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. North American Quarry and Construction Services, LLC
Secretary of Labor v. North American Quarry and Construction Services, LLC (FMSHRC YORK 2013-212-M, et al.): Parent-company discovery compelled
The Secretary sought documents, an interrogatory answer, and a corporate deposition concerning whether North American Quarry and its parent, Austin Powder, should be treated as a unitary operator. Judge Alan G. Paez held that the requested information addressed interrelated operations, common…
Michael Wilson v. Jarrod Farris, David Taylor, & Ross Glazer
Michael Wilson v. Jarrod Farris, David Taylor, & Ross Glazer (FMSHRC KENT 2015-672-D): No adverse action from miners' inquiry
Michael Wilson, a nonemployee miners' representative, alleged that three ram-car drivers asked an MSHA inspector how they could remove him as a representative and keep him off mine property. He sought training and cease-and-desist relief against the miners individually, not their employer. Judge…
Secretary of Labor v. Tilden Mining Company, LC
Secretary of Labor v. Tilden Mining Company, LC (FMSHRC LAKE 2008-503-M): Extension cords included in grounding-system testing rule
MSHA cited Tilden Mining for failing to test and record the resistance of extension cords used in the mine's electrical grounding system. The Commission held that extension cords and power cables are components of a grounding system under 30 C.F.R. § 56.12028 because the system cannot protect…
The American Coal Company
The American Coal Company (FMSHRC LAKE 2007-139): Twelve safeguards upheld and one invalidated
American Coal challenged the facial validity of thirteen mine-specific safeguards governing underground transportation conditions at its Galatia mine. The Commission held that a safeguard identifies the nature of a hazard when it describes a hazardous condition, and it need not list every possible…
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.