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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Secretary of Labor v. M-Class Mining, LLC and Secretary of Labor v. Mark McCurdy employed by M-Class Mining, LLC
Secretary of Labor v. M-Class Mining, LLC (FMSHRC LAKE 2012-519, LAKE 2015-339): Electrical-work and glove orders vacated
Maintenance foreman Mark McCurdy was hospitalized overnight after receiving an electrical shock while troubleshooting an energized continuous miner. MSHA alleged that he performed electrical work without deenergizing the machine and failed to wear protective gloves, and it sought penalties against…
Secretary of Labor obo Thomas McGary and Ron Bowersox and United Mine Workers of America International Union v. The Marshall County Coal Co., et al.
Secretary of Labor obo Thomas McGary and Ron Bowersox, et al. v. The Marshall County Coal Co., et al. (FMSHRC WEVA 2015-583 D, et al.): Mandatory reporting rule unlawfully chilled confidential MSHA complaints
After Murray Energy acquired five West Virginia coal mines, CEO Robert Murray held mandatory meetings that told miners they were required to report to management the same safety concerns they submitted confidentially to MSHA under section 103(g). The presentations also criticized complaints that…
Secretary of Labor v. Tim M. Ball, employed by Mountain Materials, Inc. and Secretary of Labor v. Ricky A. Rose, employed by Materials, Inc.
Secretary of Labor v. Tim M. Ball and Ricky A. Rose, employed by Mountain Materials, Inc. (FMSHRC VA 2014-148-M): Two supervisors personally penalized for plant buildups and blank exam records
This case penalized two supervisors personally, not their employer. Section 110(c) of the Mine Act lets MSHA assess individual penalties against a corporate agent who knowingly authorizes, orders, or carries out a violation. An MSHA inspector arrived at Mountain Materials' Castlewood limestone…
Secretary of Labor v. Premier Elkhorn Coal Company
Secretary of Labor v. Premier Elkhorn Coal Company (FMSHRC KENT 2011-827): Loss-of-control citation restored, brake citation remains vacated
A contract truck driver was fatally injured after his loaded coal truck lost steering control on a steep road at Premier Elkhorn's surface mine, struck a berm, and overturned. The Judge had vacated citations alleging failure to maintain full control and inadequate brakes because MSHA did not…
Secretary of Labor v. Trivette Trucking
Secretary of Labor v. Trivette Trucking (FMSHRC KENT 2011-1223): Loss-of-control violation stands, brake order remains vacated
A Trivette Trucking driver was fatally injured after his loaded coal truck lost steering control on a steep mine haul road, struck a berm, and overturned. MSHA issued orders alleging failure to maintain full control of moving equipment and failure to maintain adequate brakes. The Judge affirmed the…
Secretary of Labor v. Pocahontas Coal Company, Inc.
Secretary of Labor v. Pocahontas Coal Company, Inc. (FMSHRC WEVA 2014-1160): Economic-harm testimony excluded from pattern case
MSHA placed Pocahontas Coal Company's Affinity Mine on a pattern of violations and later issued withdrawal orders, six of which were included in this docket. Pocahontas sought testimony from Gary Chilcot about economic harm caused by stopping production under the pattern notice. Judge Margaret A…
Secretary of Labor v. Recon Refractory & Construction
Secretary of Labor v. Recon Refractory & Construction (FMSHRC WEST 2010-450-M): Four electrical citations affirmed and examination citation vacated
RECON, a subcontractor at Drake Quarry, was cited for an ungrounded generator, missing continuity testing, damaged extension cords with exposed wiring, missing grounding prongs, and an alleged failure to perform workplace examinations. Judge Alan G. Paez held RECON strictly liable for the…
Secretary of Labor v. Recon Refractory & Construction
Secretary of Labor v. Recon Refractory & Construction (FMSHRC WEST 2010-450-M): Four electrical citations affirmed and examination citation vacated
RECON, a subcontractor at Drake Quarry, was cited for an ungrounded generator, missing continuity testing, damaged extension cords with exposed wiring, missing grounding prongs, and an alleged failure to perform workplace examinations. Judge Alan G. Paez held RECON liable for the electrical…
Shamokin Filler Company, Inc.
Shamokin Filler Company, Inc. (FMSHRC PENN 2009-775): Carbon plant held subject to Mine Act
Shamokin operated a plant that dried, screened, stored, bagged, and sold anthracite coal to customer specifications. The Commission affirmed that these activities made the plant a custom coal-preparation facility and therefore a mine under the Mine Act, even though the plant also handled non-coal…
Mach Mining, LLC
Mach Mining, LLC (FMSHRC LAKE 2010-1-R): Ventilation plan rulings mostly affirmed with limited remand
Mach Mining contested two citations issued after it and MSHA reached an impasse over general and site-specific ventilation plans for the mine's unusual longwall system. The Commission majority held that termination of an earlier withdrawal order did not constitute the district manager's required…
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.