The objective of the Labor and Industrial Relations Appeals Board
(“Board”) is to assure equitable treatment of individuals through the
prompt, just and inexpensive determination of appeals from decisions of
the Director of Labor and Industrial Relations (“Director”) relating to
certain programs, primarily Workers’ Compensation, and Boiler and
Elevator Safety.
The Board’s primary activity is to
conduct contested case hearings pursuant to the Hawaii Administrative
Procedures Act, Chapter 91, Hawaii Revised Statutes. All workers’
compensation appeals are from decisions rendered by the Director
through the Disability Compensation Division. Boiler and elevator
safety appeals are from citations issued by the Director through the
Hawaii Occupational Safety and Health Division against employers for
violations of the Boiler and Elevator Safety law. De novo hearings are
conducted for these appeals. To accomplish its primary mission, the
Board schedules pretrial conferences and settlement conferences for
each case prior to conducting a trial. Hearings on pretrial motions are
also a normal event. Written decisions and orders are issued following
trial or a hearing on a motion. The Board’s work is evenly spread
throughout the year.
