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Wage and Hour Division (WHD)
Press Releases
U.S. Department of Labor |
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SEATTLE -- The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage Hour Division announced today that GIO Alaska Timber Corp., doing business in Fairbanks as GIO Alaska Timber Co., and Kevin Lee, the firm’s president and secretary, agreed to pay $8,350 in civil money penalties for violations of the youth employment provisions of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
The consent findings were approved by the Office of Administrative Law Judges in Washington, D.C., and signed on Oct. 17, 2006, according to Donna Hart, Seattle district director of the Wage Hour Division.
“A 17-year old employed by GIO lost two fingers while cleaning an E430 Board Edger used to process lumber. The youth was unaware that the blades were running at the time. He also was involved in operating a gang saw,” Hart said.
Hart added that, “the department is committed to helping young workers find positive and early employment experiences but the work must be safe.”
The FLSA prohibits the employment of minors under the age of 18 years in any non-agricultural occupations that the department has declared hazardous. There are currently 17 hazardous occupation orders identifying the hazardous occupations. Hazardous Occupation Order No. 4 bans most jobs in logging and timbering (including cutting firewood) and in sawmills.
The Labor Department’s YouthRules! Web site, www.youthrules.dol.gov, is designed to educate employers, young workers, educators and parents about youth employment, the jobs they may perform and the hours they may work. For more information about the FLSA, call the department's toll-free help line at (866) 4US-WAGE (487-9243). Information is also available on the Internet at www.wagehour.dol.gov or by calling the Seattle Wage Hour District Office at (206) 398-8052.
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U.S. Department of Labor releases are accessible on the Internet at www.dol.gov. The information in this news release will be made available in alternate format (large print, Braille, audio tape or disc) from the COAST office upon request. Please specify which news release when placing your request at (202) 693-7828 or TTY (202) 693-7755. The Labor Department is committed to providing America’s employers and employees with easy access to understandable information on how to comply with its laws and regulations. For more information, please visit www.dol.gov/compliance.