Chapter 3.3. Occupational Safety and Health Appeals Board

Article 6. Employers' Cost Recovery

§397. Petition for Costs Procedures.

(a) Any employer who appeals a citation resulting from an inspection or investigation conducted on or after January 1, 1980, issued by the Division for violation of an occupational safety and health standard, rule, order, or regulation established pursuant to Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 140) of Division 1 of the Labor Code may file a petition for costs together with a memorandum of items of cost with the Appeals Board to claim reasonable costs, not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000) in the aggregate per citation if either the employer prevails in the appeal or the citation is withdrawn, and the employer alleges that the issuance of the citation was the result of arbitrary or capricious action or conduct by the Division. The burden of proof shall be on the employer to establish by a preponderance of the evidence that the issuance of the citation was the result of arbitrary or capricious action or conduct by the Division.

(b) The procedures are:

(1) If an employer who appeals a citation prevails in the appeal of the citation or the citation is withdrawn and the employer wishes to claim reimbursement for reasonable costs alleging that the issuance of the citation was the result of arbitrary or capricious action or conduct by the Division, the employer shall file a petition for costs together with a memorandum of items of cost with the Appeals Board. The petition must be filed not more than 60 days after the filing of a final decision granting the Division's motion or petition to withdraw the citation, or a final decision granting the appeal. A petition for costs shall be deemed filed on the date it is delivered or mailed to the Appeals Board in Sacramento, California. A petition for costs shall set forth specifically and in full detail the grounds upon which the employer's claim is made and identify the particular item or items of the citation for which the petition for costs is being filed. A petition for costs shall be verified upon oath in the manner required for verified pleadings in courts of record.

(2) Upon receipt of a petition for costs, the Appeals Board shall enter a petition number on the petition and serve a copy on the Division. The Division shall have 30 days from the service of a petition for costs to file a response with the Appeals Board.

(3) The Appeals Board shall review the petition for costs, and the response, if any, and shall by order or notice exercise one of the following three options:

(A) The petition for costs may be summarily dismissed if no grounds are set forth or there are insufficient facts alleged to establish that the citation was issued as a result of arbitrary or capricious action or conduct by the Division. The employer may file a petition for reconsideration of the cost order denying the petition for costs within 30 days after issuance of a cost order. Petitions for reconsideration and answers, if any, shall be in conformity with Article 5 of these rules, or

(B) The petition for costs may be granted by a cost order and costs may be awarded if from a review of the petition for costs and the response submitted, if any, it is established that the Division issued a citation as the result of arbitrary or capricious action or conduct. The Division and the employer shall have the right to file a petition for reconsideration of the cost order granting the petition for costs within 30 days after service of such an order. Petitions for reconsideration and answers, if any, shall be in conformity with Article 5 of these rules, or

(C) If a review of the petition for costs and response, if any, establishes that a factual dispute exists, the matter shall be set for hearing. Parties shall receive not less than 15 days notice of hearing.

(4) If a hearing is ordered, the Division and employer shall have their cases prepared, discovery completed and be ready to proceed at the time of hearing. Ten calendar days before the time of hearing, an employer may file with the Appeals Board and the Division a supplemental memorandum of costs setting forth necessary disbursements claimed. When a party desires to present any point which requires a consideration of a prior hearing record, the party shall, prior to the hearing, request and pay the cost of preparing the prior hearing record.

(5) A hearing shall be conducted in accord with these rules.

(6) A cost decision shall be filed as provided in Section 385. A copy of the cost decision with a summary of the evidence received and relied upon and the reasons or grounds upon which the decision was made shall be mailed or served on each party or his representative together with a statement informing the parties of the right to petition the Appeals Board for reconsideration of the cost decision within 30 days after the service of the cost decision. Petitions for reconsideration and answers, if any, shall be in conformity with Article 5 of these rules.

NOTE: Authority cited: Section 148.7, Labor Code. Reference: Section 149.5, Labor Code.

HISTORY

1. Amendment of subsection (b) filed 6-5-80; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 80, No. 23).

2. Amendment of subsection (b) filed 2-1-84; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 84, No. 5).

3. Amendment of subsection (b)(3) and Note filed 10-30-92; operative 11-30-92 (Register 92, No. 44).

Appendix A and Appendix B


NOTE Authority cited: Sections 148.7 and 149.5, Labor Code. Reference: Sections 148.7 and 149.5, Labor Code.