CHAPTER 6.5. Occupational Safety and Health Appeals Board [148. - 149.5.]

Cal. Labor Code - LAB 6.5.
in effect

Cal. Labor Code - LAB § 148. Section 148.

(a) There is in the Department of Industrial Relations the Occupational Safety and Health Appeals Board, consisting of three members appointed by the Governor, subject to the approval of the Senate. One member shall be from the field of management, one shall be from the field of labor and one member shall be from the general public. The public member shall be chosen from other than the fields of management and labor. Each member of the appeals board shall devote his full time to the performance of his duties. (b) The chairman and each member of the appeals board shall receive the annual salary provided for by Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 11550) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code. (c) The Governor shall designate the chairman of the appeals board from the membership of the appeals board. The person so designated shall hold the office of chairman at the pleasure of the Governor. The chairman shall designate a member of the appeals board to act as chairman in his absence.

Cal. Labor Code - LAB § 148.1. Section 148.1.

Each member of the appeals board shall serve for a term of four years and until his successor is appointed and qualifies. The terms of the first three members appointed to the appeals board shall expire on the second, third, and fourth January 15th following the date of the appointment of the first appointed member. A vacancy shall be filled by the Governor, subject to the approval of the Senate by appointment for the unexpired term.

Cal. Labor Code - LAB § 148.2. Section 148.2.

The appeals board may employ necessary assistants, officers, experts, hearing officers, and such other employees as it deems necessary. All such personnel of the appeals board shall be under the supervision of the chairman of the appeals board or an executive officer to whom the chairman delegates such responsibility. All such personnel shall be appointed pursuant to the State Civil Service Act (Part 2 (commencing with Section 18500) of Division 5 of Title 2 of the Government Code), except for the one exempt deputy or employee allowed by subdivision (e) of Section 4 of Article XXIV of the California Constitution. The salaries of the hearing officers shall be fixed by the State Personnel Board at a rate comparable to that of other referees or hearing officers in state service whose duties and responsibilities are comparable, without regard to whether such other positions have membership in the State Bar of California as a prerequisite to appointment.

Cal. Labor Code - LAB § 148.5. Section 148.5.

A decision of the appeals board is final, except for any rehearing or judicial review as permitted by Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 6600) of Part 1 of Division 5.

Cal. Labor Code - LAB § 148.6. Section 148.6.

A decision of the appeals board is binding on the director and the Division of Occupational Safety and Health with respect to the parties involved in the particular appeal. The director shall have the right to seek judicial review of an appeals board decision irrespective of whether or not he or she appeared or participated in the appeal to the appeals board or its hearing officer.

Cal. Labor Code - LAB § 148.7. Section 148.7.

The appeals board, acting as a whole, may adopt, amend, or repeal rules of practice and procedure pertaining to hearing appeals and other matters falling within its jurisdiction. All such rules, amendments thereto, or repeals thereof shall be made in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.

Cal. Labor Code - LAB § 148.8. Section 148.8.

The appeals board and its duly authorized representatives in the performance of its duties shall have the powers of a head of a department as set forth in Article 2 (commencing with Section 11180) of Chapter 2 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, except for Section 11185 of the Government Code.

Cal. Labor Code - LAB § 148.9. Section 148.9.

Decisions of the appeals board shall be made by a majority of the appeals board, except as otherwise expressly provided.

Cal. Labor Code - LAB § 149. Section 149.

The chairman of the appeals board may authorize its executive officer to act as deputy appeals board member, and may delegate authority and duties to the executive officer in the event of the absence of a member of the appeals board.

Cal. Labor Code - LAB § 149.5. Section 149.5.

The appeals board may award reasonable costs, including attorney’s fees, consultant’s fees, and witness’ fees, not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000) in the aggregate, to any employer who appeals a citation resulting from an inspection or investigation conducted on or after January 1, 1980, issued for violation of an occupational safety and health standard, rule, order, or regulation established pursuant to Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 140) of Division 1, if (1) either the employer prevails in the appeal, or the citation is withdrawn, and (2) the appeals board finds that the issuance of the citation was the result of arbitrary or capricious action or conduct by the division. The appeals board shall adopt rules of practice and procedure to implement this section. The payment of costs pursuant to this section shall be from funds in the regular operating budget of the division. The division shall show in its proposed budget for each fiscal year the following information with respect to the prior fiscal year: (a) The total costs paid. (b) The number of cases in which costs were paid.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026

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