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. Newmont Slate Company, Inc.
Secretary of Labor v. Newmont Slate Company, Inc. (FMSHRC YORK 2016-20 M): Fifteen citations upheld and one vacated
MSHA issued Newmont Slate 16 citations covering fire and explosion warnings, compressed-air tanks, electrical circuits, machine guards and windows, explosives, training, noise records, and other quarry conditions. After a hearing, Judge David F. Barbour found 15 violations and vacated the citation…
Secretary of Labor v. Newmont Slate Company, Inc.
Secretary of Labor v. Newmont Slate Company, Inc. (FMSHRC YORK 2016-20 M): Original multi-citation decision superseded
MSHA issued Newmont Slate 16 citations covering fire and explosion warnings, compressed-air tanks, electrical circuits, machine guards and windows, explosives, training, noise records, and other quarry conditions. Judge David F. Barbour found 15 violations and vacated the citation alleging…
Secretary of Labor v. Stone Plus, Inc.
Secretary of Labor v. Stone Plus, Inc. (FMSHRC WEST 2013-263-M, et al.): Thirteen unwarrantable failures sustained with $28,000 penalty
MSHA cited Stone Plus for thirteen conditions at its small quarry, including missing berms and guards, defective loader brakes and seat belt, inadequate overtravel protection, and failure to conduct workplace and equipment examinations. Judge L. Zane Gill rejected the operator's jurisdictional…
Secretary of Labor v. WM D. Scepaniak, Inc.
Secretary of Labor v. WM D. Scepaniak, Inc. (FMSHRC LAKE 2015-138): Unprotected dump edge violation affirmed at $2,500
Two newly trained dump-truck drivers repeatedly backed across loose overburden toward a 20-foot drop without berms, bumper blocks, or other devices to stop overtravel. Their supervisor watched and directed the work while the usual dozer was unavailable, relying on radio warnings and deep ruts…
Secretary of Labor v. Duke's Sand & Gravel
Secretary of Labor v. Duke's Sand & Gravel (FMSHRC YORK 2012-97-M): All 22 violations upheld, penalties reduced to $2,085
MSHA found 21 section 104(a) violations and one section 104(g)(1) training order during Duke's Sand & Gravel's first inspection. The one-employee operation lacked required filings, guards, electrical protections, first-aid coverage, firefighting equipment, miner training, berms, sanitation…
Secretary of Labor v. Gopher Construction, Inc. and Donald Tibbals
Secretary of Labor v. Gopher Construction, Inc. and Donald Tibbals (FMSHRC WEST 2010-470-M): Berm violations upheld and owner liability vacated
Gopher Construction argued that MSHA lacked jurisdiction because its sand and gravel pit was temporarily closed and its crews were only rebuilding a boundary fence. Judge William B. Moran found that the work remained mining activity because it was inseparable from mineral removal and reclamation…
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.