Corporate Practice Series Portfolio No. 9-4th, Practice Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, analyzes the procedures by which Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards are set, variances are obtained, and enforcement takes place. Emphasis in this portfolio is placed upon methods available for avoiding violations, protecting management's interests during OSHA inspections, responding to citations, and litigating before the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. In addition, there are discussions of employee rights and private rights of action under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970.

Portfolio 9-4th: Practice Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act

I. Overview of the Act

II. Promulgation and Scope of OSHA Standards; Variances from the Standards
    A. The Original Standards
    B. The Standard-Setting Process
    C. Judicial Review of OSHA Standards
         1. OSHA’s ergonomics standard
    D. Scope of OSHA Standards
         1. Exemptions
         2. Multi-employer worksite doctrine
    E. Variances from the Standards
         1. Temporary variance
         2. Permanent variance

III. Enforcement of OSHA Standards
    A. Overview
         1. Search warrants
              a. Probable cause
              b. Attacking a warrant
              c. Use of evidence obtained by an invalid warrant
         2. Administrative subpoenas
         3. How an OSHA inspection is triggered
         4. Inspections triggered by severe violators
         5. The elements of an OSHA inspection
         6. Management's conduct during the inspection
         7. Posting the citation
         8. Categories of violations
              a. Willful violations
                   (1). Criminal violations
              b. ‘Egregious willful’ violations
              c. Repeated violations
              d. Serious violations
              e. Nonserious violations
              f. De minimis violations
              g. Failure to abate
         9. Contesting citations
         10. Should the employer contest the citation?
    B. Proceedings Before the Review Commission
         1. Power of interpretation
         2. Pleadings
         3. Service of papers
         4. Motions
         5. Burden of proof
              a. Elements of proof: general duty case
              b. Elements of proof: OSHA standards
              c. Employee exposure
         6. Affirmative defenses
              a. Defenses against the standard 200
              b. Defenses arising because the act does not impose absolute liability
                   (1). Isolated occurrence or unforeseeable employee misconduct
                   (2). Infeasibility
                   (3). Greater hazard
                   (4). No control 224
              c. Proof of feasibility when feasibility is not specifically part of the standard
         7. Discovery
         8. Hearings and rules of evidence
         9. Amendment of citation
         10. Expert witnesses
         11. Post-hearing procedures
              a. Review of the judge's decision
              b. Interlocutory review
         12. Settlement
         13. Petitions to extend the abatement date
         14. Appeals from Review Commission decisions
              a. When and where to file
              b. Review of factual questions
              c. Review of legal questions

IV. Employee Rights Under the Act
    . Introductory Material
    A. Protected Activities Under §11(c)
    B. Limited Right To Refuse To Perform Work
    C. Procedures for Investigating Complaints
    D. Enforcement
    E. Employee Access to Records
    F. Private Rights of Action

V. Recordkeeping and Notice

VI. The Hazard Communication Standard
    A. Coverage of the Standard
         1. The duties of the chemical manufacturers, importers, and distributors
         2. The duties of the employer
    B. Trade Secret Protection
    C. Conflicts with State and Local Laws
    D. Other Problems Associated with Compliance
    E. Enforcement
    F. Federal Community Right-To-Know Act

VII. Criminal Prosecutions

VIII. Abatement Verification     
 

Portfolio 9-4th: Practice Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act

Wks. 1 Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970

Wks. 2 Occupational Safety and Health Administration Rules of Procedure for Promulgating, Modifying, or Revoking Occupational Safety or Health Standards

Wks. 3 Occupational Safety and Health Standards Subpart A—General

Wks. 4 Safety and Health Regulations for Construction

Wks. 5 Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission Rules of Procedure

Wks. 6 Rules of Practice for Variances—Exemptions Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act

Wks. 7 Occupational Safety and Health Administration Regulations for Recording and Reporting Occupational Injuries and Illnesses

Wks. 8 CPL 2-0.124—Multi-Employer Citation Policy

Wks. 9 Department of Labor Regulations on Discrimination Against Employees Exercising Rights Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act

Wks. 10 Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act of 1986

Wks. 11 Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act

Wks. 12 Example of Notice of Contest Letter

Wks. 13 Example of Answer and Affirmative Defenses in a Case Involving Allegations of Violations of a Standard

Wks. 14 Example of Answer and Affirmative Defenses in a Case Involving Allegations of a General Duty Violation

Wks. 15 Example of Petition to Commission for Review of Judge's Decision on the Merits

Wks. 16 Form of Trial Subpoena

Wks. 17 OSHA Instructions on How to Apply for a Variance

Wks. 18 Final Policy Concerning the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Treatment of Voluntary Employer Safety and Health Self-Audits

Wks. 19 Enhanced Enforcement Policy for Employers Who Are Indifferent to Their Obligations Under the OSHAct (March 12, 2003)

Wks. 20 Excerpts from the Recordkeeping Policies and Procedures Manual

Darren J. Hunter
Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP
Chicago, Illinois