General Provisions

29 C.F.R. Part ..., Subpart A
in effectEffective: 2024-07-01

29 C.F.R. § 2200.1 Definitions.

As used in this part: (a) Act means the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, 29 U.S.C. 651-678. (b) Commission, person, employer, and employee have the meanings set forth in section 3 of the Act, 29 U.S.C. 652. (c) Secretary means the Secretary of Labor or the Secretary's duly authorized representative. (d) Executive Secretary means the Executive Secretary of the Commission. (e) Affected employee means an employee of a cited employer who is exposed to or has access to the hazard arising out of the allegedly violative circumstances, conditions, practices, or operations. (f) Judge means an Administrative Law Judge appointed pursuant to section 12(e) of the Act, 29 U.S.C. 661(e), as amended by Public Law 95-251, 92 Stat. 183, 184 (1978). (g) Authorized employee representative means a labor organization that has a collective bargaining relationship with the cited employer and that represents affected employees who are members of the collective bargaining unit. (h) Representative means any person, including an authorized employee representative, authorized by a party or intervenor to represent it in a proceeding. (i) Citation means a written communication issued by the Secretary to an employer pursuant to section 9(a) of the Act, 29 U.S.C. 658(a). (j) Notification of proposed penalty means a written communication issued by the Secretary to an employer pursuant to section 10(a) or (b) of the Act, 29 U.S.C. 659(a) or (b). (k) Day means a calendar day. (l) Working day means all days except Saturdays, Sundays, or Federal holidays. (m) Proceeding means any proceeding before the Commission or before a Judge. (n) Pleadings are complaints and answers filed under § 2200.34, statements of reasons and employers' responses filed under § 2200.38, and petitions for modification of abatement and objecting parties' responses filed under § 2200.37. A motion is not a pleading within the meaning of these rules.

29 C.F.R. § 2200.2 Scope of rules; applicability of Federal Rules of Civil Procedure; construction.

(a) Scope. These rules shall govern all proceedings before the Commission and its Judges. (b) Applicability of Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. In the absence of a specific provision, procedure shall be in accordance with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. (c) Construction. These rules shall be construed to secure an expeditious, just, and inexpensive determination of every case.

29 C.F.R. § 2200.3 Use of number.

Words importing the singular number may extend and be applied to the plural and vice versa.

29 C.F.R. § 2200.4 Computing time.

(a) Computation. The following rules apply in computing any time period specified in these rules or by any order that does not specify a method of computing time. (1) Period stated in days or longer unit. When the period is stated in days or a longer unit of time: (i) Exclude the day of the event that triggers the period; (ii) Count every day, including intermediate Saturdays, Sundays, and Federal holidays; and (iii) Include the last day of the period, but if the last day is a Saturday, Sunday, or Federal holiday, the period continues to run until the end of the next day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or Federal holiday. (2) Period stated in working days. When the period is stated in working days, count every day except intermediate Saturdays, Sundays, and Federal holidays. (3) Operating status of receiving Commission office. Unless the Commission or the Judge orders otherwise, if the receiving Commission office is closed on the last day for filing due to inclement weather or other circumstance, then the time for filing is extended to the first day the office is open that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or Federal holiday. (4) “Last day” defined. Unless a different time is set by a rule or order, the last day ends: (i) For documents filed electronically in the Commission's E-File System, at 11:59 p.m. in the time zone of the receiving Commission office; and (ii) For filing by other means, when the receiving Commission office is scheduled to close. (5) “Next day” defined. The “next day” is determined by continuing to count forward when the period is measured after an event and backward when measured before an event. (6) “Federal holiday” defined. “Federal holiday” means: (i) The day set aside by statute for observing New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday, Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth National Independence Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans' Day, Thanksgiving Day, or Christmas Day; and, (ii) Any day declared a holiday by the President or Congress. (7) Computation examples. (i) If a judge orders that a document is due in 40 days, count every calendar day starting the day after that order (day 1) until reaching day 40 (due date). If the receiving Commission office is closed on day 40 (such as on a Saturday, Sunday, or Federal holiday), the document would be due the next day the office is open. In other words, if day 40 falls on a Saturday, and the following Monday is a Federal holiday, the document would be due on Tuesday, the day after the holiday. (ii) If a judge orders that a document is due 14 days before a hearing, count backwards starting the day before the hearing (day 1) until reaching day 14. If the receiving Commission office is closed on day 14 (such as on a Saturday, Sunday, or Federal holiday), the document would be due on the last day the office is open before the Saturday, Sunday, or Federal holiday. In other words, if day 14 falls on a Sunday, and the Friday before is a Federal holiday, the document would be due on Thursday, the day before the holiday. (b) Additional time after service by U.S. Mail. When a party may or must act within a specified time after service and service is made by U.S. Mail under § 2200.7, 3 days are added after the period would otherwise expire under § 2200.4(a). Provided, however, that this provision does not apply to computing the time for filing a petition for discretionary review under § 2200.91(b).

29 C.F.R. § 2200.5 Extension of time.

The Commission or the Judge on their own initiative or, upon motion of a party, for good cause shown, may enlarge or shorten any time prescribed by these rules or prescribed by an order. All such motions shall be in writing and shall conform with § 2200.40, but, in exigent circumstances in a case pending before a Judge, an oral request may be made and shall be followed by a written motion filed with the Judge within such time as the Judge prescribes. A request for an extension of time should be received in advance of the date on which the pleading or document is due to be filed. However, in exigent circumstances, an extension of time may be granted even though the request was filed after the designated time for filing has expired. In such circumstances, the party requesting the extension must show, in writing, the reasons for the party's failure to make the request before the time prescribed for the filing had expired. The motion may be acted upon before the time for response has expired.

29 C.F.R. § 2200.6 Record address.

(a) Every pleading or document filed by any party or intervenor shall contain the name, current address, telephone number, and email address of the party or intervenor's representative or, if there is no representative, the party or intervenor's own name, current address, telephone number, and email address. Any change in such information shall be communicated promptly in writing to the Judge, or the Executive Secretary if no Judge has been assigned, and to all other parties and intervenors. A party or intervenor who fails to furnish such information shall be deemed to have waived its right to notice and service under these rules. (b) Representatives, parties, and intervenors who file case documents electronically in the Commission's E-File System pursuant to § 2200.8(c) are responsible for both maintaining a valid email address associated with the registered account and regularly monitoring that email address.

29 C.F.R. § 2200.7 Service, notice, and posting.

(a) When service is required. At the time of filing pleadings or other documents, the filer shall serve a copy on every other party or intervenor. Every document relating to discovery required to be served on a party shall be served on all parties and intervenors. Every order required by its terms to be served shall be served on all parties and intervenors. (b) Service on represented parties or intervenors. Service upon a party or intervenor who has appeared through a representative shall be made only upon such representative unless the Judge orders service on the party or intervenor. (c) How accomplished. Unless otherwise ordered, service may be accomplished by the following methods: (1) Commission's E-File System. For electronically-filed documents, service shall be deemed accomplished by the simultaneous service of the document by email on all other parties and intervenors in the case, together with proof of service pursuant to paragraph (d) of this section. (2) U.S. Mail. Service shall be deemed accomplished upon depositing the item in the U.S. Mail with first-class or higher class (such as priority mail) postage pre-paid addressed to the recipient's record address provided pursuant to § 2200.6. (3) Commercial or other personal delivery. Service shall be deemed accomplished upon delivery to the recipient's record address provided pursuant to § 2200.6. (4) Facsimile transmission. Service by facsimile transmission shall be deemed accomplished upon delivery to the receiving facsimile machine. The party serving a document by facsimile is responsible for the successful transmission and legibility of documents intended to be served. (5) Non-E-Filed Documents. Documents required to be served upon other counsel or parties but that are not filed with the Commission in the Commission's E-File System (such as discovery documents served pursuant to § 2200.52(j)) may be served by any means agreed to by all parties in writing. (d) Proof of service. Service shall be documented by a written certificate of service setting forth the date and manner of service. The certificate of service shall be filed with the pleading or document. (e) Proof of posting. Where service is accomplished by posting, proof of such posting shall be filed not later than the first working day following the posting. (f) Service on represented employees. Service and notice to employees represented by an authorized employee representative shall be deemed accomplished by serving the representative in a manner prescribed in paragraph (c) of this section. (g) Service on unrepresented employees. In the event there are affected employees who are not represented by an authorized employee representative, the employer shall post, immediately upon receipt, the docketing notice for the notice of contest or petition for modification of the abatement period. The posting shall be at or near where the citation is required to be posted pursuant to section 9(b) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, 29 U.S.C. 658(b), and 29 CFR 1903.16. The employer shall post: (1) A copy of the notice of contest or petition for modification of the abatement period; (2) A notice informing the affected employees of their right to party status; and (3) A notice informing the affected employees of the availability of all pleadings for inspection and copying at reasonable times. (4)(i) A notice in the following form shall be deemed to comply with this paragraph: (ii) Where appropriate, the second sentence of the above notice will be deleted and the following sentence will be substituted: (h) Special service requirements; authorized employee representatives. The authorized employee representative, if any, shall be served by the employer with the notice set forth in paragraph (g) of this section and with a copy of the notice of contest or petition for modification of the abatement period. (i) Notice of hearing to unrepresented employees. Immediately upon receipt, a copy of the notice of the hearing to be held before the Judge shall be served by the employer on affected employees who are not represented by an authorized employee representative by posting a copy of the notice of such hearing at or near the place where the citation is required to be posted pursuant to section 9(b) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, 29 U.S.C. 658(b), and 29 CFR 1903.16. (j) Notice of hearing to represented employees. Immediately upon receipt of the notice of the hearing to be held before the Judge, the employer shall serve a copy of the notice on the authorized employee representative of affected employees in the manner prescribed in paragraph (c) of this section. The employer need not serve the notice of hearing, as stated above, if on or before the date the hearing notice is received, the authorized employee representative has entered an appearance in conformance with §§ 2200.22 and 2200.23. (k) Employee contest; service on other employees. (1) Where a notice of contest with respect to the reasonableness of the abatement period is filed under § 2200.38 by an affected employee who is not represented by an authorized employee representative and there are other affected employees who are represented by an authorized employee representative, the unrepresented affected employee shall serve the following documents on the authorized employee representative: (i) The notice of contest with respect to the reasonableness of the abatement period; and (ii) A copy of the Secretary's statement of reasons, filed in conformance with § 2200.38(a). (2) Service on the authorized employee representative shall be in the manner prescribed in paragraph (c) of this section. The unrepresented affected employee shall file proof of such service. (l) Employee contest; service on employer. Where a notice of contest with respect to the reasonableness of the abatement period is filed by an affected employee or an authorized employee representative, a copy of the notice of contest and response filed in support of the notice of contest shall be provided to the employer for posting in the manner prescribed in paragraph (g) of this section. (m) Employee contest; service on other authorized employee representatives. An authorized employee representative who files a notice of contest with respect to the reasonableness of the abatement period shall be responsible for serving any other authorized employee representative whose members are affected employees in the manner prescribed in paragraph (c) of this section. (n) Duration of posting. Where posting is required by this section, such posting shall be maintained until the commencement of the hearing or until earlier disposition. (o) Service of show cause orders—(1) Service on parties and intervenors using Commission's E-File System. Service of show cause orders shall be deemed completed by service through the Commission's E-File System on a representative who has entered an appearance for a party or intervenor under § 2200.23 or on a self-represented party or intervenor who has not been exempted from using the Commission's E-File System. See also § 2200.101(a). (2) Service on self-represented parties or intervenors exempted from using the Commission's E-File System. In addition to the service methods permitted by § 2200.7(c), the Commission or the Judge shall serve a show cause order on a self-represented party or intervenor who has been exempted from using the Commission's E-File System by certified mail or by any other method (including commercial delivery service) that provides confirmation of delivery to the addressee's record address provided under § 2200.6. (Name of employer) Your employer has been cited by the Secretary of Labor for violation of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970. The citation has been contested and will be the subject of a hearing before the OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH REVIEW COMMISSION. Affected employees are entitled to participate in this hearing as parties under terms and conditions established by the OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH REVIEW COMMISSION in its Rules of Procedure. Notice of intent to participate must be filed no later than 14 days before the hearing. Any notice of intent to participate should be sent to: Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission, Office of the Executive Secretary, One Lafayette Centre, 1120 20th Street, NW, Suite 980, Washington, DC 20036-3457. All pleadings relevant to this matter may be inspected at: (Place reasonably convenient to employees, preferably at or near workplace.) The reasonableness of the period prescribed by the Secretary of Labor for abatement of the violation has been contested and will be the subject of a hearing before the OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH REVIEW COMMISSION.

29 C.F.R. § 2200.8 Filing.

(a) What to file—(1) General. All documents required to be served on a party or intervenor shall be filed either before service or within a reasonable time after service. (2) Discovery documents. Discovery documents generated pursuant to §§ 2200.52 through 2200.56 shall not be filed with the Commission or the Judge. Filing and retention of such discovery documents shall comply with § 2200.52(i) and (j). (b) Where to file. Prior to assignment of a case to a Judge, all documents shall be filed electronically in the Commission's E-File System or with the Executive Secretary at One Lafayette Centre, 1120 20th Street NW, Suite 980, Washington, DC 20036-3457. After the assignment of the case to a Judge, all documents shall be filed electronically in the Commission's E-File System or with the Judge at the address given in the notice of assignment. After the docketing of the Judge's report, all documents shall be filed with the Executive Secretary, except as provided in § 2200.90(b)(4). (c) Electronic filing with the Commission—(1) Mandatory e-filing. All parties and intervenors must file documents electronically in the Commission's E-File System by following the instructions on the Commission's website (www.oshrc.gov), unless a self-represented party or intervenor is able to claim that complying with this paragraph will place an undue burden upon that party or intervenor under paragraph (c)(2) of this section or the documents are exempt from e-filing under paragraph (c)(5) of this section. Documents may not be filed with the Commission or the Judge via email, unless allowed under paragraph (d)(1) of this section. (2) Undue burden. Self-represented parties or intervenors may submit a written statement to the Judge requesting an exemption from the mandatory e-filing requirement on the grounds that it would place an undue burden on them to comply with the requirement. If the Judge grants an exemption, exempted self-represented parties or intervenors must file documents by postage-prepaid first class or higher class U.S. Mail, commercial delivery service, personal delivery, or facsimile transmission as described in paragraph (d) of this section. Documents may not be filed with the Commission or the Judge via email, unless allowed under paragraph (d)(1) of this section. (3) If technical difficulties prevent the successful submission of electronically filed documents, the e-filer should refer to the instructions for electronic filing on the Commission's website (www.oshrc.gov). (4) Documents filed electronically in the Commission's E-File System may contain an electronic signature of the filer which will have the same legal effect, validity, and enforceability as if signed manually. The term “electronic signature” means an electronic symbol or process attached to or logically associated with a contact or other record and executed or adopted by a person with the intent to sign the document. (5) Confidential and privileged documents. The following documents must not be filed electronically in the Commission's E-File System: (i) Documents that may not be released to the public because the information is covered by a protective order or has been placed “under seal” pursuant to § 2200.52(d) and (e). (ii) Documents submitted for in camera inspection by the Commission or the Judge, including material for which a privilege is claimed. Claims regarding privileged information must comply with § 2200.52(d). (iii) Confidential settlement documents filed with the Judge pursuant to settlement procedures pursuant to § 2200.120. (iv) Applications for subpoenas made ex parte pursuant to § 2200.65. (6) Sensitive information. Unless the Commission or the Judge orders otherwise, all sensitive information in documents filed electronically in the Commission's E-File System must be redacted pursuant to paragraph (d)(5) of this section. (7) Date of filing. The date of filing for documents filed electronically is the day that the complete document is successfully submitted in the Commission's E-File System pursuant to § 2200.4(a)(4)(i). Electronic filing shall be completed by following the instructions on the Commission's website (www.oshrc.gov). (8) Timeliness. Representatives and self-represented parties and intervenors bear the sole responsibility for ensuring that a filing is timely made. (9) Certificate of service. Proof of service shall accompany each document filed in the Commission's E-File System. The certificate of service shall certify simultaneous service of the document by email on all other parties and intervenors in the case. It is the responsibility of the filing party to retain records showing the date of transmission, including receipts. (d) Documents that are not filed in the Commission's E-File System; alternative filing methods—(1) How to file. Documents may be filed by postage-prepaid first class or higher class U.S. Mail, commercial delivery service, personal delivery, or facsimile transmission. Only documents exempt from e-filing under paragraph (c)(5) of this section may be filed by email. (2) Number of copies. Unless otherwise ordered or stated in this part, only the original of a document shall be filed. (3) Filing date. (i) Except for the documents listed in paragraph (d)(3)(ii) of this section, if filing is by U.S. first class mail (or higher class mail, such as priority mail), then filing is deemed completed upon depositing the material in the U.S. Mail. If filing is by any other means (e.g., personal delivery, commercial delivery service, or facsimile transmission) then filing is deemed completed upon receipt by the Commission. (ii) Filing is completed upon receipt by the Commission for petitions for interlocutory review (§ 2200.73), petitions for discretionary review (§ 2200.91), and EAJA applications (§ 2204.301). (iii) Representatives and self-represented parties and intervenors bear the sole responsibility for ensuring that a filing is timely made. (4) Certificate of service. A certificate of service shall accompany each document filed. The certificate shall set forth the dates and manner of filing and service. (5) Sensitive information. Unless the Commission or the Judge orders otherwise, in any filing with the Commission, information that is sensitive but not privileged (e.g., Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, passport numbers, taxpayer-identification numbers, birthdates, mother's maiden names, names of minors, an individual's physical personal address, financial account numbers) shall be redacted. Parties shall exercise caution when filing medical records, medical treatment records, medical diagnosis records, employment history, and individual financial information, and shall redact or exclude materials unnecessary to the case. (6) Privileged information. Claims regarding privileged information shall comply with § 2200.52(d).

29 C.F.R. § 2200.9 Consolidation.

Cases may be consolidated on the motion of any party conforming to § 2200.40, on the Judge's own motion, or on the Commission's own motion, where there exist common parties, common questions of law or fact or in such other circumstances as justice or the administration of the Act require.

29 C.F.R. § 2200.10 Severance.

Upon its own motion, or upon motion of any party or intervenor conforming to § 2200.40, where a showing of good cause has been made by the party or intervenor, the Commission or the Judge may order any proceeding severed with respect to some or all claims or parties.

29 C.F.R. § 2200.12 References to cases.

(a) Citing decisions by Commission and Judges—(1) Generally. Parties citing decisions by the Commission should include in the citation the name of the employer, the OSHRC docket number, the year of the decision, and a citation to a print or electronic reference source. Citations to Commission and ALJ decisions published on the Commission's website (www.oshrc.gov) are also accepted. For example, (i) Print: (A) Hackensack Steel Corp., 20 BNA OSHC 1387, 1388 (No. 97-0755, 2003). (B) Hackensack Steel Corp., 2002-2004 CCH OSHD ¶ 32,690, p. 51,558 (No. 97-0755, 2003). (ii) Electronic: (A) Hackensack Steel Corp., No. 97-0755, 2003 WL 22232017, at *4 (OSHRC Sept. 25, 2003). (B) Hackensack Steel Corp., No. 97-0755, 2003 LEXIS 450392, at *2 (OSHRC Sept. 25, 2003). (iii) Commission website (www.oshrc.gov): (A) PDF versions of cases should be cited as follows and identify the relevant page number: Jacobs Field Servs. N. Am., No. 10-2659, at 5 (OSHRC 2015). (B) HTML versions of cases should be cited as follows and identify the relevant paragraph number: Jacobs Field Servs. N. Am., No. 10-2659, at ¶ 9 (OSHRC 2015). (2) Parenthetical statements. When citing the decision of a Judge, the digest of an opinion, or the opinion of a single Commissioner, a parenthetical statement identifying that the decision is non-precedential (e.g. “ALJ”) must be included. For example, Rust Engineering Co., 1984 CCH OSHD ¶ 27,023 (No.79-2090, 1984) (view of Chairman ______), vacating direction for review of 1980 CCH OSHD ¶ 24,269 (1980) (ALJ) (digest). (b) References to court decisions. (1) Citation to court decisions should be to the official reporter whenever possible. For example: (i) W.G. Yates & Sons Constr. Co. v. OSHRC, 459 F.3d 604, 608-09 (5th Cir. 2006). (ii) Martin v. OSHRC (CF & I Steel Corp.), 499 U.S. 144, 150-51 (1991). (2) Name of employer to be indicated. When a court decision is cited in which the first-listed party on each side is either the Secretary of Labor (or the name of a particular Secretary of Labor), the Commission, or a labor union, the citation should include in parenthesis the name of the employer in the Commission proceeding. For example, Donovan v. Allied Industrial Workers (Archer Daniels Midland Co.), 760 F.2d 783 (7th Cir. 1985); Donovan v. OSHRC (Mobil Oil Corp.), 713 F. 2d 918 (2d Cir. 1983).

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