OSHA has ordered Wells Fargo Bank N.A. to compensate and immediately reinstate a former bank manager who lost his job after reporting suspected fraudulent behavior.
The manager, who had previously received positive job performance appraisals, was abruptly dismissed from his position at a Wells Fargo branch in the Los Angeles area after he reported incidents of suspected bank, mail and wire fraud.
An OSHA investigation concluded that the former manager's whistleblower activity, which is protected under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, was a factor in his termination. In addition to reinstating the employee and clearing his personnel file, Wells Fargo has been ordered to fully compensate him for lost earnings during his time out of the banking industry.
See the news release for more information. OSHA enforces the whistleblower protection provisions of Sarbanes-Oxley and 21 other statutes protecting workers who report violations of laws in various industries.
==========
U.S. Department of Labor
April 3, 2017
OSHA orders Wells Fargo to reinstate whistleblower,
fully restore lost earnings in banking industry
SAN FRANCISCO - The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has ordered Wells Fargo Bank N.A. to compensate and immediately reinstate a former bank manager who lost his job after reporting suspected fraudulent behavior to superiors and a bank ethics hotline.
The manager, who had previously received positive job performance appraisals, was abruptly dismissed from his position at a Wells Fargo branch in the Los Angeles area after he reported separate incidents of suspected bank, mail and wire fraud by two bankers under his supervision. He was told he had 90 days to find a new position at Wells Fargo, and when he was unsuccessful, he was terminated. He has been unable to find work in banking since his termination in 2010.
An OSHA investigation concluded that the former manager's whistleblower activity, which is protected under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, was at least a contributing factor in his termination. OSHA does not release names of whistleblower complainants.
In addition to reinstating the employee and clearing his personnel file, Wells Fargo has been ordered to fully compensate him for lost earnings during his time out of the banking industry. Back pay, compensatory damages, and attorneys' fees were together calculated at about $5.4 million. Wells Fargo also must post a notice informing all employees of their whistleblower protections under Sarbanes-Oxley, widely known as "SOX."
Wells Fargo can appeal the order before the department's Office of Administrative Law Judges, but such action does not stay the preliminary reinstatement order.
OSHA enforces the whistleblower provisions of SOX and 21 other statutes protecting employees who report violations of airline, commercial motor vehicle, consumer product, environmental, financial reform, food safety, health care reform, nuclear, pipeline, public transportation agency, railroad, maritime and securities laws. More information is available at www.whistleblowers.gov. For information about OSHA, visit http://www.osha.gov.
Media Contacts:
Jose A. Carnevali, 415-625-2631, carnevali.jose@dol.gov
Amanda Kraft, 202-693-4664, kraft.amanda.c@dol.gov
Release Number: 17-394-NAT
Objects and vehicles striking workers are the leading cause of roadside-related construction deaths.
As road construction projects ramp up this spring, the Federal Highway Administration is partnering with OSHA, the American Traffic Safety Services Association, and other groups to encourage safe driving in work zones. The campaign, called National Work Zone Awareness Week, is an annual event set for April 3-7 this year. Tragically, 700 people, including 130 workers, were killed in crashes at roadway worksites in 2015. Many states and localities across the country will hold events to bring attention to these hazards and encourage safe driving around work zones. A national kick-off event is planned for April 4, at 10:30 a.m., at the Maryland state Randolph Road/Georgia Avenue Interchange Project. In addition, the Georgia Struck-By Alliance, which includes OSHA, will hold stand-downs at highway construction locations throughout Georgia this week to train workers on the dangers of distracted drivers and flying debris. For more information on the Georgia events, see the news release
GILBERT, AZ - Gilbert police say they are investigating after a steel company employee was killed on the job on Monday morning.
Officials say a large steel beam fell on a worker at S&H Steel, located near Cooper and Guadalupe roads. The victim reportedly died from their injuries.
Police do not suspect any foul play in the worker’s death, however the industrial accident is still under investigation.The victim has not yet been publicly identified.
===================
Man dead after industrial accident in Gilbert Posted: Apr 03, 2017 5:23 PM EST Updated: Apr 03, 2017 5:23 PM EST
By Eric Zott
Authorities say a man died Monday morning after an industrial accident in Gilbert.
Fire officials said they were called to 620 W Commerce Avenue Monday around 7:40 A.M. in response to an accident at S & H Steel Company.
Paramedics treated a man who was then taken to a nearby trauma center.
Gilbert Police spokesman Darrell Kruger said the man has died. Krueger said their units are assisting in the investigation of the incident.
There are few details available at this time, said Krueger.
===================
OUR Services
Estimating
Detailing
Project Management
Fabrication
Erection
Budgeting/Value Engineering
OUR STORY
In 1983, four friends decided to combine their expertise by merging their two small steel companies into one: S+H Steel. They began small, but they didn't stay that way for long. What started with a few friends in a garage, has since grown into a large, award-winning operation near the heart of downtown Gilbert, Arizona.
Today, S+H Steel has more than 100 employees who process 100 tons of steel a week for large commercial projects, government contracts, and more.
S+H Steel also holds the distinction of belonging to a small handful of steel companies in Arizona who are AISC certified in both steel fabrication and erection.
That's our story. Reach out today, and begin building yours.
NORTH
BERGEN, New Jersey (WABC) -- Police are at the scene of a hit and run
that injured two pedestrians in North Bergen, New Jersey.
A car plowed into two people on Paterson Plank Road and 10th Street, and the driver kept on driving.
Witnesses
say the vehicle came speeding off of Kennedy Boulevard, and seemed to
have cut through the parking lot, barreling through the two pedestrians
before taking off.
The pedestrians were tossed into the air on
impact. Immediately after the collision, people then came rushing over
to help the victims.
The victims were rushed to the hospital, but their conditions are currently unknown.
Police are working to find out the make and model of the vehicle they are looking for.
=============
Victims in North Bergen hit and run have died; Driver in custody
NORTH
BERGEN, New Jersey (WABC) -- Two pedestrians were killed when they were
struck by a hit-and-run driver at a dangerous intersection in New
Jersey Sunday night.
The victims were pronounced dead shortly
after the crash, which happened around 8 p.m. at Kennedy Boulevard and
Paterson Plank Road in North Bergen.
Surveillance video showed the two victims walking side by side just before they were hit.
Witnesses
say the vehicle came speeding off of Kennedy Boulevard, visibly losing
control and then darting across a parking lot before hitting the
pedestrians.
"He took the turn too fast, lost control, it looks
like," one witness said. "Then he gained control after he hit them and
took off. He swerved into my lane, and I swerved to avoid him, and I
pulled over and noticed that people were hit."
The victims have been identified as 57-year-old Russell Maffei and 80-year-old Marie Tauro.
Maffei was the chair of the Jersey City Republican Party.
"Today,
he's supposed to be filing his petition to run for reelection," Hudson
County Republican chair Jose Arango said. "Now, we are preparing his
wake. It's a sad day."
Tauro was commissioner of the Jersey City Municipal Utilities Authority, serving under Mayor Steven Fulop.
"She
would swim every day, two miles at the NJCU pool, plus she was in great
shape," he said. "She was a fitness fanatic, and her energy level was
through the roof. So you're telling me she's 80, and I'm actually
surprised she's 80."
Maffei was an early supporter of President
Donald Trump and was a member of Governor Chris Christie's transition
team. Christie released the following statement:
"Mary Pat and I
were deeply saddened and disturbed to learn of the tragic deaths of
Russell Maffei and Marie Tauro in what police are reporting to be a
hit-and-run incident in North Bergen last night. More than just a
long-time Republican colleague, Russ was a dear friend who I had known
for many years and who I could always rely upon. As the full details of
this tragedy continue to unfold, Mary Pat and I want the families and
friends of both Russ and Marie to know that we will do all we can to
make sure that justice is done. The victims and their loved ones are in
our thoughts and prayers."
The driver, 38-year-old Michael Hansen, was taken into custody after police tracked down his car just before 4 a.m.
Hansen,
a Hudson County corrections officer, is charged with two counts of
leaving the scene of an accident that resulted in death and resisting
arrest.
FAIRFIELD, Connecticut -- A 20-year-old college student whose father was killed in the Sept. 11 attacks has died after choking during a pancake-eating contest. The pancake stuck deep into her throat and could not be removed on time. She should have stuck to other types of deep throats where she would not have choked to death.
Police said Caitlin Nelson died at a New York City hospital on Sunday, three days after participating in the contest at Sacred Heart University. She was from Clark, New Jersey, and was a junior majoring in social work at the Roman Catholic school in Fairfield.
"You have a family that lost their very young and very vibrant daughter, and you have the Sacred Heart University community that lost one of their students," Fairfield police Lt. Bob Kalamaras. "It's just a tragic accident."
When Nelson started choking at the contest, two nursing students who were there immediately began lifesaving measures and were quickly joined by police officers and paramedics.
"They did the best to establish an air way," Kalamaras said. "Unfortunately, the pancake was impacted in there, in her throat, and the officers were trying to get it out."
Nelson was taken to a hospital in Bridgeport in critical but stable condition and transferred on Friday to New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center.
Students say there is a deep sense of loss on campus.
"I was at the event when it happened," student Kathryn Snaith said. "And me and all my sorority sisters are affected greatly by it."
Several thousand people gathered on the Sacred Heart campus Sunday night to remember Nelson, a member of the Kappa Delta sorority, and share their grief.
"During times like this, you really feel a sense of love from the community," student Reid Chemidlin said. "And we are all here together for each other."
A Mass dedicated to her was followed by an impromptu candlelight vigil.
"Everyone loved her and loved her personality," student Jackie Balacki said. "I don't know much about her, but I know she is going to be missed a lot."
Photos: Remembering Sacred Heart University student Caitlin Nelson
The Sacred Heart University held a candlelight vigil in memory of student Caitlin Nelson who passed away on April 2, 2017. (Photo/Sean Kaschak)
Nelson's father, James Nelson, was a Port Authority of New York and New Jersey police officer killed in the Sept. 11 attacks in Manhattan. The 40-year-old died while trying to rescue people trapped in the World Trade Center. His obituary said he was survived by two daughters, 11-year-old Anne and 5-year-old Caitlin.
School officials said counseling services were being provided.
"The SHU community is mourning today," the school said in a statement Monday. "We ask that during this time you give Caitlin's family and the members of the SHU community privacy while they grieve."
According to her LinkedIn page, Caitlin was certified in youth mental health first aid and volunteered at the Resiliency Center of Newtown, a nonprofit group that provides free counseling and other services to people affected by the 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School that killed 20 children and six educators.
Funeral services have not been announced.
(The Associated Press contributed to this report)
