Opinion ID: 2994355
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Nine Violations in the Citation

Text: Sierra next baldly contends that it did not violate any of the lead safety standards with which it was charged in OSHA’s nine-item citation. However, after briefing and a hearing in which testimony was received from numerous individuals, the ALJ based his conclusions on credibility determinations; the ALJ credited the testimony of Gainer, Sierra’s employees, and their union business agent, and discredited Sutphen’s testimony./8 In contending that it did not violate OSHA regulations, Sierra is asking this court to substitute our own credibility determinations for that of the ALJ, something we decline to do. See Jet Star, Inc. v. NLRB, 209 F.3d 671, 676 (7th Cir. 2000) (We must affirm credibility determinations made by the ALJ, and adopted by the Board, in the absence of extraordinary circumstances. . . . Such extraordinary circumstances include a clear showing of bias by the ALJ, an utter disregard for uncontroverted sworn testimony or the acceptance of testimony which on its face is incredible. (internal quotations omitted)); see also United States v. Mancillas, 183 F.3d 682, 710 n.22 (7th Cir. 1999) (We do not second-guess the [ALJ]’s credibility determinations because he or she has had the best opportunity to observe the verbal and nonverbal behavior of the witnesses focusing on the subject’s reactions and responses to the interrogatories, their facial expressions, attitudes, tone of voice, eye contact, posture and body movements, as well as confused or nervous speech patterns in contrast with merely looking at the cold pages of an appellate record.). Sierra’s petition for review is DENIED. /1 OHSA issues serious violations for those conditions which create a substantial probability of death or serious physical harm. 29 U.S.C. sec. 666(k). /2 Specifically, the citation charged Sierra with: 1) failing to assure that its employees were not overexposed to lead; 2) failing to determine its employees’ lead exposure level at the start of the project; 3) failing to provide its employees with appropriate respiratory protection; 4) failing to provide its employees with appropriate protective work clothing; 5) failing to provide its employees with a clean change area; 6) failing to provide its employees with adequate hand-washing facilities; 7) failing to provide its employees with blood sampling for lead levels; 8) failing to provide its employees with safety training; and 9) failing to establish and implement a written lead safety/compliance program. /3 Tests revealed that the lead content in the paint was 50%. /4 According to Gainer’s testimony, the sampling pump is a small device that is affixed to an employee’s waist and a filter runs up into the employee’s breathing area. The device then measures the air contaminants to which the employee is exposed. /5 The lead standard’s permissible exposure level and action level are 50 and 30 micrograms per cubic meter of air (ug/m3), respectively. See 29