13-036 Code Vt. R. 13-140-036-X

Current through August, 2024
Section 13 140 036 - VERMONT OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH REVIEW BOARD RULES OF PROCEDURE (RENUMBERED)
SUBPART A GENERAL PROVISIONS (RENUMBERED)
2200.1 Definitions (Renumbered)
2200.2a Scope of Rules; Applicability of Vermont Rules of Civil Procedure and Administrative Procedures Act; Representation in Board Proceedings (Renumbered)
2200.2b The Board (Renumbered)
2200.3 Use of Gender and Number (Renumbered)
2200.4 Computation of Time (Renumbered)
2200.5 Record Address (Renumbered)
2200.6 Service of Pleadings and Documents (Renumbered)
2200.7 Service of Notices from Clerk (Renumbered)
2200.8 Filing (Renumbered)
2200.9 Protection of Trade Secrets; Other Confidential Information (Renumbered)
SUBPART B PARTIES AND REPRESENTATIVES (RENUMBERED)
2200.20 Party Status (Renumbered)
2200.21 Intervention; Appearance by Non-parties (Renumbered)
2200.22 Representatives of Parties or Intervenors (Renumbered)
SUBPART C PLEADINGS AND MOTIONS (RENUMBERED)
2200.30 Form (Renumbered)
2200.31 Contest Proceedings (Renumbered)
2200.32 Petitions for Modification of Abatement Period (Renumbered)
2200.33 Motions, Consolidation, Severance; Other Statements (Renumbered)
2200.34 Failure to File (Renumbered)
SUBPART D PREHEARING PROCEDURES AND DISCOVERY (RENUMBERED)
2200.51 Prehearing Conference (Renumbered)
2200.52 Requests for Admissions (Renumbered)
2200.53 Discovery Depositions; Interrogatories (Renumbered)
2200.54 Failure to Comply with Orders for Discovery (Renumbered)
2200.55 Issuance of Subpoenas; Petitions to Revoke or Modify Subpoenas; Right to Inspect or Copy Data (Renumbered)
SUBPART E HEARINGS (Renumbered)
2200.60 Notice of Hearing (RENUMBERED)
2200.61 Postponement of Hearing (Renumbered)
2200.62 Failure to Appear (Renumbered)
2200.63 Payment of Witness Fees and Mileage; Fees of Persons Taking Depositions (Renumbered)
2200.64 Reporter's and Hearing Officer's Fees (Renumbered)
2200.65 Record of Testimony (Renumbered)
2200.66 Duties and Powers of the Board or Its Hearing Officer (Renumbered)
2200.67 Disqualification of Board Members or a Board Hearing Officer (Renumbered)
2200.68 Examination of Witnesses (Renumbered)
2200.69 Affidavits (Renumbered)
2200.70 Deposition in Lieu of Oral Testimony; Application; Procedures; Form; Rulings (Renumbered)
2200.71 Exhibits (Renumbered)
2200.72 Rules of Evidence (Renumbered)
2200.73 Burden of Proof (Renumbered)
2200.74 Objections (Renumbered)
2200.75 Interlocutory Appeals (Renumbered)
2200.76
SUBPART F POST HEARING PROCEDURES (RENUMBERED)
2200.90 Decisions of the Board or Its Hearing Officer (Renumbered)
2200.91 Discretionary Review; Petitions for; Statements in Opposition (Renumbered)
2200.92 Review by the Board (Renumbered)
2200.93 Briefs Before the Board (Renumbered)
2200.94 Stay of Final Order (Renumbered)
2200.95 Oral Argument Before the Board (Renumbered)
SUBPART G MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS (RENUMBERED)
2200.100 Settlement (Renumbered)
2200.101 Expedited Proceeding (Renumbered)
2200.102 Standards of Conduct (Renumbered)
2200.103 Ex parte Communication (Renumbered)
2200.104
2200.105 Inspection and Reproduction of Documents (Renumbered)
2200.106 Restrictions with Respect to Former Employees (Renumbered)
2200.107 Amendments to Rules (Renumbered)
2200.108 Special Circumstances; Waiver of Rules (Renumbered)
2200.109 Penalties (Renumbered)
2200.110 Offical Seal Vermont Occupational Safety and Health Review Board (Renumbered)
SUBPART M SIMPLIFIED PROCEEDINGS (RENUMBERED)
2200.200 Purpose (Renumbered)
2200.201 Application (Renumbered)
2200.202 Eligibility for Simplified Proceedings (Renumbered)
2200.203 Commencing Simplified Proceedings (Renumbered)
2200.204 Filing of Pleadings (Renumbered)
2200.205 Conferences; Hearings (Renumbered)
2200.206 Reporter Present; Records (Renumbered)
2200.207 Decision of the Board or Its Hearing Officer (Renumbered)
2200.208 Discovery (Renumbered)
2200.209 Interlocutory Appeals Not Permitted (Renumbered)

Appendix 1A Notice of Contest to Citation and Proposed Penalties

Chandler Concrete Corporation

211 Valley Road

Passumpsic, VT 05861

March 1, 1993

Mr. ABC, Manager/VOSHA

Dept. of Labor and Industry

120 State Street

Montpelier, VT 05620-3401

Dear Mr. ABC:

This is to notify you that Chandler Concrete Corporation contests all of the items and penalties alleged in the Citation and Proposed Penalty we received February 20, 1993, which was dated February 18, 1993 (copy attached).

Sincerely,

CHANDLER CONCRETE CORPORATION

N.B. Chandler

President

Appendix 1B Notice of Contest to Proposed Penalties Only

Chandler Concrete Corporation

211 Valley Road

Passumpsic, VT 05861

March 1, 1993

Mr. ABC, Manager/VOSHA

Dept. of Labor and Industry

120 State Street

Montpelier, VT 05620-3401

Dear Mr. ABC:

I wish to contest the Proposed Penalties of § 1, 200 issued February 18, 1993, based on the alleged violations cited during a recent inspection. I believe they are unreasonable for a number of reasons.

Sincerely,

CHANDLER CONCRETE CORPORATION

N.B. Chandler

President

Appendix 1C Notice of Contest by Employee Representative

Metal Workers International Union

589 22nd Street, NW

Washington, D.C. 20006

March 1, 1993

Mr. ABC, Manager/VOSHA

Dept. of Labor and Industry120 State Street

Montpelier, VT 05620-3401

Dear Mr. ABC:

We have been authorized by the employee representative, Local 15 of the Metal Workers International Union, to file this notice of contest of the VOSHA citations issued on February 18, 1993 against the employer, Chandler Concrete Corporation of Passumpsic, Vermont.

The abatement dates of February 27, 1994 for Items No. 1 and No. 3 of the non-serious citation and January 5, 1994 for Item No. 1 of the serious citation are unreasonable.

Furthermore, because of the danger to which employees are exposed due to these violations, we seek a hearing and ruling on our contest as soon as possible. Such urgency is necessary to minimize irreversible damage to the health of the employees.

Sincerely,

W. T. Metz, Director

Safety Department

Appendix 1D Notice of Contest by Employer

(A notice in the following form shall be deemed to comply with Section 2200.7(g):)

Metal Workers International Union

589 22nd Street, NW

Washington, D.C. 20006

Your employer has been cited by the Commissioner of Labor and Industry for violation of the Vermont Occupational Safety and Health Code. The citation has been contested and will be the subject of a hearing before the Vermont Occupational Safety and Health Review Board. Affected employees are entitled to participate in this hearing as parties or intervenors under terms and conditions established by the Review Board in its Rules of Procedure. Notice of intent to participate should be sent to:

Vermont Occupational Safety and Health Review Board

State Administration Building Post Office

133 State Street

Montpelier, Vermont 05633-6701

All papers relevant to this matter may be inspected at:

(Place reasonably convenient to employees, preferably at or near the workplace.)

(Where appropriate, the second sentence of the above notice will be deleted and the following sentence substituted:)

The reasonableness of the period prescribed by the Commissioner of Labor and Industry for abatement of the violation has been contested and will be the subject of a hearing before the Vermont Occupational Safety and Health Review Board.

Appendix 2 Complaint

STATE OF VERMONT

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH REVIEW BOARD

DOCKET NO. 000

COMMISSIONER OF LABOR AND INDUSTRY, Complainant vs. CHANDLER CONCRETE CORPORATION, Respondent

COMPLAINT

JURISDICTION

1. Jurisdictional basis for this complaint is in Chapter 3 of Title 21, Vermont Statutes Annotated (Supp. 1973).

PARTI ES

2. Complainant, Commissioner of Labor and Industry for the State of Vermont, is empowered to enforce the Vermont Occupational Safety and Health Act, Chapter 3, Title 21 V.S.A.
3. Respondent, Chandler Concrete Corporation, a corporation registered in Vermont, is engaged in business as a concrete construction firm. Respondent maintains its home office in Passumpsic, Vermont.

CLAIM

4. Respondent maintained a worksite at 8th and East Avenues, Passumpsic, Vermont. At this site, Respondent, through its employees, was engaged in repairing a concrete wall using supplies and equipment received from sources outside the State of Vermont.
5. Respondent, as a result of the aforesaid activities, is an employer engaged in a business affecting commerce, engages employees and is subject to the requirements of the Act and the regulations issued or promulgated thereunder.
6. An inspection of Respondent's worksite was conducted by a Safety Compliance Officer of the VOSHA Division of the Dept. of Labor and Industry on February 12, 1993.
7. As a result of this inspection, Respondent was issued on February 18, 1993, one Citation and a Proposed Penalty of $ 000.
8. The Citation and Proposed Penalty attached hereto, made a part hereof, and marked Exhibit A, identifies the specific standard violation, the said violation, specifies the abatement date established for the contested item and sets forth the penalties proposed for the said Citation.
9. Respondent employs approximately two employees at its aforesaid worksite, one or both of whom are affected by the above violation.
10. Respondent submitted a Notice of Contest dated February 26, 1993, signed by N.B. Chandler, President, informing Complainant of its intention to contest the citation and penalty. The Notice of Contest was received by the Manager/VOSHA of the Dept. of Labor and Industry on February 28, 1993.
11. The proposed penalties for the contested items, as set forth in Exhibit A, give due consideration to the gravity of the violation, the size of Respondent's business, Respondent's good faith and its history of previous violations.
12. The abatement date for the contested items, as set forth in Exhibit A, has been fixed to secure abatement within the shortest period of time within which Respondent can reasonably be expected to correct said violations, giving due consideration to the gravity of the violation, the number of employees exposed, the availability of needed equipmet, and/or where appropriate, the estimated time required for delivery and installation.

WHEREFORE, cause having been shown, Complainant demands that the VOSHA Review Board affirm the citation and assess a penalty for the aforesiad [aforesaid] violation in an amount not less than that assessed by the VOSHA Division of the Dept. of Labor and Industry.

XYZ

Special Ass't. Attorney General

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I hereby certify that a copy of the foregoing Complaint has been served upon Respondent by mailing a copy of the above document on this 8th day of March 1993, to N.B. Chandler, Chandler Concrete Corporation, 211 Valley Road, Passumpsic, Vermont.

XYZ

Special Ass't. Attorney General

Appendix 3 Answer

STATE OF VERMONT

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH REVIEW BOARD

DOCKET NO. 000

COMMISSIONER OF LABOR AND INDUSTRY, Complainant vs. CHANDLER CONCRETE CORPORATION, Respondent

ANSWER

Respondent, by its President, N.B. Chandler, makes answer to the Complaint filed in the above-captioned matter, as follows, to wit:

1. Admitted.
2. Admitted.
3. Admitted.
4. Admitted.
5. Admitted.
6. Admitted.
7. Admitted.
8. It is admitted. Citation is attached.
9. Respondent admits that two employees were engaged at the worksite mentioned but were not affected by any alleged violations.
10. Admitted.
11. Respondent maintains that no violation in fact existed and that therefore no penalty is reasonable.
12. Respondent is unable to reply to this paragraph as it constitutes a conclusion and a motivation for the penalty which is within the complete control of the Commission.

It is respectfully requested that the Citation be dismissed.

N.B. Chandler, President

Chandler Concrete Corporation

I certify that on March 15, 1993, I sent, by mail, a true copy of this Answer to the VOSHA Division of the Dept. of Labor and Industry, 120 State Street, Montpelier, Vermont 05620-3401.

N.B. Chandler, President

Chandler Concrete Corproation [Corporation]

Appendix 4 Notice of Decision

STATE OF VERMONT

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH REVIEW BOARD

Commissioner of Labor and Industry vs.

Docket No. RB.

1. Enclosed herewith is my decision in the above-entitled case. It will be filed on ...., 1994, and will become a final order of the Board pursuant to 21 V.S.A. Section 226(d) on , 1994, unless a member of the Board directs that it be reviewed. Parties or intervenors will not receive any further communication from the Board unless it is directed for review (see Paragraph 4 below).
2. You may petition for review of this decision by the Board. An original and (3) copies of such a petition must be submitted in accordance with Section 2200.91a of the Board's Rules of Procedure. In order to assure careful consideration thereof, it should be sent to me so that it can be incorporated with my decision and filed with it on , 1994, Petitions will be accepted after that filing date, but there is no guarantee that there will be sufficient time to fully consider them. The final order date is statutory and cannot be extended under any circumstances.
3. Petitions for review submitted prior to the above-noted filing date should be sent to me. Those submitted after the filing date should be mailed to the VOSHA Review Board at the following address: State Administration Building Post Office, 133 State Street, Montpelier, Vermont 05633-6701.
4. Should review be granted by a member of the Board, each party or intervenor to this case will be notified and each will be given an opportunity to submit a brief to the Board, prior to its final disposition of the case.
5. It would be appreciated if you would execute the enclosed postcard and mail it at once so that your present intention on seeking review of this decision may be known. It does not bind you in any way, but is used only to project future workload.

Dated:

Appendix 5 Petition for Discretionary Review

STATE OF VERMONT

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH REVIEW BOARD

DOCKET NO. 000

COMMISSIONER OF LABOR AND INDUSTRY, Complainant vs. CHANDLER CONCRETE CORPORATION, Respondent

PETITION FOR DISCRETIONARY REVIEW

Respondent, Chandler Concrete Corporation, in disagreement with the Decision and Order of the hearing officer in the above matter, hereby submits this Petition for Discretionary Review pursuant to Section 2200.91 of the VOSHA Review Board's Rules of Procedure.

STATEMENT OF PORTIONS OF THE DECISION AND ORDER TO WHICH EXCEPTION IS TAKEN

Chandler Concrete Corporation takes exception to the hearing officer's finding on page 6 of the Decision, that the concrete wall collapsed due to failure to take proper safety precautions.

STATEMENT OF REASONS FOR WHICH EXCEPTIONS ARE TAKEN

It is the position of the Chandler Concrete Corporation that the violation was indeed proven not to be the fault of the Respondent by the evidence presented at the hearing and by statements made by expert witnesses. See pages 101-132 of the record.

For the reasons set forth above, the Respondent requests that this case be directed for review.

Respectfully submitted,

N.B. Chandler, President

Chandler Concrete Corporation

March 30, 1993

Appendix 6A Order Granting Request for Discretionary Review

STATE OF VERMONT

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH REVIEW BOARD

DOCKET NO. 000

COMMISSIONER OF LABOR AND INDUSTRY, Complainant vs. CHANDLER CONCRETE CORPORATION, Respondent

ORDER GRANTING REQUEST FOR DISCRETIONARY REVIEW

Pursuant to Section 2200.92 of the VOSHA Review Board's Rules of Procedure (hereinafter "The Rules"), the petition for discretionary review filed by the (Complainant/Respondent) is granted. The issues raised by the petition, a copy of which is attached, include:

Whether the Hearing Officer erred in concluding that the alleged failure to comply with the standard 1926.451 (a)(8) was a violation of Section 224 of the Act.

Briefs shall be submitted by the parties or intervenors pursuant to the provisions of Section 2200.93(b) of The Rules.

(Optional) The Board hereby agrees to allow oral argument and will advise all parties or intervenors of the date, hour, place, time allotted and scope of such argument after all briefs have been filed, but no less than 10 days prior to the date of argument.

Dated at Montpelier, Vermont this ... day of ...., 199 ...

XYZ

Chair of the Board

Appendix 6B Order Denying Request for Discretionary Review

STATE OF VERMONT

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH REVIEW BOARD

DOCKET NO. 000

COMMISSIONER OF LABOR AND INDUSTRY, Complainant vs. CHANDLER CONCRETE CORPORATION, Respondent

ORDER DENYING REQUEST FOR DISCRETIONARY REVIEW

The petition for discretionary review filed by (Complainant/Respondent) on , 19 . is hereby denied. The Review Board has determined that not enough information was presented in the petition that would affect the Hearing Officer's decision. The Board affirms that the evidence presented to the Hearing Officer supports the findings in conclusions of the Hearing Officer and affirms that decision as written.

Therefore, the decision of the Hearing Officer in this matter dated , 19 . becomes a final order of the Board, as of the date set forth below.

The penalty assessed in the amount of ... dollars should be sent directly to the VOSHA Administration, Department of Labor and Industry, 120 State Street, Montpelier, Vermont 05620-3401, within the next 30 days.

Pursuant to 21 VSA Section 227(a), any person adversely affected or aggrieved by an order of the Board may file an appeal in any Superior Court for the county in which the violation occurred or where their principal office is located, by sending a written petition within 60 days following the issuance of this order and asking that it be set aside or modified. The cost of having a transcript prepared for such an appeal shall be paid by the party or intervenor filing the appeal.

Dated at Montpelier, Vermont this day of , 199

XYZ

Chair of the Board

Glossary

Pleadings

These are the documents in which the parties or intervenors set out their allegations or defenses. The most common type of pleadings are the Complaint and Answer.

Pleadings are prohibited in simplified proceedings.

Complaint and Answer

Under conventional procedures, after an employer files its notice of contest to a citation, the Commissioner of Labor and Industry files a "Complaint" with the Board that sets forth in detail the nature of the allegations against the employer.

The employer must respond to the complaint by filing an "Answer." In the answer, the employer must either admit, deny or express lack of knowledge of the allegations contained in the complaint.

The employer should also assert any defenses relevant to the citation.

The Board has eliminated these documents for cases under simplified proceedings.

Discovery

This is a procedure that enables a party or intervenor to obtain information necessary to its case, but in the possession of another party, intervenor or witness. Common discovery techniques include: interrogatories (written questions), depositions (oral statements under oath), production of documents or things, requests for admissions, etc.

Interlocutory Appeals

These are the appeals by a party or intervenor taken from rulings by the hearing officer made either before or during the hearing. The hearing officer's ruling is the type that does not dispose of the case, but may generally affect a party or intervenor's rights and obligations.

Interlocutory appeals are prohibited in simplified proceedings. However, the ruling in question can be appealed to the Board after the hearing officer issues a final decision in the case.

Motions

A motion is an application made to a hearing officer to obtain an order directing some act to be done in favor of the person making the motion.

21 V.S.A. § 230

13-036 Code Vt. R. 13-140-036-X

EFFECTIVE DATE: August 29, 1994 Secretary of State Rule Log # 94-34
AMENDED: April 2007 (to remove duplicate rule 24 050 002)
February 2019 (renumbered to 24 050 002)