INDUSTRIAL BOARD
The Industrial Board, Department of Labor and
Industry, is composed of five members: The Secre-
tary of Labor and Industry, who is the chairman; an
employer of labor; a wage earner; a representative
of women; and a representative of the public. All
are appointed by the Governor. The Board meets at
least once a month, The work of the Board is man-
aged by a secretary in the Harrisburg office of the
Department.
The Industrial Board has three major functions: to approve or dis-
approve regulations for earrying into effect the provisions of all the
laws entrusted to the Department for enforcement; to receive and act
upon petitions when exceptions are taken to the regulations; and to
conduct investigations.
The Board has the responsibility of approving all rules and regula-
tions administered by the Department. These are usually received in
tentative form from the Bureau of Industrial Standards. but the
Board may also propose regulations for the Depart.
ment to enforce as a result of investigations.
When new or revised regulations are contem-
plated, public hearings are held throughout the
State in localities where the majority of those inter-
ested in the proposed regulations may attend. Ef-
fort is made to give the announcement of these hear-
ings the greatest publicity. Department bulletins,
press associations, and special mailing lists are the
principal mediums used by the Board for this pur-
pose.
Hearings are held so that all possible constructive
criticism may be obtained. Written suggestions are
also invited from interested persons who are unable to attend the hear-
ings. At the conclusion of the hearings, the suggestions and eriticisms
which have been received are analyzed, and the tentative rules or regu-
lations revised if necessary. The next steps are final approval by the
Board and promulgation by the Department.
In the administration of laws and regulations, it often becomes neces-
sary that the intent of various provisions or requirements be empha-
sized. For this reason the Industrial Board is fre-
quently called upon to render interpretation of such
laws and regulations, either upon request of indus-
try, of the public, or of any Bureau within the De-
partment.
Included in this first activity of the Industrial
Board is another function. Numerous laws and
regulations enforced by the Department require that
sertain protective devices be provided and that they
be of approved types. The Board receives requests
for approval of such devices, investigates their
merits, and either approves or disapproves them.
Where approval is given, a certificate indicating such
A. L. Linderman
Board Member
