U.S. Department of Labor | The U.S. Department of Labor has cited an Orlando target-missile manufacturer for exposing workers to fire, burn, and inhalation hazards, after a December 2024 fire at its facility, hospitalizing two employees and injuring others.

Investigators with the department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) found that two employees of Aerojet Rocketdyne Coleman Aerospace Inc. were severely burned, and another sustained injuries from burns and smoke inhalation while they worked on a missile component.

OSHA also determined that the employer exposed other workers to burn and inhalation hazards from incorrectly stored and handled explosives and from failing to classify the physical hazards of a highly reactive chemical.

Aerojet Rocketdyne was cited with one wilful and six serious violations, with proposed penalties totalling $262,451.

The employer has 15 business days from receipt of the citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

U.S. Department of Labor | OSHA has cited The Salvation Army after a 54-year-old maintenance worker died following a fall at an Orlando donation centre in November 2024.

OSHA found the worker was repairing a roof leak when he fell. The Salvation Army received a repeat violation for fall hazards and five serious citations for failures in hazard assessment, training and machine guarding.

Two “other-than-serious” violations followed for delayed fatality reporting and lack of a hazard communication programme. Penalties total $120,817.

United States Environmental Protection Agency | EPA has settled violations of the Toxic Substances Control Act by BASF Corporation.

BASF agreed to a $700,000 penalty and certified full compliance after failing to report hundreds of substances during the 2020 TSCA reporting period at its New Jersey headquarters.

U.S. Department of Labor | OSHA cited Art Stone-Granite and Marble Inc. for repeat and serious safety violations after a follow-up inspection in Marietta.

Five months after an April 2024 inspection, OSHA found the stone-manufacturer had still not put in place hearing-conservation or respiratory-protection programmes. They were cited for two repeat and 13 serious violations.

The company will pay $120,000 in penalties, correct the hazards and implement preventive measures.

Washington State Department of Labor and Industries | A Richland company faces $1.25 million in fines for multiple violations of the farm labour contractor law.

The Washington State Department of Labor and Industries fined Pacific Agri Services LLC following an August 2024 investigation—its largest farm labour contractor fine to date.

The company operated without a licence and failed to inform nearly 5,000 workers in writing about pay, work type, schedule, housing and transport, depriving them of their rights under state law.

State law also mandates minimum wage, safe transport, rest breaks and disclosure forms. Pacific Agri Services initially withheld required records and later admitted transporting 4,950 domestic and 26 H2-A workers without up-to-date disclosure forms. This resulted in a $1.24 million fine, plus $5,000 for unlicensed operation and $1,000 for record failures. The company has appealed.

United States Environmental Protection Agency | EPA announced a Clean Air Act settlement with Nalco Production LLC and Nalco Co. LLC.

Nalco’s Chicago facility will pay $401,300 in penalties after EPA found failures to develop hazard assessments, provide process safety information, secure procedures, inspect equipment, and implement incident investigation and risk management plans.

The companies will inspect ventilation and relief systems, add sensors, revise record-keeping and training, and update incident-investigation procedures.

U.S. Department of Labor | OSHA reached a settlement with John Troyer after a teen worker’s fatal fall in March 2023.

OSHA found Troyer Construction LLP failed to provide required fall protection for roofing work, and the Wage and Hour Division found illegal minor employment from May 2022 to June 2023. Under the agreement, Troyer must pay $290,000 in OSHA, child labor, and DOJ fines, and enroll in Missouri’s On-Site Safety and Health Consultation Program.

United States Environmental Protection Agency | Hino Motors pleaded guilty to a conspiracy to defraud the U.S. Government and pay a $521.76 million fine.

Between 2010 and 2019, Hino Motors engineers altered and fabricated Clean Air Act test data, smuggling over 105,000 non-conforming diesel engines into the U.S. Hino was sentenced to a $521.76 million criminal fine, five years probation banning diesel engine imports, a $1.087 billion forfeiture judgment, and a comprehensive compliance programme. EPA and FBI agents investigated the case.

Insurance Journal | James G. Walker of Washington, D.C. has been found guilty on two counts of second-degree murder, and 27 criminal building code violations, for the deaths of two tenants who were unable to exit when his building erupted in flames.

On the morning of 18 August 2019, a fire in the basement of 708 Kennedy Street killed two tenants, Fitsum Kebede (40) and Yafet Solomen (10), from thermal burns and smoke inhalation. Prosecutors showed Walker knew of fire safety violations and ignored warnings to correct them.

Walker lacked a certificate of occupancy, operated the building as an illegal “rooming house,” failed to install or maintain smoke alarms, and blocked escape routes with double-keyed security gates.

The case was heard in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr. and D.C. Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb.

California Department of Industrial Relations | The Labor Commissioner’s Office (LCO) has taken enforcement action totaling more than $1.1 million against Buena Park restaurant Food Source LLC for wage theft violations and failure to comply with paid sick leave requirements.

The total includes $532,561 in citations to compensate 73 workers for unpaid wages, failure to pay overtime, liquidated damages, and incomplete wage statements. Additionally, the LCO filed a lawsuit seeking $575,803 in unpaid wages, damages, and penalties for paid sick leave violations.

These violations impacted at least 90 workers. Under California’s Healthy Workplace, Healthy Families Act, employees accrue one hour of sick leave per 30 hours worked, with usage allowed after 90 days of employment and a cap of 80 hours.

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