N.Y. Work. Comp. Law § 222

§ 222. Technical rules of evidence or procedure not required. The\nchair, the board or the chair's designee, pursuant to section two\nhundred twenty-one of this article, in making an investigation or\ninquiry or conducting a hearing shall not be bound by common law or\nstatutory rules of evidence or by technical or formal rules of\nprocedure, except as provided by this chapter; but may make such\ninvestigation or inquiry or conduct such hearing in such manner as to\nascertain the substantial rights of the parties.\n