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 v. The American Coal Company
Secretary of Labor v. The American Coal Company (FMSHRC LAKE 2008-666, et al.): Unwarrantable findings restored for belt hazards
Three orders at American Coal's Galatia Mine involved energized electrical work, extensive combustible accumulations along a belt, and failure to record hazardous conditions during on-shift examinations. The Commission affirmed the judge's treatment of the electrical violation as S&S and highly…
Secretary of Labor v. Regent Allied Carbon Energy, Incorporated
Secretary of Labor v. Regent Allied Carbon Energy, Incorporated (FMSHRC VA 2013-0404): Unlocked cable-work citation affirmed at $11,500
During a mine-wide power outage, a Regent Allied foreman directed unqualified miners to handle, inspect, and re-tape splices along a shuttle-car trailing cable without locking and tagging out the cable's disconnect. Power was restored while the work area was not visible from the power center…
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…
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.