OSHA published three interim final rules in the Aug. 31 Federal Register that will help protect workers who voice safety, health and security concerns. The regulations, which establish procedures for handling worker retaliation complaints, allow filing by phone as well as in writing and filing in languages other than English. Additionally, the regulations cover workers filing complaints in the railroad, public transit, commercial motor carrier and consumer product industries, and create consistency among various OSHA complaint procedures. The interim final rules also establish procedures and time frames for handling complaints under the whistleblower sections of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 and the Consumer Product Safety Act of 2008. See the news release for information on new whistleblower protection fact sheets and how to submit comments on these rules by the Nov. 1 deadline.

OSHA's Whistleblower Protection Program Web page at www.whistleblowers.gov provides information about worker rights and provisions under each of the whistleblower statutes and regulations OSHA enforces, program fact sheets and information on how to file a retaliation complaint with OSHA.