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Administrative Agencies
Chapter 4
Copyright © 2007 Thomson Delmar Learning
Objectives
• Identify executive-branch agencies.
• Explain that administrative agencies exist at the federal, state, and local levels.
• Explain how agencies are created and the purpose of enabling acts.
Copyright © 2007 Thomson Delmar Learning
• Describe separation of powers concerns and methods created by administrative agencies.
• Explain the jurisdiction of OSHA and OSHA’s three primary activities.
Objectives
Copyright © 2007 Thomson Delmar Learning
• Define approved plan state and non-approved plan state.
• Explain why the term “OSHA state” is ambiguous.
• Explain the function of OSHRC.
• Explain application of OSHA to volunteer and part-time firefighters.
Objectives
Copyright © 2007 Thomson Delmar Learning
Administrative Agencies
• Exist within the executive branch
• Fill a vital role in our government– Create laws, called regulations– Investigate and enforce the law– Act as tribunals to hear cases
Copyright © 2007 Thomson Delmar Learning
Administrative Agencies
• Exist at the federal, state, and local levels
• Created by legislative branch through an enabling act– Specifies purpose and authority of agency– May include a grant or delegation of powers
Copyright © 2007 Thomson Delmar Learning
Role of Administrative Agencies
• Developing regulations
• Rulemaking
• Investigations
• Enforcement of regulations
• Hearings and adjudication
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Administrative Lawmaking
• Agency must have authority from the legislature to create regulations
• Regulations must be consistent with statutes and enabling act
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Developing Regulations
• Regulations must be constitutional
• Regulations must be issued in accordance with the agency’s rules
• Must allow public comment on regulations
• Proposed federal regulations are published in Federal Register
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Investigations
• Combined with authority to cite and enforce (OSHA)
• May be purely to investigate (NIOSH)
• Agency may be granted power to– Subpoena– Obtain administrative search warrants
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Enforcement
• Power to start an administrative action
• Commenced by filing a complaint by or with the agency itself
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Hearings
• Some agencies conduct trial-like tribunals
• Presided over by an administrative law judge or hearing officer
• Agency enforcing the laws (OSHA) cannot conduct the hearing
– OSHRC conducts hearings for OSHA issues
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Control of Administrative Agencies
• Potential for abuse is present
• Agencies exercise powers of all three branches
• Risks violating separation of powers
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Control of Administrative Agencies
• Limits must be placed on agency power
• Controls– Political process– Judicial review– Public accountability laws
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Control via Political Process
• President (executive) controls agencies– Appoints the agency’s director
• Congress control– Legislation to curb agency power– Cut agency funding
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Control via Judicial Review
• Available for most agency actions– Scope of review may vary
• Constitutional requirement– Federal courts have right to interpret and determine
validity of acts of Congress
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Judicial Review
• Standing– Party seeking to challenge an agency action is
somehow adversely affected or aggrieved by that action
• Exhaustion of remedies– Available to seek relief through the administrative
remedy first
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Public Accountability Laws
• Mandate public access to government records and decisions
• Provide controls over agencies
• Similar laws on state and federal level– Open records laws/freedom of information– Open meetings/sunshine laws
Copyright © 2007 Thomson Delmar Learning
OSHA
• Occupational Safety and Health Administration• Agency within Department of Labor
– Protects worker health and safety• Enabling legislation
– OSH Act of 1970
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OSHA Compliance
• Two basic duties for employers
1. Comply with all applicable OSHA regulations
2. Maintain a workplace that is free from recognized hazards
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General Duty Clause
• Requires an employer to:– Take affirmative steps to prevent injuries and
illnesses to workers in the absence of a specific OSHA regulation
– Take extra steps to recognize hazards
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General Duty Clause
• Wide safety standards for industry– Show a hazard has been recognized in a particular
industry– Employers who fail to follow industrywide safety
standards risk violating the general duty clause
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OSHA Inspections
• OSHA may inspect any place of employment at any reasonable time
• Inspection may be initiated by– A complaint– An accident– As part of safety program
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OSHA and the NFPA Standards
• NFPA standards are recognized as industrywide health and safety standards
• Failure to comply with an NFPA standard can be the basis for a general duty clause violation
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OSHA Violations and Sanctions
• Failure to comply with OSHA or general duty clause can result in citation– Fines and penalties
• If deemed to be willful can be prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office as criminal offenses
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OSHRC
• Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission– Administrative tribunal
• Separate from OSHA– Hears only OSHA citations
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Jurisdiction and the Term “OSHA State”
• “OSHA state” refers to OSH Act– Encourages states to take over regulations
• Better terms– Approved plan OSHA state– Non-approved plan OSHA state
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OSHA and Firefighters
• OSHA works through states to try to impact public employees– Financial assistance for OSHA enforcement
• Many states have adopted OSHA standards for public sector employers
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Hazardous Materials
• Governed by federal and state laws
• Involve different federal and state agencies
• OSHA standards– HAZCOMM– HAZWOPER
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Summary
• Administrative agencies
• Enabling acts
• Authority
• Controls over agencies
• OSHA