Opinion ID: 165001
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Specific Standards

Text: 12 Safeway asserts that the Secretary must demonstrate that there are no specific standards applicable to the cited condition before it can issue a citation under either the general duty clause or 29 C.F.R. § 1910.101(b). According to Safeway, the Secretary would be required to survey the regulations and demonstrate the inapplicability of any regulation that might be relevant to the cited condition. The regulations, however, suggest that the specific standards function as an affirmative defense. Cf. Bristol Steel & Iron Works, Inc. v. Occupational Safety & Health Review Comm'n, 601 F.2d 717, 720-22 (4th Cir.1979) (discussing the relationship of the general duty clause and specific regulations); 29 C.F.R. § 1910.5(f). If an employer demonstrates that a specific standard permits the cited condition and compliance resolves any obvious hazard to employees, there is no general duty clause violation. 29 C.F.R. § 1910.5(f) (An employer who is in compliance with any standard in this part shall be deemed to be in compliance with the requirements of [the general duty clause], but only to the extent of the condition, practice, means, method, operation, or process covered by the standard.). 13 In this case, Safeway argues that it complied with 29 C.F.R. § 1910.110. 3 Where the employer has knowledge of an obvious hazardous condition, however, compliance with specific standards failing to address the hazard does not relieve the employer of the responsibility under the general duty clause to provide its employees with a place of employment which is free from recognized hazards. UAW v. General Dynamics Land Sys. Div., 815 F.2d 1570, 1577 (D.C.Cir.1987). The general duty clause states: 14 Each employer—(1) shall furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees; (2) shall comply with occupational safety and health standards promulgated under this chapter. 15 29 U.S.C. § 654(a). Therefore, the plain language of the statute and its structure indicate that an employer's duty to provide a safe working environment extends beyond compliance with specific safety and health standards that are included in regulations promulgated under the act. Id. at 1575-76; Bristol Steel & Iron Works, 601 F.2d at 720-22. 16 None of the regulations identified by the parties in this case addresses one of the obvious hazards identified by the Secretary and the ALJ: the use of a forty-pound tank with a grill designed for twenty-pound tanks. Thus, Safeway cannot argue that compliance with any of the regulations would have permitted the cited condition and we must examine the ALJ's conclusion that the cited condition was a violation of the general duty clause.