Whistleblower protection - Articles

OSHA to hold virtual meeting to solicit public input on whistleblower program

September 29, 2022

A virtual meeting will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2022, to solicit public comments and suggestions related to OSHA’s Whistleblower Protection Program.

OSHA retaliation complaints rising – Have you checked your anti-retaliation program lately?

Jonathan H. Schaefer

October 14, 2021

Most workers in the United States are protected from retaliation for raising workplace health and safety concerns and for reporting work-related injuries or illnesses. While these protections have been in place for decades, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a record number of complaints from covered employees claiming retaliation by their employer. Since

Anti-retaliation protection in the workplace

Anti-retaliation policies don’t always stop bullying

Shut down for speaking up

Edward Stern

May 11, 2018

People will not risk their jobs to speak up about problems. They cannot afford it. That is reality. It is the very reason why the Occupational Safety and Health Act has protection for whistleblowers. It is also the reason for the Federal Whistleblower Protection Act (WPA).

Pilot fired after reporting safety concerns is back on the job

April 2, 2018

A commercial pilot who lost his job after complaining about violations of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations will be reinstated, under an order from OSHA. Massachusetts-based Jet Logistics Inc. (JLI) and New England Life Flight Inc. - doing business as Boston MedFlight (BMF) – must also pay the pilot $133,616.09 in back wages and interest; $100,000 in compensatory damages; and reasonable attorney fees.

Bill to increase OSH protections for public workers introduced - again

March 30, 2018

A group of U.S. senators are hoping that the 16th attempt will be the charm for legislation that would include more workers in federally mandated protections, increase OSHA civil penalties and toughen criminal penalties for unsafe employers.

A ProPublica / Santa Fe New Mexican article

Trump’s Labor Department eviscerates workplace safety panels

Rebecca Moss

March 29, 2018

Five expert committees advised the federal government on ways to improve workplace safety and enhance whistleblower protections. Under President Donald Trump, their work has stopped and their recommendations are now stalled.

Safety manager who cooperated with OSHA gets fired

January 12, 2017

The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a lawsuit against Jasper Roofing Contractors Inc. and its owner/chief executive officer, Brian Wedding, for terminating their safety manager after he cooperated with a safety and health inspection by OSHA. The suit results from an investigation by OSHA's Whistleblower Protection Program.

OSHA exposé

Federal agency that protects whistleblowers accused of retaliating against one of its own

Stuart Silverstein

April 14, 2016

For nearly five years, Darrell Whitman was a federal investigator who probed whistleblowers’ complaints about being fired or otherwise punished for exposing alleged corporate misconduct.

“We are a small agency with a very large mission”

OSHA’s Barab testifies before Congress

February 18, 2016

Chairman Lankford, Ranking Member Heitkamp and distinguished Members of the Subcommittee, thank you for inviting me here today. As Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), I am honored to testify before you about how the Department works with regulated entities and other partners to assure the health, safety and dignity of America's workers.

School employee fired after raising concerns about asbestos removal

OSHA sues district for whistleblower retaliation

March 6, 2015

OSHA has filed suit against the Idaho Falls School District, after an employee was fired for questioning whether the timeline of a construction project at a school allowed for the safe removal of asbestos.