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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Big Ridge, Inc. v. Secretary of Labor
Big Ridge, Inc. v. Secretary of Labor (FMSHRC LAKE 2012-453-R, et al.): Mixed rulings and $309,376 total penalty
Big Ridge operated the Willow Lake Portal underground bituminous coal mine in Illinois. The consolidated cases involved roof control, combustible accumulations, ventilation controls, belt alignment, and pre-shift examinations, along with the operator's right to accompany MSHA inspectors. Judge…
Secretary of Labor v. The American Coal Company
Secretary of Labor v. The American Coal Company (FMSHRC LAKE 2008-666, et al.): Five orders modified and flagrant findings removed
MSHA alleged five serious violations at American Coal's large, methane-liberating Galatia Mine involving energized electrical work, unsupported roof and ribs, inadequate preshift and on-shift examinations, and extensive belt-line combustible accumulations. Senior Judge Michael E. Zielinski upheld…
Secretary of Labor v. Tennco Energy, Inc.
Secretary of Labor v. Tennco Energy, Inc. (FMSHRC KENT 2010-1511 and KENT 2011-499): Three rib-hazard enforcement actions vacated
Tennco Energy operated the Hance Mine No. 1, an underground coal mine in Kentucky. After a miner was injured by falling coal, MSHA alleged that Tennco failed to record hazardous rib conditions during weekly and preshift examinations and failed to support or control the ribs. Judge Jeffrey Tureck…
Eastern Associated Coal, LLC v. Secretary of Labor
Eastern Associated Coal, LLC v. Secretary of Labor (FMSHRC WEVA 2008-942-R, et al.): Belt accumulations and failed examination upheld
An MSHA inspector found extensive coal accumulations beneath a longwall belt take-up, with rollers turning in compacted coal and three frozen rollers. Judge Jacqueline R. Bulluck upheld the accumulation citation as significant and substantial, highly negligent, and an unwarrantable failure because…
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.