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OSHRC Commission decision Docket 78-2462 Decided April 30, 1980 Citations vacated

Interlake, Inc.

Six pre-1971 overhead-crane items vacated

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Currency note: this decision dates from 1980
The OSHA standards may have been amended, penalty amounts have been adjusted, and later Commission or court decisions may have changed the analysis since then. Treat this page as historical context, not current compliance advice. Verify the current standard before relying on any specific rule, threshold, or penalty mentioned here.
Decision of the Commission
This is a decision of the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission, the highest level of agency review, citable as Commission precedent. It may have been appealed to a U.S. Court of Appeals after issuance; check subsequent history before relying on it. The full text below is from the official OSHRC release.
About this page: The plain-English summary and decision snapshot below were written by Ezel based on the official OSHRC release. The full text is the Commission's own document.
Read the official release (oshrc.gov)

Plain-English summary

OSHA cited Interlake under six overhead and gantry crane provisions. The company showed through testimony and business records that the cited cranes had been constructed or installed before August 31, 1971, and the Secretary did not rebut that evidence. The Commission held that the cited provisions came from ANSI construction-and-installation requirements that were advisory for cranes predating that cutoff. It affirmed the judge and vacated all six items under review.

Decision snapshot

  • Cited standard(s): 29 C.F.R. § 1910.179(e)(2)(i); 29 C.F.R. § 1910.179(e)(3)(i); 29 C.F.R. § 1910.179(e)(6)(i); 29 C.F.R. § 1910.179(g)(2)(i); 29 C.F.R. § 1910.179(g)(4)(iii); 29 C.F.R. § 1910.179(g)(6)
  • Outcome: Six overhead-crane citation items vacated
  • Key point: Unrebutted evidence that cranes predated August 31, 1971 made the cited ANSI-derived provisions advisory

Full text (OSHRC public release)

Docket No. 78-2462

1 of 202 DOCUMENTS

TURNER COMPANY

A. SCHONBEK & CO., INC.

NORANDA ALUMINUM, INC.

GENERAL MOTORS CORP., GM ASSEMBLY DIV.

ALLIED PLANT MAINTENANCE CO. OF OKLAHOMA, INC.

CLEMENT FOOD COMPANY

MILLCON CORPORATION

FWA DRILLING COMPANY, INC.

CCI, INC.

GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY

CONSOLIDATED ALUMINUM CORPORATION

THE BRONZE CRAFT CORPORATION

CARGILL, INC.

CHAPMAN CONSTRUCTION CO., INC.

GALLO MECHANICAL CONTRACTORS, INC.

SPECIAL METALS CORPORATION

WILLAMETTE IRON AND STEEL COMPANY

NASHUA CORPORATION

WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC CORPORATION

RESEARCH-COTTRELL, INC.

ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION

NEWPORT NEWS SHIPBUILDING & DRYDOCK CO.

NEWPORT NEWS SHIPBUILDING & DRYDOCK CO.

BUNKOFF CONSTRUCTION CO., INC.

GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION, FRIGIDAIRE DIVISION

HARRIS BROTHERS ROOFING CO.

GENERAL DIVERS COMPANY

ORMET CORPORATION

R. ZOPPO CO., INC.

COEUR D'ALENE TRIBAL FARM

L. A. DREYFUS COMPANY

CMH COMPANY, INC.

BENTON FOUNDRY, INC.

MICHAEL CONSTRUCTION CO., INC.

WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

BROWN & ROOT, POWER PLANT DIVISION

MARION POWER SHOVEL CO., INC.

ERSKINE-FRASER CO.

MORRISON-KNUDSEN AND ASSOCIATES

THE BOAM COMPANY

DIC-UNDERHILL, a Joint Venture

C. R. BURNETT AND SONS, INC.; HARLLEE FARMS

STRIPE-A-ZONE, INC.

FORTE BROTHERS, INC.

RAYBESTOS FRICTION MATERIALS COMPANY

TEXLAND DRILLING CORPORATION

THE ANACONDA COMPANY, WIRE AND CABLE DIVISION

SAM HALL & SONS, INC.

VAMPCO METAL PRODUCTS, INC.

LEONE INDUSTRIES, INC.

ASARCO, INC.

DURANT ELEVATOR, A DIVISION OF SCOULAR-BISHOP GRAIN COMPANY

PLUM CREEK LUMBER COMPANY

PLUM CREEK LUMBER COMPANY

STEARNS-ROGER, INC.

FERRO CORPORATION, (ELECTRO DIVISION)

AMERICAN PACKAGE COMPANY, INC.

BROWN & ROOT, INC., POWER PLANT DIVISION

FLEETWOOD HOMES OF TEXAS, INC.

DONALD HARRIS, INC.

A. PROKOSCH & SONS SHEET METAL, INC.; MID-HUDSON AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER COMPANY, INC.

ELECTRICAL CONSTRUCTORS OF AMERICA, INC.

DAYTON TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY (Division of the Firestone Tire & Rubber Company)

ASARCO, INC., EL PASO DIVISION; HUGHES TOOL COMPANY

NAVAJO FOREST PRODUCTS INDUSTRIES

METROPAK CONTAINERS CORPORATION

AUSTIN BUILDING COMPANY

BABCOCK AND WILCOX COMPANY

DARRAGH COMPANY

BABCOCK & WILCOX COMPANY

OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY

R. ZOPPO COMPANY, INC.

LUTZ, DAILY & BRAIN - CONSULTING ENGINEERS

PENNSYLVANIA POWER & LIGHT CO.

HARSCO CORPORATION, d/b/a PLANT CITY STEEL COMPANY

NORTHWEST AIRLINES, INC.

INDEPENDENCE FOUNDRY & MANUFACTURING CO., INC.

GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION, INLAND DIVISION

WELDSHIP CORPORATION

S & S DIVING COMPANY

SNIDER INDUSTRIES, INC.

NATIONAL STEEL AND SHIPBUILDING COMPANY

MAXWELL WIREBOUND BOX CO., INC.

CONTINENTAL GRAIN COMPANY

MISSOURI FARMER'S ASSOCIATION, INC., MFA BOONVILLE EXCHANGE; MFA, INC., d/b/a MFA GRAIN DIVISION; DESERT GOLD FEED COMPANY

CAPITAL CITY EXCAVATING CO., INC.

GAF CORPORATION

PPG INDUSTRIES (CARIBE) a Corporation

DRUTH PACKAGING CORPORATION

SOUTHWESTERN ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY

TUNNEL ELECTRIC CONSTRUCTION CO.

WEATHERBY ENGINEERING COMPANY

JOHNSON STEEL & WIRE CO., INC.

AUSTIN ROAD CO.

MAYHEW STEEL PRODUCTS, INC.

LADISH CO., TRI-CLOVER DIVISION, a Corporation

PULLMAN POWER PRODUCTS, INC.

NATIONAL ROOFING CORPORATION

OSCO INDUSTRIES, INC.

HIGHWAY MOTOR COMPANY, d/b/a PARK PRICE MOTOR COMPANY

S.J. GROVES AND SONS COMPANY

CAR AND TRUCK DOCTOR, INC.

PRESTRESSED SYSTEMS, INC.

TEXACO, INC.

GEORGIA HIGHWAY EXPRESS, INC.

RED LOBSTER INNS OF AMERICA, INC.

SUNRISE PLASTERING CORP.

STONE & WEBSTER ENGINEERING CORPORATION

H.B. ZACHRY COMPANY (INTERNATIONAL)

NATIONAL INDUSTRIAL CONSTRUCTORS, INC.

BUSHWICK COMMISSION COMPANY, INC.

CIRCLE T DRILLING CO., INC.

J.L. FOTI CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, INC.

TEXACO, INC.

KENNETH P. THOMPSON CO., INC.

HENRY C. BECK COMPANY

HEATH & STICH, INC.

FARMERS EXPORT COMPANY

FOSTER AND KLEISER

TURNER WELDING & ERECTION CO., INC.

TRI-CITY CONSTRUCTION CO.

THE DURIRON COMPANY, INC.

SAMSON PAPER BAG CO., INC.

MEL JARVIS CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, Inc.

MIDWEST STEEL ERECTION, INC.

GEISLER GANZ CORPORATION

NEW ENGLAND TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH COMPANY

NATIONAL MANUFACTURING COMPANY

WALLACE ROOFING COMPANY

REYNOLDS METALS COMPANY, INC.

UNIVERSAL ROOFING AND SHEET METAL COMPANY, INC.

SUFFOLK COUNTY CONTRACTORS, INC.

NORANDA ALUMINUM, INC.

ROOFING SYSTEMS CONSULTANTS, A DIVISION OF BIT U TECH, INC.

GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY

SERVICE SPECIALTY, INC.

ECCO HIGH FREQUENCY ELECTRIC CORP.

HENRY C. BECK COMPANY

REPUBLIC ROOFING CORPORATION

EASLEY ROOFING & SHEET METAL CO., INC.

MIDDLETOWN VOLKSWAGEN, INC.

RICHARD ROTHBARD, INC.

AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER CORPORATION OF AMERICA

PENNSUCO CEMENT AND AGGREGATES, INC.

AMFORGE DIVISION, ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL

MASSMAN-JOHNSON (Luling), a joint venture; MASSMAN CONSTRUCTION CO.; AL JOHNSON CONSTRUCTION CO.

GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION, CENTRAL FOUNDRY DIVISION

GENERAL DYNAMICS CORPORATION, ELECTRIC BOAT DIVISION

EDGEWATER STEEL CORPORATION

INTERLAKE, INC.

OSHRC Docket No. 78-2462

Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission

April 30, 1980


[*1]

Before CLEARY, Chairman; BARNAKO and COTTINE Commissioners.

COUNSEL:

Baruch A. Fellner, Office of the Solicitor, USDOL

Herman Grant, Regional Solicitor, U.S. Dept. of Labor

Robert E. Mann, for the employer

Daniel W. Hannan, Staff Rep., Safety & Health Dept. - USWA, for the employees

Fermine Salinas, Staff Rep., District 31, USWA, for the employees

OPINION:

DECISION

BY THE COMMISSION:

A decision of Administrative Law Judge Seymour Fier, dated April 12, 1979, is before the Commission on review pursuant to section 12(j) n1 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, 29 U.S.C. (� �

651-678) ("the Act").

                                  • -Footnotes- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

n1 29 U.S.C. �

661(i).

                                • -End Footnotes- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

In his direction for review, Commissioner Cottine stated the primary issue presented by the Secretary's petition as:

Whether the Administrative Law Judge erred in vacating the alleged violations of 29 C.F.R. � �

1910.179(e)(2)(i), (g)(2)(i), (g)(6), (e)(3)(i), (e)(6)(i), (g)(4)(iii), on the ground that the cited overhead cranes were installed prior to August 31, 1971, and consequently not covered by [*2]

the cited sections of the standard.

In his decision, the judge concluded that the Commission's decisions in U.S. Steel Corp., 77 OSAHRC 64/C8, 5 BNA OSHC 1289, 1977-78 CCH OSHD P21,795 (Nos. 10825 & 10849, 1977); Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Corp., 77 OSAHRC 81/C10, 5 BNA OSHC 1495, 1978 CCH OSHD P23,056 (Nos. 10611, 11327 & 14366, 1977), aff'd, sub nom, Marshall v. Pittsburgh-Des Moines Steel Co., 584 F.2d 638 (3d Cir. 1978); and Pittsburgh-Des Moines Steel Co., 77 OSAHRC 75/E6, 5 BNA OSHC 1420, 1977-78 CCH OSHD P21,804 (No. 13708, 1977), aff'd, 584 F.2d 638 (3d Cir. 1978), compelled the conclusion that the provisions of 29 C.F.R. �

1910.179 were advisory with respect to overhead and gantry cranes constructed before August 31, 1971.

Thus he vacated the six items before us on review, all of which allege noncompliance with the provisions of section 1910.179. n2

                                  • -Footnotes- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

n2 The judge also disposed of numerous other items alleging violations of the Act.

Neither party seeks review of the judge's disposition of those items, and no issue involving those items has been directed for review.

29 C.F.R. � �

2200.91, .92.

Accordingly those items are not before us on review.

See Leone Construction Co., 76 OSAHRC 12/E6, 3 BNA OSHC 1979, 1975-76 CCH OSHD P20,387 (No. 4090, 1976).


[*3]

                                • -End Footnotes- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Beginning with our decision in U.S. Steel Corp., supra, OSAHRC 64/C8, 5 BNA OSHC 1289, 1977-78 CCH OSHD P21,795 (Nos. 10825, 10849, 1977), and continuing in Pittsburgh-Des Moines Steel Co., supra; Wheeling Pittsburgh Steel Corp., supra; and, most recently, General Dynamics Corp., No. 78-3290 (April 30, 1980), we have held that those provisions of section 1910.179 that are derived from the "construction and installation" requirements of ANSI B30.2.0.-1967 set in chapter 2-1 of that standard are advisory with respect to overhead and gantry cranes purchased and installed before August 31, 1971.

The provisions of section 1910.179 cited in the six items vacated by the judge in this case are derived from those requirements. n3

                                  • -Footnotes- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

n3 The following provisions of 29 C.F.R. �

1910.179 were cited: (e)(2)(i), (g)(2)(i), (g)(6), (e)(3)(i), (e)(6)(i), (g)(4)(iii).

                                • -End Footnotes- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Accordingly, there being no dispute that the cranes at issue [*4]

were in operation before August 31, 1971, that portion of the judge's order before us is affirmed in full. n4

                                  • -Footnotes- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

n4 Respondent introduced evidence to the effect that the cited cranes had been "constructed or installed" prior to August 31, 1971, through the testimony of its plant engineer and through the introduction of accounting and business records.

The Secretary made no attempt to rebut this evidence.

                                • -End Footnotes- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Items 4, 6, and 7 of Citation No. 1 and items 18, 19(a) and 22 of Citation No. 2 are vacated.

So ORDERED.

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