OSHRC ALJ decision Docket 92-2248 Decided April 6, 1994 Settled Judge Louis G. LaVecchia

Tackett Tank, Inc.

Settlement approved over employee representative's objections

Apply this to your situation

This order from 1994 bound only the parties to this case; it isn't precedent. Ezel answers your situation under the current OSHA standards and Commission precedent, with citations.

Currency note: this decision dates from 1994
The OSHA standards may have been amended, penalty amounts have been adjusted, and later Commission or court decisions may have changed the analysis since then. Treat this page as historical context, not current compliance advice. Verify the current standard before relying on any specific rule, threshold, or penalty mentioned here.
Final order, not Commission precedent
This decision by an OSHRC Administrative Law Judge became a final order of the Commission because no Commissioner directed review (29 U.S.C. § 661(j)). It binds the parties but is not binding precedent in other cases. The full text below is from the official OSHRC release.
About this page: The plain-English summary and decision snapshot below were written by Ezel based on the official OSHRC release. The full text is the Commission's own document.
Read the official release (oshrc.gov)

Plain-English summary

The Secretary and Tackett Tank submitted a settlement agreement in a case arising from an accident that caused an employee's death. The employee's father, acting as an authorized employee representative, submitted documents objecting to the settlement. The judge explained that Commission precedent limits employee objections to whether the agreed abatement period is reasonable. Because the objections did not concern the abatement period and the agreement stated that the cited conditions had already been corrected, the judge lacked authority to consider the other objections. He approved and incorporated the settlement agreement. The decision does not identify the cited standards, penalties, or other settlement terms.

Decision snapshot

  • Cited standard(s): No specific OSHA standard is identified in the decision.
  • Outcome: Settled. The settlement was approved and incorporated into the order despite the employee representative's objections.
  • Key point: In a Commission settlement, employees or their representatives may object only to the reasonableness of the abatement period.

Full text (OSHRC public release)

                                   UNITED STA-S   Of AMERICA

--I w OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH REVIEW COMMlSSlON
One Lafayette Cents
1120 20th Street, N.W. - 9th floor
Washington, DC 20036-3419

                                                                                 FAX:

-W-W -ma-
W8WWloO -w-
SECRETARY OF LABOR
complainant OSHRC DOCKET
v. NO. 92-2248
TACKE’ITT INC.,
ANKk espondent,
DENNIS J. GRADY,
Authorized Employee
Representative.

                            NOTICE OF DOCKEIWG
                      OF ADMINIm-      LAW JUDGE’S DECISION
            The Administrative Law Judge’s Re rt in the above referermcd case was
                                            ’ 4 1994. The decision of the Judge
       docketed with the Commission on Ap npo
       will become a final order of the Commission on May 6 1994 unless a
       Commission member directs review of the decision on or before that date. ANY
       PARTY DESIRING REVIEW OF THE JUDGE’S DECISION BY THE
       COMMISSION MUST FILE A PET’ITIONFOR DISCRETIONARY REVIEW.



          All further pleadings or communications regarding this case shall be
       addressed to:
                              Executive Secretary
                              Occupational safety and Health
                              Rmew Commission
                              1120 20th St. N.W., Suite 980
                       _.     Washington DC. 200363419
       Petitioning parties shall also mail a copy to:
                              Daniel J. Mick Esq.
                              Counsel for Re l  onal Trial Liti ation
                              Office of the So1 ‘&or, U.S. Dck
                              Room MOO4
                              200 Constitution Avenue, N.W.
                              Washington,D.C. 20210

DOCKET NO. 924248

If a Direction for Review is issued by the Commission,then the Counsel for
Re#od Trial I&i tion will representthe Department of I&or. Any party
havmg questioas ai! ut review nghtS may contact the Commission’s Executive
secretary or call (202) 6064400.
FOR THE COMMISSION

                                p4r,H

Date: April 6, 1994 Ray H. Darling, Jr.
Executive Secretary
DOCKET NO. 92-238
NOTICE IS GWEN TO THE FOWWING:

Daniel J. Mick, Esq.
Counsel for Re 'onal Trial Liti ation
Office of the Soc l
citor, U.S. lxk
Room S4004
200 Constitution Ave., N.W.
Washington, D.C 20210

James E. White, Esq.
Re ‘onal Solicitor
d ce of the Solicitor, U.S. DOL
525 Griffin Square Bldg., Suite 501
Streets
izlEg !hii!?i%

Kevin W. Weaver, Esq.
Weaver & Craig
65 Germantown Court, Suite 110
Cordova, TN 38018

Mr. Dennis J. Grady
Route Yl, Box 185
Houston, TX 72070

Louis G. Mkcchia
Administrative Law Jud e
Occupational safety an B Health
Rewew &n&won
Federal Building,, Room 7Bll
1100 Commerce Street
Dallas, TX 75242 0791
UNITED STATES Of AMERICA
OCCUPATONAL SAFtrv AND HEALTH REVIEW COMMISSION
ROOM 7811, FEDERAL BUILDING
1100 COMMERCE STREET
DALLAS, TEXAS 75242-0791

PHONE: FM:
COM (214) m-5271 COM (214) ?67-
FE (214) 167-5271 f=R (214) 767-fx350

                                                              OSHRC DOCKET NO. 92-2248-S

TACKETT TANK, INC., l
l

                 Respondent.

DENNIS J. GRADY,

                  Authorized Employee
                  Representative.


                                   DECISION AND ORDER

      This is a proceeding       brought before the Occupational      Safety and Health Review

Commission (“the Commission”) pursuant to section 10 of the Occupational Safety and
Health Act of 1970, 29 U.S.C. Q 651 et seq. (“the Act”).
By order of January 7,1994, Dennis J. Grady was granted party status and was asked
to submit a letter stating any and all objections to the settlement agreement executed by the
Secretary and the Respondent and filed with this office on October 22, 1993. In response,
Mr. Grady has filed various documents presenting a tragic story in regard to the accident
which caused the death of his son and initiated the proceedings in this matter.
The undersigned is cognizant of the circumstances of this case and sympathizes with
Mr. Grady’s loss. However, as pointed out in the January 7 order, Commission precedent
is well settled that the only objections employees or their representatives may make to a
settlement agreement before the Commission is in regard to the reasonableness of the
2

period set for abatement. It is clear fkom the documentation submitted that Mr. Grady b
not object@ to the reasonableness of the period set for abatement. It is also clear that no
such objectionscan be made in any case because the settlement agreement specifically states
that the cited conditions have been abated.         The undersigned is therefore constrained to
approve the agreement and has no authority to entertain any other objections; however, Mr.
Grady can, should he so desire, petition for review of this matter pursuant to the instructions
set out in the cover letter to this decision,   The settlement   agreement   is hereby approved
and is incorporated   herein by reference.




                                                      his  G. L&cchia
                                                      Administrative Law Judge

. fate: BAR24 jy14

Get today's answer for your situation

You just read what one judge decided for one employer in 1994, and it binds only those parties. Ezel checks the current OSHA standards and Commission precedent and answers your specific situation, with citations.

Opens in Ezel Pro. Every answer cites the authority it relies on.