Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission
Plain Writing Act Compliance Report
April 11, 2014
I. Senior Agency Official for Plain Writing:
Richard Huberman, Chief of Staff and Legal Counsel to Chairman
Plain Writing Contact:
John Cerveny, Acting Executive Secretary
Contact Information:
II. Explain what specific types of agency communications have you released by making them available in a format that is consistent with the Plain Writing guidelines.
Type of communications of document or posting. List how this is made available to the public |
Who is the intended user and approximate number of potential users |
What has changed by using Plain Writing |
Guide to Review Commission Procedures Available on OSHRC Website |
Employers who may or may not be represented by legal counsel |
The documents are clearer and more self-explanatory |
Guide to Simplified Procedures Available on OSHRC Website |
Employers who may or may not be represented by legal counsel |
|
Employee Guide to Review Commission Procedures Available on OSHRC Website |
Employees who wish to participate in a Commission proceeding or who are contesting a proposed abatement period |
|
The Freedom of Information Act Reference Guide Available on OSHRC Website |
Anyone who is interested in submitting a FOIA request to the Commission |
|
Press Releases Available on OSHRC Website |
Anyone who is interested in Commission news and events |
|
Proposed Information Collection on the Settlement Part program Published in the Federal Register |
Anyone who is interested in commenting on the survey of Settlement Part program participants |
|
Commission Briefing Notices Available on OSHRC Website |
Anyone who is interested in the issues in cases at the Review Commission level |
The documents are clearer and more self-explanatory |
Request for Public Comment on a Review Level Alternative Dispute Resolution Program Published in the Federal Register |
Anyone who is interested in commenting on the creation of a review level alternative dispute resolution program |
|
Commission Subpoenas Issued as necessary by Commission Administrative Law Judges |
Anyone who is requested to testify or provide evidence at Commission hearings |
III. Inform agency staff of Plain Writing Act’s requirements:
On June 24, 2011, the Senior Agency Official for Plain Writing informed all Commission personnel by e-mail of the Plain Writing Act and its requirements. The email included links to various plain writing resources, including material posted on the Commission’s intranet.
IV. Training
Since the last Plain Writing Act Compliance Report was published on April 12, 2013, the Review Commission provided the following training:
Type of Training |
Employees trained |
Date |
Webinars and Online training provided by plainlanguage.gov and hosted on the Commission’s intranet. |
Available to all Commission employees |
Ongoing |
Judicial Writing |
One employee |
July 8-11, 2013 |
Technical Writing |
One employee |
September 4-6, 2013 |
Legal and Judicial Writing Workshop |
All Commission attorneys and legal support staff |
September 19, 2013 |
V. Ongoing compliance/sustaining change
The Commission will stay in compliance with the Act by incorporating plain language considerations in all documents that the Commission issues to the public. Most recently, the agency has modified the subpoenas issued by its Administrative Law Judges to make the forms simpler and more self-explanatory.
VI. Agency’s plain writing website
a. Website address: http://www.oshrc.gov/open/plain_writing.html
b. Implementation of the Act:
The Commission will be using plain writing in any updates to documents most often read by the general public, such as our Guide to Review Commission Procedures, Guide to Simplified Proceedings, Employee Guide to Review Commission Procedures, The Freedom of Information Act Reference Guide, Commission announcements and notices.
c. Link to Compliance reports: Compliance reports will be available on the Commission’s Plain Writing website: (http://www.oshrc.gov/open/plain_writing.html).
d. More information on Plain Writing may be obtained at the Plain Language website (http://www.plainlanguage.gov).
VII. Customer Satisfaction Evaluation after Experiencing Plain Writing Communications
The Commission set up an e-mail address (plain@oshrc.gov) through which the public may contact us to let us know if they have trouble understanding our documents or the pages on our website. The Commission will monitor that e-mail address and will take appropriate action on all correspondence received.