Justia Federal District Court Opinions

Petitioner Regional Scaffolding & Hoisting Co., Inc., seeks review of a final order of the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. Petitioner was cited for violating a regulation during erection of a personnel hoist at a construction site. The only issue on appeal is whether the regulation applies during the installation of hoists. We find that it does.

The regulation, 29 C.F.R. Sec. 1926.552(c)(8) (1987), provides that personnel hoist "[d]oors or gates shall be provided with electric contacts which do not allow movement of the hoist when door or gate is open." Petitioner was cited for disabling the safety mechanism on a hoist to carry a tie beam that would not fit in the elevator with the door closed. The beam was to be used to attach the top of the hoist to the building.

We must affirm the Commission's interpretation of the regulation unless it is unreasonable and inconsistent with the law. Pratt & Whitney Aircraft v. Donovan, 715 F.2d 57, 61 (2d Cir.1983); General Elec. Co. v. Occupational Safety and Health Review Comm'n, 583 F.2d 61, 64 (2d Cir.1978). Petitioner argues that the regulation does not apply during the installation of hoists. We find, however, that the plain language of the regulation indicates that it is not limited to any particular phase of construction. We therefore deny the petition to review.