DOL Sues Pennsylvania Manufacturer Over Alleged Worker Retaliation
Red Lion Controls allegedly fired a worker who raised safety concerns relating to ladder safety.
- By Robert Yaniz Jr.
- Nov 05, 2024
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has taken legal action against manufacturer Red Lion Controls, asserting it unlawfully terminated a worker for raising safety concerns.
According to the court filing, the employee was instructed to use a ladder to retrieve stock items. They believed using a forklift would be safer, as they faced difficulty maintaining three points of contact to ensure ladder safety. In response, the company allegedly claimed the task could “easily” be done on a ladder. When the employee maintained their safety concerns, the company terminated their employment.
An OSHA investigation concluded the York, Pennsylvania-based Red Lion Controls — a subsidiary of HMS Networks AB — breached federal whistleblower protections by firing the worker after they declined to complete the task with a ladder. The DOL seeks to reinstate the worker and secure back wages along with additional damages.
“Every worker deserves a safe workplace and the freedom to report unsafe conditions without the threat of retaliation,” OSHA Regional Administrator Michael Rivera in Philadelphia said in a statement. “Employers must understand that retaliation or termination for speaking up about hazards is not only unlawful but undermines the protections meant to keep workers safe.”
About the Author
Robert Yaniz Jr. is the Content Editor of Occupational Health & Safety.