George Harms Constr v. Secretary Labor

# George Harms Construction Co. v. Secretary of Labor **What Happened** George Harms Construction Company received safety violations from OSHA (the federal workplace safety agency). The company failed to file the required paperwork to challenge these violations within the deadline. OSHA's review board dismissed the case because of this missed deadline, and the company appealed. **What the Court Decided** The Third Circuit Court of Appeals sided with George Harms Construction. The court found that the company had a valid reason for missing the deadline—what the law calls "excusable neglect." Because of this, the court canceled OSHA's dismissal and sent the case back for a proper hearing where the construction company could actually contest the safety citations. **Why This Matters for Workers** This ruling protects worker safety by ensuring that companies get fair hearings about safety violations rather than having cases dismissed on technicalities. While the decision helped the employer meet a deadline, it ultimately required OSHA to properly examine the safety violations. This means workplace safety standards are reviewed on their actual merits, keeping workers safer.