Whistleblower Protection

Employers are not allowed to discriminate against an employee who questions if his or her rights are being met. OSHA administers more than twenty whistleblower protection laws, including Section 11(c) of the OSH Act, which prohibits retaliation against employees who complain about unsafe or unhealthful conditions or exercise other rights under the Act.

OSHA's whistleblower protection laws include rights to the following:

• Worker participation in safety and health activities
• Job security when reporting a work-related injury, illness, or fatality
• Job security when reporting a violation of OSHA statutes

If an employer retaliates against an employee for exercising their rights, the employee has 30 days to file a complaint with OSHA. Employees may file a whistleblower complaint in the following ways:

• Online. Employees may complete the Online Whistleblower Complaint Form to submit their complaint. Complaints received online from workers located in states with OSHA-approved State Plans will be forwarded to the appropriate State Plan for response.
• Fax/Mail. Employees may fax or mail a letter describing their complaint or complete and mail the Online Whistleblower Complaint Form to your local OSHA Regional or Area Office, making sure that their correspondence includes their name, address, and telephone or fax number so they can be contacted for follow-up.
• Telephone. Employees may call their local OSHA Regional or Area Office. OSHA staff can discuss the complaint and answer questions.

To learn more about Focus Four Safety visit our Construction Focus Four Safety Online Training web page.