Search

Amid COVID-19 Whistleblower Complaints, OIG Makes OSHA Recommendations

Posted on 8/25/2020 by Lauren Scott

The US Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General (DOL OIG) has concluded that OSHA must improve its Whisteblower Protection Program (WPP) after an audit report revealed the agency failed to respond to complaints in a timely manner.

According to the OIG report, whistleblower complaints increased by 30% during the first four months of the pandemic (Feb. 1 – Mar. 31) compared to the same time in 2019. Of the 4,101 complaints received in February and March of this year, 1,618 of them were COVID-19 related.

Help keep your employees safe and operations running smoothly during the pandemic with Lion’s COVID-19 Employee Safety Awareness Training.

Complaint back logs were further exacerbated by OSHA staffing shortages, according to the OIG’s report. In 2020, full-time WPP investigators dropped from 126 to 120, resulting in some investigators taking on more than double the recommended case load.

Prior to the pandemic, OSHA began a triage pilot intended to expedite the complaint screening process and also redistributed older complaints from regions with large backlogs to regions with lesser backlogs. However, OSHA had not utilized a similar approach during the pandemic to more evenly distribute whistleblower complaints.

OIG warned that these backlogs could create significant challenges for workers who choose to speak up about adverse working conditions. “When OSHA fails to respond in a timely manner,” according to the report, “it could leave workers to suffer emotionally and financially, and may also lead to the erosion of key evidence and witnesses.”

COVID-19 Training Now Required in 15 States

These whistleblower complaints show that employees who continued to work through the pandemic feel their employers should be doing more to protect them from coronavirus exposure in the workplace. Under the OSH Act General Duty Clause, employers are required to provide a workplace free of recognized hazards that can hurt or kill employees.

In fact, many states now require employers provide COVID-19 safety training for their employees, including California, Texas, Illinois, Washington, New York, and Kentucky. In Virginia, COVID-19 training must be completed no later than August 26, 2020. In many other states, training must be completed as soon as an employee returns to work.

This training typically includes topics such as respiratory hygiene, how to clean and disinfect the workplace, social/physical distancing best practices, and what to do if an employee is sick.

COVID-19 Safety Awareness Online Training

To help US workplaces safely resume and continue operations, Lion just launched the COVID-19 Employee Safety Awareness Online Course. As more employees nationwide return to work, it is crucial that they know how to protect themselves and their co-workers from exposure to COVID-19.

The course prepares employees to:
  • Recognize signs, symptoms, and risk factors for COVID-19
  • Describe how the COVID-19 disease is transmitted
  • Follow recommended hygiene and work protocols to prevent exposure
  •  Properly use and care for PPE and face coverings, when required 

Tags: coronavirus, COVID-19, COVID-19 training, osha, whistleblower, workplace complaints, workplace safety

Find a Post

Compliance Archives

Lion - Quotes

The instructor made the class very enjoyable and catered to the needs of our group.

Sarah Baker

Planner

The instructor was great, explaining complex topics in terms that were easily understandable and answering questions clearly and thoroughly.

Brittany Holm

Lab Supervisor

I was recently offered an opportunity to take my training through another company, but I politely declined. I only attend Lion Technology workshops.

Stephanie Gilliam

Material Production/Logistics Manager

The instructor was very very informative, helpful, understandable and pleasant. This course answered many questions I had, being new to this industry.

Frances Mona

Shipping Manager

Lion was very extensive. There was a lot of things that were covered that were actually pertaining to what I do and work with. Great Job. I will be coming back in three years!

Tony Petrik

Hazmat Shipping Professional

I had a positive experience utilizing this educational program. It was very informative, convenient, and rewarding from a career perspective.

John Gratacos

Logistics Manager

Having the tutorial buttons for additional information was extremely beneficial.

Sharon Ziemek

EHS Manager

Excellent. I learned more in two days with Lion than at a 5-day program I took with another provider.

Francisco Gallardo

HES Technician

I think LION does an excellent job of any training they do. Materials provided are very useful to my day-to-day work activities.

Pamela Embody

EHS Specialist

Best instructor ever! I was going to take my DOT training w/a different provider, but based on this presentation, I will also be doing my DOT training w/Lion!

Donna Moot

Hazardous Waste Professional

Download Our Latest Whitepaper

Just starting out with shipping lithium batteries? Not before you can answer the four fundamental questions form this guide.

Latest Whitepaper

By submitting your phone number, you agree to receive recurring marketing and training text messages. Consent to receive text messages is not required for any purchases. Text STOP at any time to cancel. Message and data rates may apply. View our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.