Opinion ID: 557827
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Substantiality of the Evidence Supporting the Various Violations

Text: 25 In a case of this kind, a reviewing court's task is limited to determining whether the Commission's factual findings are supported by substantial evidence in the record taken as a whole, 29 U.S.C. Sec. 660(a), and whether its legal conclusions are arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, or otherwise not in accordance with law, 5 U.S.C. Sec. 706(2)(A). In making these determinations, the court should accord great deference to an expert agency's construction of the statute it administers, Chevron, U.S.A., Inc. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc., 467 U.S. 837, 844, 104 S.Ct. 2778, 2782, 81 L.Ed.2d 694 (1984), and to the credibility findings made by the administrative law judge, Beavers v. Secretary of Health, Educ., and Welfare, 577 F.2d 383, 386 (6th Cir.1978).
26 The OSH Act requires that [e]ach employer ... shall comply with ... standards promulgated under this chapter. 29 U.S.C. Sec. 654(a)(2). To promote this remedial purpose of the statute, the Act and regulations must be liberally construed so as to afford workers the broadest possible protection. Whirlpool Corp. v. Marshall, 445 U.S. 1, 13, 100 S.Ct. 883, 891, 63 L.Ed.2d 154 (1980). The Secretary establishes a violation of the Act's safety standards by proving that the standard applies to the cited conditions, the employer is not in compliance, and the employees were exposed to the hazard. Quality Stamping Prods. v. OSHRC, 709 F.2d 1093, 1099 (6th Cir.1983). To establish a serious violation, the Secretary must also show a substantial likelihood that an employee could suffer death or serious injury if an accident occurred because of the violation and that the employer knew, or with reasonable diligence could have known, of the violation. 29 U.S.C. Sec. 666(k); Modern Drop Forge Co. v. Secretary of Labor, 683 F.2d 1105, 1112 (7th Cir.1982). 27 The necessary showing that a particular standard applies depends upon the type of standard. Some standards, such as 29 C.F.R. Secs. 1926.300(a), .450(a)(1), and .602(a)(3)(i), require the Secretary to show that a hazard exists and that a reasonably prudent and safety-conscious employer would realize the cited condition is hazardous. Ray Evers Welding v. OSHRC, 625 F.2d 726, 731 (6th Cir.1980). Most standards, however, only require the Secretary to show that the employer has not complied with their terms. Bunge Corp. v. Secretary of Labor, 638 F.2d 831, 835 (5th Cir.1981). 28 In this case, whether the cited conditions existed is not in dispute. The appellants do not contest the existence of the cited condition. They argue, however, that the conditions do not violate OSHA's standards because their equipment, despite the conditions, is safe for employee use. The expert agency's interpretation of the statute, not the employer's interpretation, is entitled to great deference. Chevron, 467 U.S. at 844, 104 S.Ct. at 2782. Moreover, as we have said, the Act should be read broadly to afford workers the broadest possible protection. Whirlpool, 445 U.S. at 13, 100 S.Ct. at 891. Since the Secretary has shown the existence of the cited conditions, a failure of the employer to comply with the Act, and employee exposure to the hazard, National and Meroe cannot escape liability by claiming that they do not believe their failure to comply with the language of the regulations constitutes a violation.