December 29, 1970

OSH Act signed into law granting whistleblower authority in Section 11(c)

October 9, 1974

Formal authority for the Whistleblower program outlined in OSHA Directive 74-14.

August 15, 1975

First Whistleblower Investigations Manual issued

February 26, 1980

Work refusals in 11(c) cases affirmed by the Supreme Court

January 6, 1983

Surface Transportation Assistance Act enacted; whistleblower provision delegated to OSHA

January 30, 1990

OSHA becomes responsible for investigating ISCA and AHERA

1997

OSHA becomes responsible for investigating 6 environmental statutes plus ERA

September 28, 1998

OSHA begins investigating 11(c) cases against the U.S. Postal Service (Postal Employees Safety Enhancement Act)

December 8, 1998

OSHA helps workers in New York and New Jersey illegally disciplined for filing safety complaints; affected employees receive over $210,000 in back wages

April 5, 2000

AIR21 signed into law and becomes OSHA’s 12th statute

July 30, 2002

SOX signed into law

December 17, 2002

Pipeline Safety Improvement Act signed into law

June 19, 2004

Whistleblowers.gov website launched

September 13, 2005

OSHA orders bus company to rehire school bus driver and pay nearly $60,000 in back wages and legal fees

August 2, 2007

Cazenovia, N.Y., pays nearly $100,000 in damages and back wages to whistleblower following OSHA’s investigation

March 19, 2008

United Parcel Service pays $254,000 to mechanic following OSHA’s investigation

January 5, 2009

U.S. Department of Labor finds that American Airlines retaliated against pilot for reporting that he was too sick to fly

December 29, 2009

After a company owner violated a consent judgment in an 11(c) case by failing to pay the whistleblower for back wages, U.S. Marshalls seized the owner’s Corvette, which was subsequently sold at auction and the complainant received their monetary remedy

November 23, 2010

Columbia, SC, real estate company in violation of Clean Water Act ordered toreinstate whistleblower and pay more than $50,000 in back wages

April 23, 2012

Whistleblower case settled against New Orleans-based riverboat company under Seaman's Protection Act

January 15, 2013

BNSF Railway Co. signs accord with US Labor Department's OSHA regarding employee practices under Federal Railroad Safety Act

December 5, 2013

Whistleblowers can file complaints online Online complaint form available

May 15, 2014

Discipline of Southwestern Bell workers prompts lawsuit by US Department of Labor for illegal retaliation against workers

December 16, 2014

Metro North judgment findings $250,000

March 4, 2015

US Department of Labor sues Idaho Falls school district after employee is fired for raising concerns about asbestos removal

December 2015

A salon owner was required to pay over $165,000 to a former employee and allow an OSHA representative to inform workers of their rights

June 12, 2018

DWPP holds its first stakeholder meeting

April 29, 2022

Updated Whistleblower Investigations Manual issued

June 22, 2022

Jury awards $650,000 in damages to injured immigrant worker after retaliation by Massachusetts contractor

September 1, 2022

Wells Fargo ordered to pay more than $22 million for retaliating against executive that alleged financial misconduct

March 30, 2023

Begin exercising authority to complete U and T visa certifications for certain victims of crimes and labor trafficking

May 9, 2024

Whistleblower enforcement added to our mission statement