Source: http://pa.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.19780309_0040527.C03.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2017-04-23 23:53:01
Document Index: 656430810

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 1926', '§ 651', '§ 660', '§ 1926', '§ 1926', '§ 1926', '§ 1926']

| Cornell and Co. v. Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission
Cornell and Co. v. Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission
filed: March 9, 1978.
CORNELL AND COMPANY, INC., PETITIONER,v.OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH REVIEW COMMISSION AND SECRETARY OF LABOR, RESPONDENTS
Rosenn and Van Dusen, Circuit Judges, and Cohill, District Judge*fn*
Author: Cohill
COHILL, District Judge
On September 22, 1976, the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission (the "Commission") rendered a decision holding that petitioner, Cornell and Company, Inc. ("Cornell"), had violated the safety standards of 29 C.F.R. §§ 1926.28(a) and 1926.104, promulgated pursuant to the Occupational Safety & Health Act of 1970, 29 U.S.C. § 651 et seq (the "Act").*fn1 The Commission assessed a $700 penalty against Cornell. Pursuant to 29 U.S.C. § 660(a), we are here reviewing that decision.
Cornell is a steel construction contractor, which in the summer of 1974 was erecting at a refinery in Philadelphia a steel flare stack (a metal chimney) and a supporting three-legged steel frame, resembling an oil derrick. This structure was constructed in two stages. The first stage, known as the "connecting stage," consisted of two steps. In the first step - the "vertical connecting" step - workers called "connectors" initially secured the vertical beams into position. In the second step - the "horizontal connecting" step - the vertical beams were secured temporarily by connecting horizontal and diagonal beams as cross-bracing. When these two steps were completed, the procedure was repeated at the next level until the structure reached the required elevation. After the frame was completely erected and connected, the ironworkers proceeded to the second stage of construction, the "bolting up" stage. This involved securing the entire structure by fastening additional bolts at each connection joint. Only after this was completed was the structure sufficiently braced to meet the architect's specifications.
On June 27, 1974, a compliance officer for the Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspected the jobsite while Cornell's employees were in the connecting stage, working at an elevation of 100 feet. On July 2, 1974, as a result of that inspection, the Secretary issued a citation against Cornell and proposed a $700 penalty for a serious violation of 29 C.F.R. § 1926.750(b)(2),*fn2 which mandates the use of temporary flooring, where practical, for skeleton steel erection in tiered buildings. Cornell timely contested the citation, asserting that the specified safety standard did not apply to Cornell's project, since the frame was a non-tiered structure.
Apparently the Secretary agreed, and on August 22, 1974, he issued a complaint, but moved to amend the citation by adding a violation of another standard, this time citing 29 C.F.R. § 1926.750(b)(1)(ii),*fn3 which requires the use of safety nets where it is impractical to use temporary flooring for skeleton steel erection in tiered buildings. The unopposed motion was granted, and Cornell's contest letter was treated as an answer to the complaint.
On November 4, 1974, just nine days before the hearing, and more than 4 months after the inspection, the Secretary again moved to amend the citation and complaint by withdrawing the allegations of violations of 29 C.F.R. §§ 1926.750(b)(2) and 1926.750(b)(1)(ii), and alleging instead violations of 29 C.F.R. §§ 1926.28(a) and 1926.104,*fn4 requiring the use of safety belts. The Secretary conceded that the violations previously alleged were inapplicable. Cornell did not receive a copy of the proposed amended complaint until November 6 or 7; the hearing took place on November 13.
The primary issue presented is whether the Commission erred in permitting the Secretary on November 4, 1974 to amend his citation and complaint to allege a violation of the safety belt standards. Cornell argues that the amendment changed the legal and factual basis of the alleged ...