(a) General application. These rules of practice are generally applicable to adjudicatory proceedings before the Office of Administrative Law Judges, United States Department of Labor. Such proceedings shall be conducted expeditiously and the parties shall make every effort at each stage of a proceeding to avoid delay. To the extent that these rules may be inconsistent with a rule of special application as provided by statute, executive order, or regulation, the latter is controlling. The Rules of Civil Procedure for the District Courts of the United States shall be applied in any situation not provided for or controlled by these rules, or by any statute, executive order or regulation.
(b) Waiver, modification, or suspension. Upon notice to all parties, the administrative law judge may, with respect to matters pending before him or her, modify or waive any rule herein upon a determination that no party will be prejudiced and that the ends of justice will be served thereby. These rules may, from time to time, be suspended, modified or revoked in whole or part.