Indiana's Occupational Safety and Health Administration is citing two nursing homes for serious violations. Its the first time major COVID-19 workplace citations have been issued by state authorities.

The national AFL-CIO report looked at worker fatalities and injuries from 2018. Indiana saw 173 worker deaths that year, ranking it as the eighth worst state for fatalities.

No Indiana agency documents farm-related non-fatal injuries, but research has shown that about one in every nine Indiana farms has a farm-work-related injury incident that requires medical attention each year, the report said.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration says the Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center failed to provide PPE to some workers entrance screeners, cardiology workers and paperwork processors in mid-March.

State workplace safety officials are investigating an accident that killed a 14-year-old boy when the building he was helping his father erect was toppled by high winds.

The United Food and Commercial Workers union held an online news conference calling for increased pay and safety requirements to be enforced.

Months into the pandemic, many desperate workers say they still havent received unemployment benefits. And as many WorkOne re-employment offices reopen by appointment this week, staff fear theyll be caught in the middle between those people and the Indiana Department of Workforce Development.

They urged lawmakers not to allow casinos to reopen until theyre given affordable health care and can ensure safety.

The Department of Workforce Development is advising workers worried about returning to work to talk with their employer about how to do that safely.

In a Facebook Live event, local union leaders told senators theyve been working with employers to develop protection plans for workers for weeks. However, many say they still struggle to get adequate personal protective equipment.