Industrial safety is crucially important for workers across all sectors of American industry. Unfortunately, some employers fail to maintain safe workplaces, putting their employees at great risk. Even worse, some less-than-reputable employers attempt to retaliate against workers who identify and report unsafe conditions.
OSHA’s Whistleblower Protection Program helps protect workers who raise the alarm when something is amiss on the job site. There are currently 22 federal whistleblower laws enforced by OSHA, each providing particular protections to workers in specific industries.
Whistleblower protections extend beyond simply ensuring that the employee keeps his or her job after reporting a violation. Employees are also protected from having their hours cut, being transferred to a less-desirable position, or being denied a promotion.
If you have suffered retaliation after reporting OSHA violations at your place of employment, you can file a complaint online at www.osha.gov/whistleblower/WBComplaint.html.