Whistleblowing Protection

OSHA’s Whistleblower Protection Program enforces the whistleblower provisions of more than twenty whistleblower statutes protecting employees who report violations of various workplace safety, airline, commercial motor carrier, consumer product, environmental, financial reform, food safety, health insurance reform, motor vehicle safety, nuclear, pipeline, public transportation agency, railroad, maritime, and securities laws. Rights afforded by these whistleblower acts include, but are not limited to, worker participation in safety and health activities, reporting a work related injury, illness or fatality, or reporting a violation of the statutes. Protection from discrimination means that an employer cannot retaliate by taking adverse action against workers, such as:

◾Firing or laying off

◾Blacklisting

◾Demoting

◾Denying overtime or promotion

◾Disciplining

◾Denial of benefits

◾Failure to hire or rehire

◾Intimidation

◾Making threats

◾Reassignment affecting prospects for promotion

◾Reducing pay or hours

---