OSHA whistleblower claims: Most are dismissed or withdrawn
Recently released statistics from OSHA show whistleblower claims are surging. This underscores the need for employers to be prepared for would-be whistleblowers and have procedures in place to handle complaints internally, lawyers said Tuesday.
The number of whistleblower cases OSHA received pursuant to the 22 laws it enforces increased to 2,787 in fiscal 2012, up from 2,648 in 2011, reflecting steady yearly increases since 2009. In fiscal 2005, the agency received a total of 1,934 whistleblower cases.
The number dipped to 1,842 in FY 2006. Since then, it has surged by almost 1,000, to the FY 2012 total of 2,787.