William E. Brock, United States Secretary of Labor v. Brooks Woolen Company, Inc., and Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission

COFFIN, Circuit Judge.

This petition requires us to decide whether an administrative law judge erred when he invalidated a search warrant and vacated safety citations against the company subjected to the search. For reasons we discuss below, we affirm.

FACTS

Brooks Woolen Co. (Brooks) produces textiles at a plant in Sanford, Maine. On October 3, 1978, a compliance officer for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) received a telephoned complaint from an employee of Brooks alleging unsafe conditions relating to carding machines in the plant. Two weeks later, the compliance…