Weyerhaeuser Co.; Konkolville Lumber Co.; Continental Kitchens, Inc.; Boise Cascade Corp.; Noblecraft Industries, Inc.; Diamond International Corp.; Louisiana-Pacific Corp. (Commission decision, February 25, 1980)

Plain-English summary

Eight cases against wood products companies, all charging the same thing: radial saws without the lower blade guard required by 29 C.F.R. § 1910.213(h)(1), the guard that rides against the stock and adjusts itself to the thickness of the cut.

The Ninth Circuit decided the consolidated appeal in January 1980. It turned aside the companies' challenge to how the standard was promulgated, but held that the standard can validly be applied only to saws used in woodworking or carpentry, not to saws used in sawmill operations or in making structural plywood. The court found the record unclear about what these particular saws were actually used for and sent the cases back for the Commission to sort that out. Under the court's order, any citation covering a saw used in sawmilling or structural plywood manufacture has to be vacated.

This order does no more than set up that inquiry. The Commission consolidated the eight cases, noted that the parties had actively disputed the saws' use in the court of appeals and that the record is thin on the point, and concluded the parties should get a chance to put in more evidence and argument rather than have the question resolved on the existing record. The cases go to the Chief Administrative Law Judge for assignment and whatever proceedings are needed to answer the question the Ninth Circuit posed.

Decision snapshot

• Cited standard(s): 29 C.F.R. § 1910.213(h)(1)
• Outcome: Remanded. The consolidated cases return to an administrative law judge to determine how each cited saw was used.
• Key point: The radial saw guarding standard is valid but limited to woodworking and carpentry, so coverage now turns on a factual finding about each saw's use.

Full text (OSHRC public release)

Docket Nos. 1231; 1758; 2437; 2920; 2944

1 of 202 DOCUMENTS

TURNER COMPANY

A. SCHONBEK & CO., INC.
�

NORANDA ALUMINUM, INC.
�

GENERAL MOTORS CORP., GM ASSEMBLY DIV.
�

ALLIED PLANT MAINTENANCE CO. OF OKLAHOMA, INC.
�

CLEMENT FOOD COMPANY

MILLCON CORPORATION

FWA DRILLING COMPANY, INC.
�

CCI, INC.
�

GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY

CONSOLIDATED ALUMINUM CORPORATION

THE BRONZE CRAFT CORPORATION

CARGILL, INC.
�

CHAPMAN CONSTRUCTION CO., INC.
�

GALLO MECHANICAL CONTRACTORS, INC.
�

SPECIAL METALS CORPORATION

WILLAMETTE IRON AND STEEL COMPANY

NASHUA CORPORATION

WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC CORPORATION

RESEARCH-COTTRELL, INC.
�

ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION

NEWPORT NEWS SHIPBUILDING & DRYDOCK CO.
�

NEWPORT NEWS SHIPBUILDING & DRYDOCK CO.
�

BUNKOFF CONSTRUCTION CO., INC.
�

GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION, FRIGIDAIRE DIVISION

HARRIS BROTHERS ROOFING CO.
�

GENERAL DIVERS COMPANY

ORMET CORPORATION

R. ZOPPO CO., INC.
�

COEUR D'ALENE TRIBAL FARM

L. A. DREYFUS COMPANY

CMH COMPANY, INC.
�

BENTON FOUNDRY, INC.
�

MICHAEL CONSTRUCTION CO., INC.
�

WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

BROWN & ROOT, POWER PLANT DIVISION

MARION POWER SHOVEL CO., INC.
�

ERSKINE-FRASER CO.
�

MORRISON-KNUDSEN AND ASSOCIATES

THE BOAM COMPANY

DIC-UNDERHILL, a Joint Venture

C. R. BURNETT AND SONS, INC.; HARLLEE FARMS

STRIPE-A-ZONE, INC.
�

FORTE BROTHERS, INC.
�

RAYBESTOS FRICTION MATERIALS COMPANY

TEXLAND DRILLING CORPORATION

THE ANACONDA COMPANY, WIRE AND CABLE DIVISION

SAM HALL & SONS, INC.
�

VAMPCO METAL PRODUCTS, INC.
�

LEONE INDUSTRIES, INC.
�

ASARCO, INC.
�

DURANT ELEVATOR, A DIVISION OF SCOULAR-BISHOP GRAIN COMPANY

PLUM CREEK LUMBER COMPANY

PLUM CREEK LUMBER COMPANY

STEARNS-ROGER, INC.
�

FERRO CORPORATION, (ELECTRO DIVISION)

AMERICAN PACKAGE COMPANY, INC.
�

BROWN & ROOT, INC., POWER PLANT DIVISION

FLEETWOOD HOMES OF TEXAS, INC.
�

DONALD HARRIS, INC.
�

A. PROKOSCH & SONS SHEET METAL, INC.; MID-HUDSON AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER COMPANY, INC.
�

ELECTRICAL CONSTRUCTORS OF AMERICA, INC.
�

DAYTON TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY (Division of the Firestone Tire & Rubber Company)

ASARCO, INC., EL PASO DIVISION; HUGHES TOOL COMPANY

NAVAJO FOREST PRODUCTS INDUSTRIES

METROPAK CONTAINERS CORPORATION

AUSTIN BUILDING COMPANY

BABCOCK AND WILCOX COMPANY

DARRAGH COMPANY

BABCOCK & WILCOX COMPANY

OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY

R. ZOPPO COMPANY, INC.
�

LUTZ, DAILY & BRAIN - CONSULTING ENGINEERS

PENNSYLVANIA POWER & LIGHT CO.
�

HARSCO CORPORATION, d/b/a PLANT CITY STEEL COMPANY

NORTHWEST AIRLINES, INC.
�

INDEPENDENCE FOUNDRY & MANUFACTURING CO., INC.
�

GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION, INLAND DIVISION

WELDSHIP CORPORATION

S & S DIVING COMPANY

SNIDER INDUSTRIES, INC.
�

NATIONAL STEEL AND SHIPBUILDING COMPANY

MAXWELL WIREBOUND BOX CO., INC.
�

CONTINENTAL GRAIN COMPANY

MISSOURI FARMER'S ASSOCIATION, INC., MFA BOONVILLE EXCHANGE; MFA, INC., d/b/a MFA GRAIN DIVISION; DESERT GOLD FEED COMPANY

CAPITAL CITY EXCAVATING CO., INC.
�

GAF CORPORATION

PPG INDUSTRIES (CARIBE) a Corporation

DRUTH PACKAGING CORPORATION

SOUTHWESTERN ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY

TUNNEL ELECTRIC CONSTRUCTION CO.
�

WEATHERBY ENGINEERING COMPANY

JOHNSON STEEL & WIRE CO., INC.
�

AUSTIN ROAD CO.
�

MAYHEW STEEL PRODUCTS, INC.
�

LADISH CO., TRI-CLOVER DIVISION, a Corporation

PULLMAN POWER PRODUCTS, INC.
�

NATIONAL ROOFING CORPORATION

OSCO INDUSTRIES, INC.
�

HIGHWAY MOTOR COMPANY, d/b/a PARK PRICE MOTOR COMPANY

S.J. GROVES AND SONS COMPANY

CAR AND TRUCK DOCTOR, INC.
�

PRESTRESSED SYSTEMS, INC.
�

TEXACO, INC.
�

GEORGIA HIGHWAY EXPRESS, INC.
�

RED LOBSTER INNS OF AMERICA, INC.
�

SUNRISE PLASTERING CORP.
�

STONE & WEBSTER ENGINEERING CORPORATION

H.B. ZACHRY COMPANY (INTERNATIONAL)

NATIONAL INDUSTRIAL CONSTRUCTORS, INC.
�

BUSHWICK COMMISSION COMPANY, INC.
�

CIRCLE T DRILLING CO., INC.
�

J.L. FOTI CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, INC.
�

TEXACO, INC.
�

KENNETH P. THOMPSON CO., INC.
�

HENRY C. BECK COMPANY

HEATH & STICH, INC.
�

FARMERS EXPORT COMPANY

FOSTER AND KLEISER

TURNER WELDING & ERECTION CO., INC.
�

TRI-CITY CONSTRUCTION CO.
�

THE DURIRON COMPANY, INC.
�

SAMSON PAPER BAG CO., INC.
�

MEL JARVIS CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, Inc.
�

MIDWEST STEEL ERECTION, INC.
�

GEISLER GANZ CORPORATION

NEW ENGLAND TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH COMPANY

NATIONAL MANUFACTURING COMPANY

WALLACE ROOFING COMPANY

REYNOLDS METALS COMPANY, INC.
�

UNIVERSAL ROOFING AND SHEET METAL COMPANY, INC.
�

SUFFOLK COUNTY CONTRACTORS, INC.
�

NORANDA ALUMINUM, INC.
�

ROOFING SYSTEMS CONSULTANTS, A DIVISION OF BIT U TECH, INC.

GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY

SERVICE SPECIALTY, INC.
�

ECCO HIGH FREQUENCY ELECTRIC CORP.
�

HENRY C. BECK COMPANY

REPUBLIC ROOFING CORPORATION

EASLEY ROOFING & SHEET METAL CO., INC.
�

MIDDLETOWN VOLKSWAGEN, INC.
�

RICHARD ROTHBARD, INC.
�

AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER CORPORATION OF AMERICA

PENNSUCO CEMENT AND AGGREGATES, INC.
�

AMFORGE DIVISION, ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL

MASSMAN-JOHNSON (Luling), a joint venture; MASSMAN CONSTRUCTION CO.; AL JOHNSON CONSTRUCTION CO.
�

GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION, CENTRAL FOUNDRY DIVISION

GENERAL DYNAMICS CORPORATION, ELECTRIC BOAT DIVISION

EDGEWATER STEEL CORPORATION

INTERLAKE, INC.
�

PRATT & WHITNEY AIRCRAFT, A DIVISION OF UNITED TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
�

UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION, DUQUESNE PLANT

KENT NOWLIN CONSTRUCTION CO., INC.
�

WANDER IRON WORKS, INC.
�

SITKIN SMELTING & REFINING, INC.
�

AMERICAN CYANAMID COMPANY

BETHLEHEM STEEL CORPORATION

J.L. FOTI CONSTRUCTION CO., INC.
�

WRIGHT AND LOPEZ, INC.
�

DELAWARE AND HUDSON RAILWAY CO.
�

O.E.C. CORPORATION

BROWN-McKEE, INC.
�

DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY; VECELLIO & GROGAN, INC.
�

REXCO INDUSTRIES, INC.
�

MASONRY CONTRACTORS, INC.
�

CARGILL, INC.
�

STEWART-WARNER CORPORATION

LOUISIANA PACIFIC CORP.; WEYERHAEUSER COMPANY; WEYERHAEUSER COMPANY; KONKOLVILLE LUMBER COMPANY; CONTINENTAL KITCHENS, INC.; BOISE CASCADE CORPORATION; NOBLECRAFT INDUSTRIES, INC.; DIAMOND INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION

REBCO STEEL CORPORATION

S & H RIGGERS & ERECTORS, INC.
�

FOREST PARK ROOFING COMPANY

LLOYD C. LOCKREM, INC.
�

ED JACKMAN PONTIAC-OLDS, INC.
�

CEMENT ASBESTOS PRODUCTS CO.
�

HARSHAW CHEMICAL COMPANY

ARMSTRONG CORK COMPANY

DIAMOND ROOFING COMPANY, INC.
�

BROWN & ROOT, INC., POWER PLANT DIVISION

F. H. LAWSON COMPANY

WEYERHAEUSER COMPANY; KONKOLVILLE LUMBER COMPANY, INC.; CONTINENTAL KITCHENS, INC.; BOISE CASCADE CORPORATION; NOBLECRAFT INDUSTRIES, INC.; DIAMOND INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION; LOUISIANA-PACIFIC CORPORATION

OSHRC Docket Nos. 1231; 1758; 2437; 2920; 2944; 3367; 3460; 7911

Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission

February 25, 1980

�
[*1]
�

Before CLEARY, Chairman; BARNAKO and COTTINE, Commissioners.
�

COUNSEL:

Baruch A. Fellner, Office of the Solicitor, USDOL

Robert A. Friel, Associate Regional Solicitor, USDOL

Daniel W. Teehan, Regional Solicitor, USDOL

Douglas B. M. Ehlke, for the employer

George J. Tichy, for the employer

Richard J. Archer, for the employer

James A. McClaskey, for the employer

Robert E. Babcock, for the employer

Local 3-12, International Woodworkers of America, for the employees

Keefe Walker, Financial Secretary, Lodge No. 1943, International Association of Machinists, for the employees

OPINION:

ORDER

BY THE COMMISSION:

These cases are before the Commission on remand from the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
�
Noblecraft Industries, Inc. v. Secretary of Labor, No. 76-1106 (Jan. 3, 1980).
�
The Respondents were all cited for allegedly violating section 5(a)(2) n1 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, 29 U.S.C. � �
�
651-678, by failing to equip certain radial saws with lower blade guards, as required by the standard at 29 C.F.R. �
�
1910.213(h)(1). n2 The court of appeals rejected the argument that the standard was invalidly promulgated, but held that the standard could only [*2]
�
be validly applied to saws used in woodworking or carpentry operations as opposed to sawmill operations or the manufacture of structural plywood. The court noted that the record was unclear as to the uses to which the saws at issue were put, and it remanded the cases for the Commission to make that determination.
�
Under the court's remand order, the citations must be vacated to the extent that they charge violations as to saws used in sawmill operations or in the manufacture of structural plywood.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • -Footnotes- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

n1 29 U.S.C. �
�
654(a)(2).

n2 This standard provides, in pertinent part:

�
�
1910.213 Woodworking machinery requirements.

(h) Radial saws. (1) . . .
�
The sides of the lower exposed portion of the blade shall be guarded to the full diameter of the blade by a device that will automatically adjust itself to the thickness of the stock and remain in contact with stock being cut to give maximum protection possible for the operation being performed.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • -End Footnotes- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

These cases are hereby consolidated for the purpose [*3]
�
of resolving the issue presented by the court's order of remand.
�
29 C.F.R. �
�
2200.9.
�
The Commission notes that, in arguing the cases to the court of appeals, the parties disputed whether the saws at issue were in fact used in sawmill operations or in the manufacture of structural plywood as opposed to woodworking or carpentry. Because the specific use of the cited saws is in dispute and the record, as the court noted, is unclear, the parties should have the opportunity to present further evidence and argument on the point.
�
Accordingly, the cases are remanded to the Chief Administrative Law Judge for assignment to an administrative law judge, who shall conduct the proceedings necessary to resolve the issue presented by the court's remand order.
�
So ORDERED.
�