The Secretary of Labor appointed whistleblower attorney Jason Zuckerman to serve on the Whistleblower Protection Advisory Committee (WPAC). WPAC was established to advise, consult with, and make recommendations to the Secretary of Labor and the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health on ways to improve the fairness, efficiency, effectiveness, and transparency of OSHA’s administration of whistleblower protections. In particular, the committee advises OSHA on the development and implementation of improved customer service models, enhancements in the investigative and enforcement process, training, and regulations governing OSHA investigations. In addition, WPAC advises OSHA in cooperative activities with other federal agencies that are responsible for areas covered by the whistleblower protection statutes enforced by OSHA.
WPAC is comprised of twelve voting members, with four members representing a management, four members representing labor, one member representing State OSH Plan states, and three members representing the public. Non-voting members include representatives from three Federal Government agencies that have jurisdiction over statutes with whistleblower provisions. All members of WPAC were appointed by Secretary Solis and will serve two-year terms. The committee will meet at least twice a year.
OSHA’s Whistleblower Protection Program enforces the whistleblower provisions of more than twenty whistleblower statutes protecting employees who report violations of various workplace safety, airline, commercial motor carrier, consumer product, environmental, financial reform, food safety, health insurance reform, motor vehicle safety, nuclear, pipeline, public transportation agency, railroad, maritime, and securities laws. Rights afforded by these whistleblower acts include, but are not limited to, worker participation in safety and health activities, reporting a work related injury, illness or fatality, or reporting a violation of the statutes.
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