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. Canyon Fuel Company, LLC, Shane Allred, and Michael Cooper
Secretary of Labor v. Canyon Fuel Company, LLC, Shane Allred, and Michael Cooper (FMSHRC WEST 2021-0229): Rib and accident-reporting orders upheld
A rib burst at Canyon Fuel's underground coal mine partially buried a miner, caused a traumatic head injury, and required surgery, but mine management did not notify MSHA within 15 minutes. The Commission affirmed violations for inadequate rib control and failure to report an injury with a…
Secretary of Labor v. Warrior Met Coal Mining, LLC
Secretary of Labor v. Warrior Met Coal Mining, LLC (FMSHRC SE 2023-0182): Methane, reporting, and accident-scene citations upheld
Warrior Met contested three citations involving a miscalibrated methane monitor and its response to an elevator accident caused by falling ice. The Judge found the monitor violation significant and substantial because the mine liberates large amounts of methane and the inaccurate reading could…
Secretary of Labor v. American Soda, LLC
Secretary of Labor v. American Soda, LLC (FMSHRC WEST 2020-0278): Tie left 15-minute reporting citation and penalty standing
A roof fall struck miner Delbert Hauser, knocked off his hard hat, caused a head wound and serious eye injury, and knocked him to the ground. American Soda did not notify MSHA within 15 minutes because Hauser remained conscious, walked out of the mine, and appeared coherent to coworkers with…
Secretary of Labor v. Canyon Fuel Company, LLC, et al.
Secretary of Labor v. Canyon Fuel Company, LLC, et al. (FMSHRC WEST 2021-0188): Rib and accident-reporting orders affirmed
A rib burst at Canyon Fuel's Skyline Mine #3 knocked a miner into equipment, buried him in coal, fractured his skull, and caused other serious injuries. The Judge affirmed an S&S rib-control violation but reduced negligence to moderate, removed the unwarrantable-failure designation, and assessed…
Secretary of Labor v. Solvay Chemicals, Inc.
Secretary of Labor v. Solvay Chemicals, Inc. (FMSHRC WEST 2020-0278 M): Delayed injury report affirmed, negligence reduced
Solvay Chemicals operates an underground trona mine in Wyoming. A miner was struck by a roof fall while repairing a bore miner, suffered visible head injuries, and was later diagnosed with a shattered orbital socket. MSHA cited Solvay under 30 C.F.R. § 50.10(b) because management did not notify the…
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.