DOL Sues Construction Company After Whistleblower Termination
OSHA investigators claim a South Dakota contractor fired an employee just days after they reported suffering severe on-the-job burns.
- By Jesse Jacobs
- Apr 07, 2026
The U.S. DOL has filed a lawsuit against a Valley Springs construction contractor following allegations that the company wrongfully fired an employee for reporting a work-related injury.
OSHA launched an investigation after an employee suffered second- and third-degree burns from scalding water inside a pressurized pipe.
Federal investigators determined that Stone Hill Excavation LLC, and its successor Split Rock Sand & Gravel, violated federal whistleblower provisions by terminating the worker two days after the injury was reported.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Dakota, seeks to hold the company liable for illegal retaliation. The DOL is requesting the reinstatement of the employee, payment of back wages and $100,000 in punitive damages.
OSHA’s Whistleblower Protection Program enforces statutes that protect employees from retaliation when reporting workplace safety concerns and health violations.
About the Author
Jesse Jacobs is assistant editor of OHSOnline.com.