February 21, 2014. As part of the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) increased emphasis on enforcement, all employers should know that whistleblower complaints have been on the rise in recent years — as well as the rewards and protections provided to employees who act as whistleblowers. The OSHA Act not only requires employers to comply with a wide variety of safety and health standards, but it also prohibits employers from retaliating against employees for exercising their rights under Section 11(c). These rights include filing an OSHA complaint, participating in an inspection or talking to an inspector, seeking access to employer exposure and injury records, and raising a safety or health complaint with the employer. The anti-retaliation provision applies to all employers, including those that don't think of their business as typically landing on OSHA's inspection radar.
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