Whistleblowers - Articles - Page 3

Manager fired for reporting e-cigarette environmental concerns will get $110K

April 23, 2018

E-cigarettes are at the heart of a recent whistleblower retaliation case, but this time, the devices’ effects on environmental health rather than human health was at issue. OSHA has ordered Mr. Good Vape LLC of Chino, California, to reinstate a former manager and pay him $110,000 in compensation after he was fired for claiming the company’s production of flavored liquids for e-cigarette vapor inhalers violated federal environmental law.

Flight attendant fired over safety concerns

April 4, 2018

On July 15, 2015, a passenger aboard a flight scheduled to leave from John F. Kennedy International Airport in Boston mentioned a perceived safety violation to a flight attendant. In response, the attendant exited the plane onto the jet way to contact a supervisor for guidance on addressing the safety concern.

A Confined Space blog post

CSB withdraws Deepwater Horizon worker participation recommendations

Jordan Barab

November 17, 2017

In a 3-1 vote, the Chemical Safety Board (CSB) voted yesterday to withdraw recommendations calling for the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) to strengthen worker participation requirements and to take measures to prohibit retaliation against workers who use their rights. Chair Vanessa Sutherland, joined by members Manny Ehrlich and Kristen Kulinowski voted to rescind the recommendations despite a spirited defense by Board member Rick Engler who voted to keep the recommendations.

OSHA issues final rule protecting seamen from retaliation

September 20, 2016

OSHA has published a final rule at that establishes procedures and time frames for handling retaliation complaints under the Seaman's Protection Act (SPA). The Act protects seamen from retaliation for engaging in certain protected activity, such as providing information to the government about violations of maritime safety laws or regulations.

Formaldehyde firing results in big payoff for salon employee

December 7, 2015

A salon manager who was fired after warning her colleagues about an occupational health hazard will get $165,000 from the salon, in a settlement with the U.S. Labor Dept.

New rules in place for railroad, transport retaliation

November 10, 2015

OSHA has issued a final rule establishing procedures and time frames for handling employee retaliation complaints under the National Transit Systems Security Act and the Federal Railroad Safety Act. The final rule was effective yesterday, Nov. 9, 2015.

OSHA’s Barab at VPPPA: We have challenges

September 11, 2015

Every one of you is held up to represent an elite corps of businesses that really get the value of a safety culture and are leading the way in promoting it. It's not enough to be good. VPP members must be exceptional in this regard. The program remains meaningful only so long as it has integrity, and that is, ultimately, a function of quality, not quantity.

Worker fired after reporting hazards to OSHA

July 13, 2015

A John Deere & Co. pipefitter who was fired after reporting several safety violations to OSHA would be reinstated with back pay, under the terms of a lawsuit filed by the agency. On three separate occasions, the worker filed complaints about the company’s Moline, Illinois facility with OSHA, each time resulting in violations against the company.

Weekly news round-up

September 20, 2014

Highlights of the National Safety Council 2014 Congress & Expo, an update on OSHA’s ten most frequently cited violations and good news/bad news for aviation safety were among the EHS-related stories posted on ISHN.com this week.

Workers fired after filing safety complaints with OSHA

OSHA can sell company owner’s car if he doesn’t pay judgement

July 21, 2014

OSHA has entered into an agreement with McKees Rocks Industrial Enterprises Inc. and James T. Lind, company president, resolving a lawsuit alleging a worker was wrongfully terminated for filing an OSHA complaint. OSHA inspected the Pennsylvania industrial park and terminal facility after the worker raised safety concerns.