Whistleblower Protection Program: OSHA public meeting will focus on migrant workers

Washington — OSHA has scheduled a virtual public meeting on how it can improve its Whistleblower Protection Program, particularly where migrant and other vulnerable workers are concerned.

According to a notice published in the Sept. 21 Federal Register, the meeting will take place at 2 p.m. Eastern on Oct. 13 online and via telephone. The event will be the eighth in a series. OSHA, which enforces whistleblower protections under 23 statutes, is particularly interested in input regarding:

• How it can deliver better whistleblower customer service.
• The kind of assistance it can provide to help explain the whistleblower laws it enforces.
• What the agency can do to ensure workers are protected from retaliation for raising concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Please note that the agency does not have the authority to change the statutory language and requirements of the laws it enforces,” OSHA says.

Anyone interested in presenting or speaking must register by Oct. 6 – the same deadline to submit comments. OSHA will contact participants beforehand to let them know the order of speakers. The agency will provide Spanish-language translation during the meeting.