties without protective helmets, and p...

California construction contractor ordered to pay back wages, damages to 137 workers denied overtime, minimum wages NEWPORT BEACH, CA – The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a consent judgment to recover $468,505 in back wages and damages for 137 construction workers denied minimum wage and overtime pay by a Newport Beach construction company, in violation of federal law. On Dec. 17, 2025, the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California approved the judgment against SCA General Contracting and operators Sundeep Pandhoh and Gary Tetone. The court action follows an investigation by the department’s Wage and Hour Division that found the employers’ pay practices violated the Fair Labor Standards Act.From Nov. 1, 2024, through Nov. 30, 2025, the division determined that the employers repeatedly missed payroll, failed to pay workers minimum wage, did not pay overtime for hours worked over 40 in a workweek, and retaliated against employees who compl...

US Department of Labor, Mascaro Construction Co. partner to promote safety, health during Heinz History Center expansion PITTSBURGH – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has signed a strategic partnership with Mascaro Construction Co. to promote worker safety and health during a major expansion of the Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh.The partnership between the OSHA Pittsburgh Area Office and the construction company seeks to prevent work-related injuries, control and eliminate serious workplace hazards, and establish a foundation for an effective safety and health program.This initiative will also assist contractors in developing and implementing safety and health management systems and train subcontractors on recognizing hazards when working in and around construction sites.Partners will emphasize leadership engagement, accountability measures, worker participation strategies, and robust hazard identification protocols. The He...

US Department of Labor files suit alleging South Dakota construction company wrongfully fired whistleblower for reporting work-related injury SIOUX FALLS, SD – The U.S. Department of Labor has filed suit against a Valley Springs construction contractor for the wrongful termination of an employee who reported a severe work-related injury.An investigation by the department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration found the employee received second- and third-degree burns from scalding water in a pressurized pipe. OSHA determined Stone Hill Excavation LLC, and its successor Split Rock Sand & Gravel, violated the whistleblower provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Act by firing the worker two days after the injury was reported.The department’s suit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Dakota, asks the court to hold the company and its successor liable for illegal retaliation. It also calls for the reinstatement of the employee and...

Secretary Chavez-DeRemer statement on March jobs report WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer issued the following statement regarding the March 2026 Employment Situation Report:“One year since Liberation Day, America’s economic comeback is on full display: Job growth smashed expectations, with a remarkable 178,000 jobs added in March. President Trump’s economic policies are working as planned, and Americans are feeling the benefits as we reindustrialize our nation after years of decline under the previous administration.“Through the Working Families Tax Cuts, historic private investments, and fair trade policies, President Trump is putting more money in Americans’ pockets and empowering job creators. This is evident through strong growth in construction jobs, particularly factory construction, and manufacturing having its first positive quarter in several years – proving that we are bringing production back to the United States.“Thanks to President Trump’s America ...

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 ini...

US Department of Labor cites Florida construction contractor after 2 workers severely injured, 1 fatally electrocuted SEMINOLE, FL – The U.S. Department of Labor cited a Florida utility construction contractor for Duke Energy after one worker was electrocuted and two others injured at a Seminole site in August 2025.Investigators with the department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration determined a work crew from Primoris Services Corp. – operating as Primoris T&D Services LLC – was replacing a utility pole when the pole contacted an energized overhead transmission line, fatally electrocuting a lineman and sending two other workers to the hospital.OSHA cited the employer with three serious violations for failing to ensure employees maintained the required minimum approach distance from exposed energized parts or have the transmission line deenergized, assign a designated observer to monitor approach distances and provide warnings, and ensure the job briefing covered spec...

US Department of Labor recovers more than $293K in back wages for 56 construction workers denied overtime by Idaho company NAMPA, ID – The U.S. Department of Labor has recovered $293,698 in back wages for 56 workers employed by a Nampa-based residential construction company after a federal investigation found the employer denied them overtime pay in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act.Investigators with the department’s Wage and Hour Division determined Speedy’s Framing LLC paid employees straight time rates for hours worked over 40 in a workweek instead of paying the federally mandated overtime premium. The division also found the employer failed to pay travel time for one foreman who drove the employer’s vehicles between the shop and work sites, which resulted in additional unpaid overtime. The division recovered back wages for each affected worker ranging between $90 and $32,047. The employer also paid a $24,795 civil money penalty due to the willful nature of the violati...

US Department of Labor cites Florida air conditioning contractor for exposing workers to struck-by hazards after worker fatality FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – The U.S. Department of Labor has cited a Florida plumbing, heating, and air conditioning contractor for exposing workers to struck-by hazards after an employee suffered a fatal injury at a Bal Harbor Shops worksite in August 2025.The department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration found that on Aug. 28, 2025, a Hyvac Inc. pipefitter installing a new air-conditioning system for a mall expansion construction project was fatally injured from a pressurized HVAC piping system. The employer was cited with two serious violations for exposing workers to struck-by hazards by not verifying piping was free from stored pressure before employees performed work on the system and did not train workers to recognize and avoid hazards associated with removing HVAC end caps on pressurized pipping systems. OSHA proposed $28,135 in penal...

US Department of Labor cites Alabama contractor for exposing workers to sewage gas that resulted in 2 fatalities BIRMINGHAM, AL – A U.S. Department of Labor investigation found numerous safety hazards at a Mobile worksite where Construction Labor Services Inc. workers were exposed to sewage gases, resulting in two fatalities.Investigators with the department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration found that on Aug. 11, 2025, three Construction Labor Services workers were installing and repairing sewer lines inside of a manhole when they were overcome by sewer gas and became unresponsive. One worker regained consciousness and managed to self-rescue, and the two other workers succumbed to their injuries.Federal safety investigators determined the employer lacked confined space entry programs, procedures, training, and emergency response plans, including plans to determine acceptable entry conditions for confined spaces.OSHA cited Construction Labor Services Inc. with 1...

US Labor Department orders Texas companies to pay more than $200K in back wages, damages to workers fired after raising asbestos concerns HOUSTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has ordered two Houston-based construction companies and their owners to reinstate and compensate two workers who were fired for raising asbestos concerns during repair of a hotel after Hurricane Beryl.The department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigated a whistleblower complaint by the terminated employees of Rise Construction LLC, owned by Jivar Foty, and Niko Group LLC, owned by Jessica Foty. The two employees alleged they were fired after raising concerns to the owners about lack of training, asbestos certification, personal protective equipment, and illegal dumping of asbestos. OSHA found that the terminations were in retaliation for making protected complaints under the Clean Air Act, the Solid Waste Disposal Act, and Toxic Substances Control Act, and ordered reinstatement of th...

Secretary Chavez-DeRemer statement on January jobs report WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer issued the following statement regarding the January 2026 Employment Situation Report:“The January jobs report shows that the U.S. economy is off to an undeniably strong start this year, with 172,000 private sector jobs added. Solid growth in construction is proof that President Trump’s America First policies are working their magic, including a notable 25,000 uptick in specialty trades from factory groundbreakings – a direct result of the trillions in historic investments the President has secured. “The numbers are reflecting what I’ve been seeing on the ground throughout my America at Work listening tour. With the support of pro-growth policies like the Working Families Tax Cuts, businesses are ready and excited to expand, and Americans are getting back to work. President Trump is fulfilling his promise to grow the private sector while eliminating wasteful and burde...

US Department of Labor investigation finds Birmingham construction company willfully exposed workers to trench collapse at Bessemer worksite BIRMINGHAM – A U.S. Department of Labor investigation has found numerous safety hazards at a civil construction employer’s worksite following a trench collapse in Jefferson County. The department’sOccupational Safety and Health Administration investigators found CB&A Construction LLC workers removed and installed drain pipes for Jefferson County under a suspended load, without hard hats, and at the edge of an excavation that lacked protective restraints.OSHA cited CB&A Construction with a willful violation and proposed $170,145 in penalties.CB&A Construction LLC 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. Penalties and citations may...

New York roofing contractor enters into settlement agreement with US Department of Labor after willfully failing to protect worker in 2021 fatal fall NEW YORK – A Long Island roofing contractor has entered into a settlement agreement with the U.S. Department of Labor to resolve willful safety violations found after an employee sustained fatal injuries from an 18-foot fall through an unprotected skylight in August 2021. An investigation by the department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration found that DME Construction Associates Inc. exposed workers to falls of up to 22 feet at unguarded roof openings and roof edges. OSHA found that the employer failed to provide any personal fall protection equipment to employees at the Oyster Bay municipal building worksite where workers were replacing a steel roof decking.The settlement affirms all citations issued to DME Construction Associates, including nine willful violations, eight of which were egregious per-instance citati...

ICYMI: Secretary Chavez-DeRemer meets with apprentices, construction workers during 4-state ‘America at Work’ swing WASHINGTON – U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer completed a four-state swing through North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, and Nebraska as she nears the end of her 50-state “America at Work” listening tour, meeting with construction workers, business leaders, local officials, healthcare workers, and apprentices as part of her promise to speak directly with the hardworking men and women who keep our nation running strong. “Whether it’s the students who are excited about getting their foot in the door through apprenticeship opportunities, or the business leaders who get to grow and expand their footprint thanks to President Trump’s pro-worker policies, hardworking Americans across the country are excited to have an Administration dedicated to putting them first,” said Secretary Chavez-DeRemer. “I’m going to continue these conversations so I can go ...

Department of Labor, Methuen Obayashi Joint Venture partner to promote safety, health during Cemetery Brook Drain Tunnel Project CONCORD, NH – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has signed a strategic partnership with the Methuen Obayashi Joint Venture to promote worker safety and health during construction of the Cemetery Brook Drain Tunnel Project in Manchester.The project will modernize Manchester’s drainage system to reduce sewer overflows with the construction of a gravity-fed stormwater conveyance tunnel. OSHA’s partnership with the civil construction company seeks to prevent workers’ exposure to gas, pressurized zones, confined spaces and struck-by incidents, and ensure the use of shoring and protective systems in excavations.The initiative will also assist contractors in developing and implementing safety and health management systems and train subcontractors on recognizing hazards when working in and around construction sites...

Court orders California construction contractor to pay $770K in back wages, damages after federal investigation finds minimum wage, overtime violations ESCONDIDO, CA – The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a consent judgment requiring an Escondido drywall construction contractor to pay $790,000 in back wages, damages, and penalties after a federal investigation found the employer failed to pay the federally required minimum wage and overtime to 580 workers.The court action follows an investigation by the department’s Wage and Hour Division into Innovative Wall Systems Inc. – operating as Alta Drywall. Federal investigators found that the employer did not accurately keep records of hours worked, including pre- and post-shift work, travel between jobsites, or work performed on Saturdays. The employer also neglected to pay workers the required overtime rate of time-and-one-half for all hours worked over 40 in a workweek, resulting in Fair Labor Standards Act minimum wag...

US Department of Labor announces $98M in available funding to deliver education, occupational skills training, job services to young people WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of $98 million in funding to support the development of pre-apprenticeships in high-demand industries including construction, advanced manufacturing, information technology, and healthcare.“By investing $98 million through our YouthBuild Program, the Labor Department is opening up pathways to success for young Americans by providing them with opportunities to gain hands-on experience in construction and emerging fields,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer. “The Trump Administration remains committed to building a skilled workforce that will drive our economy into the future.”Funded through the department’s YouthBuild Program, the grants will help provide academic support, occupational skills training and employment services to young people, ages 16 to 24, ...