OSHA resolves only 2 percent of retaliation; slow equipment portends EPA problems

Report: OSHA has resolved only 2% of reports of retaliation against COVID whistleblowers

The National Employment Law Project (NELP) report’s findings highlight how OSHA is handling reports of retaliation against COVID whistleblowers. 

The NELP analyzed OSHA’s public data on the 1,744 COVID-19-related retaliation complaints filed by workers from the beginning of the pandemic through August 9. 

The report found that over half of the complaints – 54% – were dismissed or closed without investigation. Just 1 in 5 complaints were docketed for investigations, and a total of only 2% of complaints were resolved in the period.

Slow equipment rollout may portend EPA problems managing COVID-19 emergencies

EPA’s partial inability to equip field staff with personal protective equipment during the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic could signal problems with the agency’s response to other major events such as wildfires and hurricanes, the agency’s internal watchdog said.

More than one-third of the 127 staffers contacted said they weren’t able to get personal protective equipment from the EPA during the pandemic, according to a report from the agency’s Office of Inspector General.

However, the inspector general also said the agency “sufficiently” managed emergency responses during the pandemic.