[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 29, Volume 9]
[Revised as of July 1, 2005]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 29CFR1981.110]

[Page 224-225]
 
                             TITLE 29--LABOR
 
CHAPTER XVII--OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT 
                          OF LABOR (CONTINUED)
 
PART 1981_PROCEDURES FOR THE HANDLING OF DISCRIMINATION COMPLAINTS 
 
                          Subpart B_Litigation
 
Sec. 1981.110  Decision and orders of the Administrative Review Board.

    (a) Any party desiring to seek review, including judicial review, of 
a decision of the administrative law judge, or a named person alleging 
that the complaint was frivolous or brought in bad faith who seeks an 
award of attorney's fees, must file a written petition for review with 
the Administrative Review Board (``the Board''), which has been 
delegated the authority to act for the Secretary and issue final 
decisions under this part. The decision of the administrative law judge 
will become the final order of the Secretary unless, pursuant to this 
section, a petition for review is timely filed with the Board. The 
petition for review must specifically identify the findings, conclusions 
or orders to which exception is taken. Any exception not specifically 
urged ordinarily will be deemed to have been waived by the parties. To 
be effective, a petition must be filed within 10 business days of the 
date of the decision of the administrative law judge. The date of the 
postmark, facsimile transmittal, or e-mail communication will be 
considered to be the date of filing; if the petition is filed in person, 
by hand-delivery or other means, the petition is considered filed upon 
receipt. The petition must be served on all parties and on the Chief 
Administrative Law Judge at the time it is filed with the Board. Copies 
of the petition for review and all briefs must be served on the 
Assistant Secretary, Occupational Safety and

[[Page 225]]

Health Administration, and on the Associate Solicitor, Division of Fair 
Labor Standards, U.S. Department of Labor, Washington, DC 20210.
    (b) If a timely petition for review is filed pursuant to paragraph 
(a) of this section, the decision of the administrative law judge will 
become the final order of the Secretary unless the Board, within 30 days 
of the filing of the petition, issues an order notifying the parties 
that the case has been accepted for review. If a case is accepted for 
review, the decision of the administrative law judge will be inoperative 
unless and until the Board issues an order adopting the decision, except 
that a preliminary order of reinstatement will be effective while review 
is conducted by the Board, unless the Board grants a motion to stay the 
order. The Board will specify the terms under which any briefs are to be 
filed. The Board will review the factual determinations of the 
administrative law judge under the substantial evidence standard.
    (c) The final decision of the Board shall be issued within 90 days 
of the conclusion of the hearing, which will be deemed to be the 
conclusion of all proceedings before the administrative law judge--i.e., 
10 business days after the date of the decision of the administrative 
law judge unless a motion for reconsideration has been filed with the 
administrative law judge in the interim. The decision will be served 
upon all parties and the Chief Administrative Law Judge by mail to the 
last known address. The final decision will also be served on the 
Assistant Secretary, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and 
on the Associate Solicitor, Division of Fair Labor Standards, U.S. 
Department of Labor, Washington, DC 20210, even if the Assistant 
Secretary is not a party.
    (d) If the Board concludes that the party charged has violated the 
law, the final order will order the party charged to take appropriate 
affirmative action to abate the violation, including, where appropriate, 
reinstatement of the complainant to that person's former position, 
together with the compensation (including back pay), terms, conditions, 
and privileges of that employment, and compensatory damages. At the 
request of the complainant, the Board shall assess against the named 
person all costs and expenses (including attorney's and expert witness 
fees) reasonably incurred.
    (e) If the Board determines that the named person has not violated 
the law, an order will be issued denying the complaint. If, upon the 
request of the named person, the Board determines that a complaint was 
frivolous or was brought in bad faith, the Board may award to the named 
person a reasonable attorney's fee, not exceeding $1,000.