Federal agency decisions, searchable in plain English.

Workplace-safety cases from the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission (OSHRC) and mine-safety cases from the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission (FMSHRC), each with a plain-English summary, the standards it cites, and whether it counts as precedent. More agencies are coming.

7,177 decisions and counting · Latest decision July 17, 2026
7,177 decisions

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COMM

Nip-Co Manufacturing, Inc.

Commission declines review and lets the judge's decision stand

This is a short Commission order in a case involving Nip-Co Manufacturing, Inc. After an Administrative Law Judge ruled on the case, a Commissioner brought it up for review on the Commission's own motion (a sua sponte order for review). Neither side filed objections or asked the Commission to…

May 27, 1977
Citations affirmed
COMM

Halliburton Services

Commission declines review and lets the judge's decision stand

This is a short Commission order in a case involving Halliburton Services. After an Administrative Law Judge ruled on the case, the Commission brought it up for review on its own motion. Neither party objected to the judge's decision or otherwise asked the Commission to change it. Because no party…

May 27, 1977
Citations affirmed
COMM

H. C. Lewis d/b/a, H. C. Lewis General Contractor

Commission declines review and lets the judge's decision stand

This is a short Commission order in a case involving H. C. Lewis, doing business as H. C. Lewis General Contractor. After an Administrative Law Judge ruled on the case, the Commission brought it up for review on its own motion. Neither party objected to the judge's decision or otherwise asked the…

May 27, 1977
Citations affirmed
COMM

Southwest Industrial Contractors & Riggers, Inc.

Commission declines review and lets the judge's decision stand

This is a short Commission order in a case involving Southwestern Industrial Contractors and Riggers, Inc. After an Administrative Law Judge ruled on the case, the Commission brought it up for review on its own motion. Neither party objected to the judge's decision or otherwise asked the Commission…

May 27, 1977
Citations affirmed
COMM

Stimson Contracting Co.

Commission declines review and lets the judge's decision stand

This is a short Commission order in a case involving Stimson Contracting Co. After an Administrative Law Judge ruled on the case, the Commission brought it up for review on its own motion. Neither party objected to the judge's decision or otherwise asked the Commission to change it. Because no…

May 27, 1977
Citations affirmed
COMM

Jerry Botchlet Masonry Construction Co.

Commission narrows scaffold citation and reduces penalty to $50

Jerry Botchlet Masonry Construction employees worked from a main scaffold about 20 feet high and two lower relay scaffolds. The main scaffold had a toprail but lacked a midrail and toeboard, while the relay scaffolds were temporarily unguarded after being lowered and stocked. The Commission found…

May 27, 1977
Modified
COMM

Stone & Webster Engineering

Commission declines review and lets the judge's decision stand

This is a short Commission order in a case involving Stone & Webster Engineering Corp. After an Administrative Law Judge ruled on the case, the Commission brought it up for review on its own motion. Neither party objected to the judge's decision or otherwise asked the Commission to change it…

May 26, 1977
Citations affirmed
COMM

H & C Equipment Company, Inc.

Commission declines review and lets the judge's decision stand

This is a short Commission order in a case involving H & C Equipment Company, Inc. After an Administrative Law Judge ruled on the case, the Commission brought it up for review on its own motion. Neither party objected to the judge's decision or otherwise asked the Commission to change it. Because…

May 26, 1977
Citations affirmed
COMM

ACME Paper Tube Company

Commission declines review and lets the judge's decision stand

This is a short Commission order in a case involving ACME Paper Tube Company. After an Administrative Law Judge ruled on the case, the Commission brought it up for review on its own motion. Neither party objected to the judge's decision or otherwise asked the Commission to change it. Because no…

May 26, 1977
Citations affirmed
COMM

Page & Wirtz Construction Co.

Commission declines review and lets the judge's decision stand

This is a short Commission order in a case involving Page & Wirtz Construction Co. After an Administrative Law Judge ruled on the case, the Commission brought it up for review on its own motion. Neither party objected to the judge's decision or otherwise asked the Commission to change it. Because…

May 26, 1977
Citations affirmed
COMM

El Greco Painting & Contracting Co.

Commission declines review and lets the judge's decision stand

This is a short Commission order in a case involving El Greco Painting & Contracting Co. After an Administrative Law Judge ruled on the case, the Commission brought it up for review on its own motion. Neither party objected to the judge's decision or otherwise asked the Commission to change it…

May 25, 1977
Citations affirmed
COMM

Metro Building Services, Inc.

Fall-protection citation for a window washer in a boatswain's chair, one item cut to de minimis and the other affirmed

Metro Building Services is a commercial exterior building and window cleaning firm. OSHA inspected a jobsite in Tampa, Florida where one of its employees was cleaning windows suspended 55 feet up in a boatswain's chair on a 10-story building. OSHA issued a serious citation with a $700 penalty for…

May 25, 1977
Modified
COMM

Seven-up Bottling Co. of Plainfield, New Jersey

Commission declines review and lets the judge's decision stand

This is a short Commission order in a case involving Seven-Up Bottling Company. After an Administrative Law Judge ruled on the case, the Commission brought it up for review on its own motion. Neither party objected to the judge's decision or otherwise asked the Commission to change it. Because no…

May 25, 1977
Citations affirmed
COMM

Elelich Insulation, Inc.

Commission declines review and lets the judge's decision stand

This is a short Commission order in a case involving Elelich Insulation, Inc. After an Administrative Law Judge ruled on the case, the Commission brought it up for review on its own motion. Neither party objected to the judge's decision or otherwise asked the Commission to change it. Because no…

May 25, 1977
Citations affirmed
COMM

Glenwood Concrete Floors, Inc.

Commission declines review and lets the judge's decision stand

This is a short Commission order in a case involving Glenwood Concrete Floors, Inc. After an Administrative Law Judge ruled on the case, the Commission brought it up for review on its own motion. Neither party objected to the judge's decision or otherwise asked the Commission to change it. Because…

May 25, 1977
Citations affirmed
COMM

Ace Powell Bronze Foundry

Commission declines review and lets the judge's decision stand

This is a short Commission order in a case involving Ace Powell Bronze Foundry. After an Administrative Law Judge ruled on the case, the Commission brought it up for review on its own motion. Neither party objected to the judge's decision or otherwise asked the Commission to change it. Because no…

May 25, 1977
Citations affirmed
COMM

Montgomery AMC Drilling, Ltd.

Commission declines review and lets the judge's decision stand

This is a short Commission order in a case involving Montgomery AMC Drilling, Ltd. After an Administrative Law Judge ruled on the case, the Commission brought it up for review on its own motion. Neither party objected to the judge's decision or otherwise asked the Commission to change it. Because…

May 25, 1977
Citations affirmed
COMM

Evans Redwood Products Manufacturing Co.

Commission declines review and lets the judge's decision stand

This is a short Commission order in a case involving Evans Redwood Products Manufacturing Co. After an Administrative Law Judge ruled on the case, a Commissioner brought it up for review on the Commission's own motion (a sua sponte order for review). Neither side filed objections or asked the…

May 24, 1977
Citations affirmed
COMM

J.W. Delahoussaye & Sons, Inc.

Commission declines review and lets the judge's decision stand

This is a short Commission order in a case involving J.W. Delahoussaye & Sons, Inc. After an Administrative Law Judge ruled on the case, a Commissioner brought it up for review on the Commission's own motion (a sua sponte order for review). Neither side filed objections or asked the Commission to…

May 24, 1977
Citations affirmed
COMM

Litton Systems, Inc., Ingalls Shipbuilding Division

Commission declines review and lets the judge's decision stand

This is a short Commission order in a case involving Litton Systems, Inc., Ingalls Shipbuilding Division. After an Administrative Law Judge ruled on the case, a Commissioner brought it up for review on the Commission's own motion (a sua sponte order for review). Neither side filed objections or…

May 24, 1977
Citations affirmed
COMM

W.H. Allgood and Company

Commission declines review and lets the judge's decision stand

This is a short Commission order in a case involving W.H. Allgood and Company. After an Administrative Law Judge ruled on the case, a Commissioner brought it up for review on the Commission's own motion (a sua sponte order for review). Neither side filed objections or asked the Commission to change…

May 24, 1977
Citations affirmed
COMM

Dravo Corp.

Commission declines review and lets the judge's decision stand

This is a short Commission order in a case involving Dravo Corporation. After an Administrative Law Judge ruled on the case, the Commission brought it up for review on its own motion. Neither party objected to the judge's decision or otherwise asked the Commission to change it. Because no party…

May 24, 1977
Citations affirmed
COMM

Rupert Plumbing & Heating Co., Inc.

Commission declines review and lets the judge's decision stand

This is a short Commission order in a case involving Rupert Plumbing & Heating Co., Inc. After an Administrative Law Judge ruled on the case, the Commission brought it up for review on its own motion. Neither party objected to the judge's decision or otherwise asked the Commission to change it…

May 24, 1977
Citations affirmed
COMM

Sunbell Corporation

Commission declines review and lets the judge's decision stand

This is a short Commission order in a case involving Sunbell Corporation. After an Administrative Law Judge ruled on the case, the Commission brought it up for review on its own motion. Neither party objected to the judge's decision or otherwise asked the Commission to change it. Because no party…

May 24, 1977
Citations affirmed
COMM

Ve-Alite Plastic Corp.

Commission declines review and lets the judge's decision stand

This is a short Commission order in a case involving Ve-Alite Plastic Corp. After an Administrative Law Judge ruled on the case, the Commission brought it up for review on its own motion. Neither party objected to the judge's decision or otherwise asked the Commission to change it. Because no party…

May 24, 1977
Citations affirmed
COMM

R. Colwill Excavating, Inc.

Commission declines review and lets the judge's decision stand

This is a short Commission order in a case involving R. Colwill Excavating, Inc. After an Administrative Law Judge ruled on the case, the Commission brought it up for review on its own motion. Neither party objected to the judge's decision or otherwise asked the Commission to change it. Because no…

May 24, 1977
Citations affirmed
COMM

Capitol Temptrol Corp.

Commission declines review and lets the judge's decision stand

This is a short Commission order in a case involving Capitol Temptrol Corp. After an Administrative Law Judge ruled on the case, the Commission brought it up for review on its own motion. Neither party objected to the judge's decision or otherwise asked the Commission to change it. Because no party…

May 23, 1977
Citations affirmed
COMM

Armor Shield, Inc.

Commission declines review and lets the judge's decision stand

This is a short Commission order in a case involving Armor Shield, Inc. After an Administrative Law Judge ruled on the case, the Commission brought it up for review on its own motion. Neither party objected to the judge's decision or otherwise asked the Commission to change it. Because no party…

May 23, 1977
Citations affirmed
COMM

United States Sugar Corp.

Commission lets the judge's decision stand

This is a short Commission order involving United States Sugar Corp. The Commission called the case for review on its own motion after an Administrative Law Judge issued a decision. Neither party objected to the judge's ruling or otherwise expressed dissatisfaction with it. The Commission found no…

May 23, 1977
Citations affirmed
COMM

Frontier Roofing Co., Inc.

Commission declines review and lets the judge's decision stand

This is a short Commission order in a case involving Frontier Roofing Company, Inc. After an Administrative Law Judge ruled on the case, the Commission brought it up for review on its own motion. Neither party objected to the judge's decision or otherwise asked the Commission to change it. Because…

May 23, 1977
Citations affirmed
COMM

C. L. Cook, Inc.

Commission declines review and lets the judge's decision stand

This is a short Commission order in a case involving C. L. Cook, Inc. After an Administrative Law Judge ruled on the case, the Commission brought it up for review on its own motion. Neither party objected to the judge's decision or otherwise asked the Commission to change it. Because no party…

May 23, 1977
Citations affirmed
COMM

Westinghouse Electric Corp.

Commission lets the judge's decision stand

This is a short Commission order involving Westinghouse Electric Corp. The Commission called the case for review on its own motion after an Administrative Law Judge issued a decision. Neither party objected to that decision or otherwise asked the Commission to change it. Because the review order…

May 23, 1977
Citations affirmed
COMM

Howard P. Foley Co.

Commission finds the electrical violations unpreventable

Howard P. Foley Co. employed electricians at a building construction project where a journeyman was electrocuted while installing a 277-volt exit light. A wiring error left the circuit energized even though the circuit breaker shown on the diagram was disconnected, and the employee did not use his…

May 23, 1977
Citations vacated
COMM

Braswell Motor Freight Lines, Inc.

Commission distinguishes recurring violations from failure to abate

Braswell Motor Freight Lines operated a freight terminal that OSHA reinspected after several uncontested citations became final orders. The Commission affirmed a failure to abate the missing stair handrail but assessed no penalty because the company made substantial good-faith efforts and the…

May 19, 1977
Mixed result
COMM

Greyhound Lines, Inc.

Commission lets the judge's decision stand

This is a short Commission order involving Greyhound Lines, Inc. The Commission called the case for review on its own motion after an Administrative Law Judge issued a decision. Neither party objected or otherwise asked the Commission to change the ruling. Because the review order identified no…

May 19, 1977
Citations affirmed
COMM

Lembke Construction Co., Inc.

Commission lets the judge's decision stand

This is a short Commission order involving Lembke Construction Co., Inc. The Commission called the case for review on its own motion after an Administrative Law Judge issued a decision. Neither party objected to the decision or otherwise asked the Commission to change it. Because the review order…

May 19, 1977
Citations affirmed
COMM

Gamblin Electric Co.

Commission lets the judge's decision stand

This is a short Commission order involving Gamblin Electric Co. The Commission called the case for review on its own motion after an Administrative Law Judge issued a decision. Neither party objected to the decision or asked the Commission to change it. The Commission found no compelling public…

May 19, 1977
Citations affirmed
COMM

M.C.L., Inc.

Commission lets the judge's decision stand

This is a short Commission order involving M.C.L., Inc. The Commission called the case for review on its own motion after an Administrative Law Judge issued a decision. Neither party objected or otherwise asked the Commission to change the ruling. The Commission found no compelling public interest…

May 19, 1977
Citations affirmed
COMM

Great Falls Tribune Company

Proposed pressroom noise controls were not economically feasible

The Great Falls Tribune operated newspaper presses that exposed pressroom employees to average noise near 100 dBA during runs averaging about three and one-half hours. The company required earmuffs that reduced exposure by at least 20 dBA when worn properly. Engineering controls modeled on another…

May 19, 1977
Citations vacated
COMM

Miller Valentine Corporation

Commission lets the judge's decision stand

This is a short Commission order covering two dockets involving Miller Valentine Corporation. The Commission called the consolidated case for review on its own motion after an Administrative Law Judge issued a decision. Neither party objected or otherwise asked the Commission to change the ruling…

May 19, 1977
Citations affirmed
COMM

General Electric Company, Inc.

Commission affirms two violations and vacates two others

OSHA cited General Electric after inspecting its Schenectady, New York, worksite. The Commission vacated a machine-guarding citation because guards and a spacer protected the radiac cutoff machine's point of operation, and it also left an electrical citation vacated. It affirmed a general duty…

May 19, 1977
Mixed result
COMM

Castle & Cooke Foods, a Division of Castle & Cooke, Inc.

Commission finds proposed noise controls economically infeasible

Castle & Cooke Foods operated a Hawaiian can plant and cannery where employees worked around machines producing noise above the limits in OSHA's noise standard. The company provided mandatory hearing protection, while the proposed engineering controls would require custom machine enclosures and a…

May 19, 1977
Citations vacated
COMM

Glass Menagerie Company

Commission declines review and lets the judge's decision stand

This is a short Commission order in a case involving Glass Menagerie Company. After an Administrative Law Judge ruled on the case, a Commissioner brought it up for review on the Commission's own motion (a sua sponte order for review). Neither side filed objections or asked the Commission to change…

May 18, 1977
Citations affirmed
COMM

Serge Elevator Company, Inc.

Commission declines review and lets the judge's decision stand

This is a short Commission order in a case involving Serge Elevator Company, Inc. After an Administrative Law Judge ruled on the case, a Commissioner brought it up for review on the Commission's own motion (a sua sponte order for review). Neither side filed objections or asked the Commission to…

May 18, 1977
Citations affirmed
COMM

American Window Cleaning Company

Commission declines review and lets the judge's decision stand

This is a short Commission order in a case involving American Window Cleaning Company. After an Administrative Law Judge ruled on the case, a Commissioner brought it up for review on the Commission's own motion (a sua sponte order for review). Neither side filed objections or asked the Commission…

May 18, 1977
Citations affirmed
COMM

Invirex Demolition, Inc.

Commission declines review and lets the judge's decision stand

This is a short Commission order in a case involving Invirex Demolition, Inc. After an Administrative Law Judge ruled on the case, a Commissioner brought it up for review on the Commission's own motion (a sua sponte order for review). Neither side filed objections or asked the Commission to change…

May 18, 1977
Citations affirmed
COMM

Blake Construction Co., Inc.

Commission declines review and lets the judge's decision stand

This is a short Commission order in a case involving Blake Construction Co., Inc. After an Administrative Law Judge ruled on the case, a Commissioner brought it up for review on the Commission's own motion (a sua sponte order for review). Neither side filed objections or asked the Commission to…

May 18, 1977
Citations affirmed
COMM

Miller and Long Company of Maryland, Inc.

Commission declines review and lets the judge's decision stand

This is a short Commission order in a case involving Miller and Long Company of Maryland, Inc. After an Administrative Law Judge ruled on the case, a Commissioner brought it up for review on the Commission's own motion (a sua sponte order for review). Neither side filed objections or asked the…

May 18, 1977
Citations affirmed
COMM

Federal Steel Corporation

Commission declines review and lets the judge's decision stand

This is a short Commission order in a case involving Federal Steel Corporation. After an Administrative Law Judge ruled on the case, a Commissioner brought it up for review on the Commission's own motion (a sua sponte order for review). Neither side filed objections or asked the Commission to…

May 18, 1977
Citations affirmed
COMM

Building Specialties, Inc.

Commission lets the judge's decision stand

This is a short Commission order involving Building Specialties, Inc. The Commission called the case for review on its own motion after an Administrative Law Judge issued a decision. Neither party objected or otherwise asked the Commission to change the ruling. Because the review order identified…

May 18, 1977
Citations affirmed
COMM

Bethlehem Steel Corporation

Commission lets the judge's decision stand

This is a short Commission order involving Bethlehem Steel Corporation. The Commission called the case for review on its own motion after an Administrative Law Judge issued a decision. Neither party objected or otherwise asked the Commission to change the ruling. Because the review order identified…

May 18, 1977
Citations affirmed
COMM

The Israel Realty Corp.

Commission lets the judge's decision stand

This is a short Commission order involving The Israel Realty Corp. The Commission called the case for review on its own motion after an Administrative Law Judge issued a decision. Neither party objected or otherwise asked the Commission to change the ruling. Because the review order identified no…

May 18, 1977
Citations affirmed
COMM

Oscar J. Boldt Construction Co.

Commission lets the judge's decision stand

This is a short Commission order involving Oscar J. Boldt Construction Co. The Commission called the case for review on its own motion after an Administrative Law Judge issued a decision. Neither party objected or otherwise asked the Commission to change the ruling. Because the review order…

May 18, 1977
Citations affirmed
COMM

Cornell & Co., Inc.

Commission declines review and lets the judge's decision stand

This is a short Commission order in a case involving Cornell & Co., Inc. After an Administrative Law Judge ruled on the case, a Commissioner brought it up for review on the Commission's own motion (a sua sponte order for review). Neither side filed objections or asked the Commission to change the…

May 17, 1977
Citations affirmed
COMM

Consolidated Freightways Corporation

OSHA applies to unguarded truck maintenance pits

Consolidated Freightways operated a truck terminal maintenance shop with seven service pits and about 300 employees. The company argued that federal motor-carrier regulation displaced OSHA jurisdiction, but the Commission found no other federal regulation governing maintenance-shop safety and held…

May 17, 1977
Modified
COMM

Southern Bell Telephone and Telegraph Company

Commission permits withdrawal of a telephone-manhole citation

OSHA cited Southern Bell for not keeping an employee nearby to render emergency assistance while another employee worked in a telephone manhole. The Secretary later sought dismissal because the cited construction standard governed electric power transmission and distribution, not telecommunications…

May 16, 1977
Procedural
COMM

Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Corp.

Noise citation fails without proof that specific controls were feasible

Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel employees at an Ohio mill were exposed to noise above OSHA's permissible levels in five work areas. OSHA's industrial hygienist described general noise-reduction methods for four areas but lacked noise-control expertise, gave no expected reduction levels, and offered no…

May 13, 1977
Citations vacated
COMM

Willamette Iron and Steel Company

Shipboard housekeeping violation was not preventable

Willamette Iron and Steel was repairing a Navy vessel while about 400 Navy personnel performed similar work aboard the ship. Tools, hoses, and electrical leads repeatedly obstructed walkways, but the judge found that Navy personnel created the conditions and that the company complained to the Navy…

May 13, 1977
Citations vacated
COMM

Dayton Metal Products, Inc.

Commission declines review and lets the judge's decision stand

This is a short Commission order in a case involving Dayton Metal Products, Inc. After an Administrative Law Judge ruled on the case, a Commissioner brought it up for review on the Commission's own motion (a sua sponte order for review). Neither side filed objections or asked the Commission to…

May 12, 1977
Citations affirmed
COMM

Howrey Lumber Company, Inc.

Commission declines review and lets the judge's decision stand

This is a short Commission order in a case involving Howrey Lumber Company, Inc. After an Administrative Law Judge ruled on the case, a Commissioner brought it up for review on the Commission's own motion (a sua sponte order for review). Neither side filed objections or asked the Commission to…

May 12, 1977
Citations affirmed

What these documents are

  • Commission decisions: Rulings by the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission itself, the highest level of agency review. These are citable as Commission precedent, though a decision may have been appealed to a U.S. Court of Appeals after issuance.
  • ALJ decisions: Rulings by OSHRC Administrative Law Judges after a hearing. When no Commissioner directs review, an ALJ decision becomes a final order under 29 U.S.C. § 661(j): it binds the parties in that case but is not binding precedent in other cases.
  • Why finality matters: Every page here says which kind of decision you are reading, so you know whether it is precedent you can cite or a final order that only shows how one judge ruled on one set of facts.
  • Where they come from: Every page links the official OSHRC public release, and the full text on the page is that release. The plain-English summaries are written by Ezel.