Industry News

December 16, 2010
Tire Company to Settle Hiring Discrimination Case
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission announced it has resolved its gender-based hiring class lawsuit against Les Schwab Tire Centers of Washington and Les Schwab Tire Warehouse Inc. for $2 million and other corrective measures.
Read More >>

March 04, 2010
15,000 High Rate Workplaces Receiving OSHA Letters
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has identified and sent letters (letter10.html) to approximately 15,000 workplaces with the highest occupational injury and illness rates and is urging the employers to take action to remove hazards causing the high rates.
Read More >>

March 03, 2010
Dealership to Pay $32,500 for Refusing to Hire Applicant with Perceived Disability
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) today announced the settlement of a lawsuit filed against Valley Isle Motors Ltd, a Maui-based car dealership, resulting in a $32,500 payment to a job applicant and other relief to remedy alleged disability discrimination.
Read More >>

February 22, 2010
Government pays for shops to go green
As an environmentally conscious shop owner, paint supplier or contractor, you may be eligible for a valuable funding opportunity. There has never been a better time to tap into the lengthy list of government rebates, tax credits and other financial incentives designed to encourage shops to achieve federal, state and local compliance.
Read More >>

January 24, 2010
Getting Ready for GHS
Recently, OSHA held a public hearing to propose a new rule that would align their Hazard Communication System (HCS), with the United Nation’s Globally Harmonized System (GHS). Like most companies adapting to the new OSHA, you are probably wondering what this will mean for you.
Read More >>

January 21, 2010
Dealership manager charged with 67-count fraud indictment
A former manager at a Westminster car dealership has been charged with having customers sign fraudulent contracts and stealing the down payments for vehicles. He has been indicted on 67 counts, including identity theft, theft of more than $500, theft of between $1,000 and $10,000, forgery of private documents and making a false entry into a public record.
Read More >>

January 18, 2010
2-Alarm Fire Burns At Car Dealership
HOUSTON -- Parts Warehouse At West Point Buick Lincoln Mercury Catches Fire. Fierce flames consumed part of a west Houston car dealership on Monday, KPRC Local 2 reported.
Read More >>

January 14, 2010
Georgia Car Dealership to Pay $140,000 for Racial Harassment
Georgia Car Dealership to Pay $140,000 for Racial Harassment. EEOC Said Augusta Car Dealer Violated Federal Race Discrimination Law.
Read More >>

January 08, 2010
Auto dealer to pay $85,000 to settle racial discrimination and retaliation suit
Auto Dealer to Pay $85,000 to settle racial discrimination and retaliation suit .
Read More >>

January 07, 2010
Car dealer pays $1.5 million to settle discrimination suit
Arapahoe Motors, Inc., doing business as Ralph Schomp Automotive, will pay $1.505 million and furnish other relief to settle a sex and age discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
Read More >>

January 04, 2010
KPA, TK Carsites Form Strategic Alliance
KPA and TK Carsites announced a strategic partnership today that combines the environmental, health, safety, and HR compliance and risk management services of KPA with the "front end" marketing and website development capabilities of TK Carsites.
Read More >>

December 29, 2009
ASSE Offers Tips for Preventing Slips, Trips, Falls at Work
According to ASSE's Professional Safety Journal article "Slips, Trips & Falls in Construction & Mining: Causes & Controls," four factors can contribute to slip, trip, and fall hazards: 1) workers; 2) machines/equipment; 3) work environments; and 4) management.
Read More >>

December 26, 2009
Dealers exempt from oversight in Financial Reform Bill
WASHINGTON — Led by NADA's strong grassroots efforts, auto dealers would be exempt from oversight by a new Consumer Financial Protection Agency (CFPA) under a sweeping overhaul of the nation's financial regulatory system passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on Dec. 11.
Read More >>

December 22, 2009
COBRA Premium Subsidy Extended
The COBRA Premium Subsidy has been extended with President Obama signing into law on December 21st. The bill would extend the nine-month, 65 percent premium federal subsidy by six months. The change would apply to those who are involuntarily terminated through February 28, 2010, and would also would provide another six months of subsidized coverage for beneficiaries whose nine-month COBRA premium subsidy has run out.
Read More >>

December 21, 2009
New Floor Safety Standard Released
Based on more than a decade of research by the National Floor Safety Institute, it is the first step in reducing pedestrian slip-and-fall injuries.
Read More >>

December 14, 2009
Improve Insurance Coverage and Reduce Premiums with Risk Management Programs for Dealerships
KPA and Insurance Consultants of America (ICA) have formed an alliance to provide clients risk management and insurance consulting, along with EHS and HR compliance solutions that will improve coverage and reduced insurance costs for dealerships, manufacturers, and automotive services companies.
Read More >>

December 09, 2009
Function specific DOT Hazmat Training for Dealerships
KPA released a new online industry and function specific Department of Transportation (DOT) Hazardous Materials training (hazmat training) course as part of its Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) program for dealerships.
Read More >>

December 07, 2009
OSHA's Fall 2009 Agenda
On December 7th, the Department of Labor's semiannual agenda was made available The regulatory agenda is a listing of all the regulations the Department of Labor expects to have under active consideration for promulgation, proposal, or review during the coming one-year period.
Read More >>

December 04, 2009
Obama picks Senate aide as NHTSA chief
Washington -- President Barack Obama announced tonight that henominated David L. Strickland, a senior Senate aide, as the nation's top auto regulator -- a post that has a critical impact on vehicle safety regulations.
Read More >>

December 04, 2009
Beefed-up OSHA increasing its inspections
The Obama administration is asking Congress for a $50 million increase in OSHA’s budget for the federal fiscal year that began Oct. 1 to hire an additional 130 inspectors.
Read More >>

December 04, 2009
David Michaels Confirmed as OSHA Administrator
On Dec. 3, the Senate voted to confirm David Michaels as the assistant secretary of labor for OSHA.
Read More >>

December 01, 2009
OSHA levies more than $50,000 in fines against utility pole painting company
The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited utility equipment maintenance contractor Midsun Group Inc., Southington, Conn., with alleged serious and willful violations of federal workplace safety standards at worksites in Naperville, Ill., with proposed fines totaling $50,250.
Read More >>

November 23, 2009
OSHA cites wheel repair shop $69k for repeat safety and health violations
The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is proposing $69,550 in penalties against Wheel Repair Solutions, doing business as World of Wheels & Hubcaps, for safety and health violations at its Decatur, Ga., location.
Read More >>

November 19, 2009
Department of Labor hires 250 Wage and Hour inspectors
U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis issued a statement regarding the increased enforcement of the department's Wage and Hour Division, announcing that she "hired an additional 250 new wage and hour investigators, a staff increase of more than one third, to ensure that we promptly respond to complaints and can undertake more targeted enforcement."
Read More >>

October 30, 2009
OSHA's Top 10 Most Cited Violations
The top 10 most cited OSHA violations were unveiled Oct. 27 at 97th annual National Safety Council (NSC) Congress and Expo in Orlando. Top items for dealerships: Hazard Communication, Respiratory Protection, Electrical - Wiring, Electrical - General.
Read More >>