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.

5,593 decisions and counting · Latest decision July 17, 2026
6 decisions 29 C.F.R. § 1910.219(c)(3)

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ALJ

Lewis County Dairy Corp.

Widespread safety violations result in $72,750 penalty

OSHA found extensive safety deficiencies at Lewis County Dairy's kosher dairy plant, including missing safety programs, inadequate lockout practices, unguarded equipment, electrical hazards, deficient fall protection, and insufficient hazard communication. Of the 33 serious citation items, the…

September 20, 2006 ·G. Marvin Bober
Mixed result
COMM

Sturm Ruger & Co., Pine Tree Castings Division

Targeted inspection and settlements affirmed

OSHA used injury and illness data from Pine Tree Castings to select the handgun-casting facility for a programmed inspection under a nationwide targeting plan. Sturm Ruger challenged the data survey, inspection warrant, discovery rulings, evidence, and subpoenas. The Commission held that OSHA had…

May 6, 2004
Mixed result
ALJ

Meer Corporation

Process-safety citations vacated, shaft guard item affirmed

Meer Corporation used large quantities of methanol and ethanol while manufacturing botanical products. OSHA alleged numerous process safety management violations, arguing that atmospheric storage tanks were connected to the production process. The judge found that OSHA's witnesses gave inconsistent…

May 5, 1997 ·Richard DeBenedetto
Mixed result
COMM

Elford, Inc.

Extinguisher and saw-switch items affirmed

Elford was remodeling a building when OSHA issued ten nonserious citation items. Two items were not contested and became final orders. Of the remaining items, the judge affirmed a fire-protection item because the extinguisher near a kerosene storage area had been discharged and was ineffective. The…

March 3, 1977
Mixed result
COMM

Jaso-Carol Dress Co., Inc.

Dismissal reversed after proof of service was found

OSHA cited Jaso-Carol Dress for four non-serious violations involving fan guards, exit signs, sewing-machine drives, and an electrical junction box, with a $30 penalty on one item. The judge dismissed the company's contest because the case record appeared not to contain proof that its filings had…

August 14, 1972
Remanded
COMM

Jaso-Carol Dress Co., Inc.

Contest reinstated after filing oversight

Jaso-Carol Dress timely contested four nonserious items involving fan guards, exit-sign illumination, exposed sewing-machine drives, and an uncovered junction box. The judge dismissed the contest because the record appeared not to contain proof that the contest and answer had been served on the…

August 14, 1972
Remanded

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.