{"id":357934,"date":"2016-04-04T10:45:32","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:45:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/employment\/workplace-safety\/osha-whistleblower-protection.html"},"modified":"2024-04-09T14:51:25","modified_gmt":"2024-04-09T19:51:25","slug":"osha-whistleblower-protection","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/employment\/workplace-safety\/osha-whistleblower-protection.html","title":{"rendered":"How Does OSHA Offer Whistleblower Protection?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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How Does OSHA Offer Whistleblower Protection?<\/h1>\n
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\n By Lisa Burden, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Melissa Bender, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

You tell your manager that you suspect asbestos flakes are falling from the bathroom ceiling in your building. But they shrug off your complaint. Weeks later, you tell your manager’s superior about the problem, but they make it clear they’re not interested in "making a big deal" out of it.<\/p>\r\n

You file a safety and health complaint<\/a> with the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). This makes you a whistleblower<\/a>. The Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act) requires employers to provide employees with safe working conditions. In an apparent act of retaliation, your manager says you’re being transferred to another office halfway across the country.<\/p>\r\n

In another scenario, you’re an employee at a large, publicly traded company. You discover significant financial misconduct. The company has been artificially inflating its stock price. If true, this information indicates a violation of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. You report your evidence to the appropriate authorities. Shortly after, you receive several negative performance evaluations and a demotion.<\/p>\r\n

Thankfully, OSHA whistleblower protections<\/a> are on your side. Employers are not allowed to take "unfavorable personnel actions" (i.e., retaliate) against you.<\/p>\r\n

To assert your rights, it’s important to understand how OSHA whistleblower protections work, how to file a claim, the time limits for filing a complaint, and other important matters. Below is a summary of these protections.<\/p>\r\n

OSHA Whistleblower Protection at a Glance<\/h2>\r\n

A whistleblower is a person who exposes information or activities within a private, public, or government organization that are illegal, unethical, or harmful to public safety and interest. If you’re considering \u201cblowing the whistle," you might be hesitant to come forward because you fear that doing so will cause you to lose your job. Whistleblower laws protect you from adverse personnel actions.<\/p>\r\n

Whistleblower laws exist on a local, state, and federal level. OSHA, a division of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), plays a significant role in safeguarding whistleblowers. OSHA’s Whistleblower Protection Program enacts the anti-retaliation provisions of over 20 federal laws<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n

OSHA protects employees who report misconduct covering a wide range of areas, including:<\/p>\r\n