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. Peabody Midwest Mining, LLC
Secretary of Labor v. Peabody Midwest Mining, LLC (FMSHRC LAKE 2017-450): Refuge-chamber placement affirmed with $50,000 penalty
Peabody placed one of two refuge chambers in the direct line of sight of the working face, contrary to its approved emergency response plan. Judge David P. Simonton found the violation S&S because an assumed mine emergency could damage or destroy the chamber and leave miners without required refuge…
Secretary of Labor v. ICG Illinois, LLC
Secretary of Labor v. ICG Illinois, LLC (FMSHRC LAKE 2013-160): Refuge chamber 110 feet too far upheld as S&S
At ICG Illinois's Viper Mine, a refuge chamber was 1,110 to 1,125 feet from the nearest working face, exceeding the 1,000-foot limit in 30 C.F.R. § 75.1506(c)(1). The operator did not dispute the violation, and the only issue before the Commission was whether it was significant and substantial. The…
Secretary of Labor v. Warrior Investments Co., Inc.
Secretary of Labor v. Warrior Investments Co., Inc. (FMSHRC SE 2015-174): Missing refuge-chamber beacon readers were S&S
Warrior Investments failed on two occasions to install an inline beacon reader where a refuge-chamber lifeline met the primary escapeway lifeline, as its approved emergency response plan required. Judge David F. Barbour evaluated the violations by assuming the mine emergency the tracking system was…
Secretary of Labor v. ICG Illinois, LLC
Secretary of Labor v. ICG Illinois, LLC (FMSHRC LAKE 2013-160): Refuge citation affirmed and penalty reduced to $25,000
The Viper Mine's refuge alternative was about 1,110 feet from the nearest working face, exceeding the 1,000-foot maximum. Judge Kenneth R. Andrews found the violation S&S because the methane-prone mine had a history of ignitions, an emergency could impair visibility and movement, and the extra…
Brody Mining, LLC v. Secretary of Labor; Secretary of Labor v. Brody Mining, LLC
Brody Mining, LLC v. Secretary of Labor; Secretary of Labor v. Brody Mining, LLC (FMSHRC WEVA 2014-82-R, et al.): Pattern charge dismissed and underlying citations decided
MSHA placed Brody Mine No. 1 on a pattern of violations based on 54 citations and orders involving escapeway, roof and rib, ventilation, and methane hazards. Judge William B. Moran dismissed the pattern charge because the Secretary would not identify before the hearing what connected the alleged…
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.