OSHA Asks for Input on Railroad, Trucking Whistleblower Laws

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) held a meeting June 12 in Washington, D.C. to get feedback from stakeholders in the trucking and railroad industries about whistleblower laws affecting their fields.

The agency was specifically searching for suggestions about how it can offer better “whistleblower customer service” and the types of assistance it can offer to better explain its whistleblower laws. The meeting was to be the first in a series of similar meetings asking for public feedback on its whistleblower program. It offers a chance for people in the industry affected by these laws to interact directly with agency officials and people who can influence policy in the federal government.

OSHA enforces whistleblower provisions of 22 statutes, protecting employees who report violations in industries such as airlines, commercial motor vehicles, consumer products, environmental fields, financial reform, food safety, health care reform, maritime, nuclear, pipelines, public transportation agency, railroad and securities laws.

You have protections available to you

Many cases hinge on the evidence provided by whistleblowers, making whistleblowers an invaluable asset to the government. However, whistleblowers are often afraid to come forward and provide the information they have, fearing for their jobs or that they will be somehow retaliated against in the workplace.

Fortunately, whistleblower protections in the United States are stronger than they ever have been. Not only are there laws in place prohibiting such retaliation or wrongful termination, but whistleblowers can also potentially earn large sums of money by coming forward and reporting the information they have to the proper sources.

For further guidance on how to proceed with a whistleblower claim, contact an experienced Dallas attorney with Kardell Law Group.