U.S. Supreme Court Rejects Challenge to OSHA Authority

The U.S. Supreme Court declined on Tuesday to hear a case brought by Allstates Refractory Contractors, an Ohio company challenging the authority of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The company argued that OSHA, under a 1970 federal law, was given overly broad powers to set workplace safety standards, which it claimed violated the constitutional separation of powers. Specifically, Allstates contended that such authority should rest solely with Congress, not executive branch agencies like OSHA.

The Supreme Court’s decision not to hear the case means that the lower court’s ruling stands. The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals had previously upheld the constitutionality of OSHA’s authority, citing the legal principle that allows Congress to delegate regulatory power to agencies as long as there is a clear and manageable standard guiding their actions. Justice Neil Gorsuch indicated his willingness to hear the case, while Justice Clarence Thomas dissented from the decision not to take it up, expressing concerns about the extent of regulatory authority being granted to agencies like OSHA. Allstates Refractory Contractors argued that OSHA’s enforcement of safety standards are burdensome and arbitrary, despite the company’s efforts to maintain workplace safety independently.

The Supreme Court’s recent actions reflect ongoing debates over the balance of regulatory authority between federal agencies and Congress, particularly in interpreting laws and setting standards that affect businesses and workplace safety across industries.