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.
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Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Corp.
Carbon-monoxide case resolved by settlement
A failed water seal released a large amount of carbon monoxide in and around Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel's boiler house, injuring ten company employees and five subcontractor employees. The judge found serious and willful violations involving inspection and alarm precautions, emergency planning…
McWilliams Forge Company, Inc.
Confined-space citation vacated after amendment denied
Two McWilliams Forge employees lost consciousness while cleaning a pump with solvent in a pit and remained there for about four hours. OSHA cited the company under the general duty clause for failing to test the atmosphere, provide standby rescue assistance, and use respiratory protection. On…
H.P. Fowler Contracting Corporation
EAJA prevailing-party ruling reversed
Fowler settled citations concerning sewer-manhole hazards after one willful item was withdrawn, two willful items were reduced to serious, and proposed penalties fell from $11,200 to $2,080. The chief judge denied Fowler's application for $6,618.40 in fees and expenses under the Equal Access to…
Custom Painting Company
Respiratory violations affirmed without penalties
Custom Painting Company performed painting work at a sewage treatment plant in Alaska. An employee was asphyxiated while using paint containing perchlorethylene in an atmosphere with a high concentration of that toxic substance. OSHA cited the company for failing to provide suitable respirators…
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review, an ALJ decision becomes a final order under 29 U.S.C. § 661(j): it binds the parties in that case but is not binding precedent in other cases.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.