Secretary of Labor Announces Committee to Aid in Whistleblower Protection
Secretary Solis announced the Whistleblower Protection Advisory Committee, a group that will aid and advise DOL in protecting whistleblowers.
A new committee will now aid the secretary of Labor in protecting whistleblowers. The new Whistleblower Protection Advisory Committee will "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 the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's whistleblower protection programs," according to OSHA.
There are 12 voting members of the committee. They will serve two-year terms and meet at least twice a year, with the first meeting taking place in January 2013. There will be members representing the public, management, labor, state OSHA plans, and a non-voting member representing federal agencies.
"Protecting workers who identify wrongdoing is an essential cornerstone of the U.S. Department of Labor's worker protection enforcement efforts," said Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis. "The members of the whistleblower committee, who represents the interests of labor, management, and the public, will utilize their expertise to provide valuable advice and recommendations to help OSHA strengthen and improve our whistleblower protection program."
More information is available on the OSHA website, with additional statements in the upcoming weeks.