OSHA Whistleblower Investigations Manual - Annotated

290 Pages·2016·1.58 MB·English

by  Wordzworth Limited

Whistleblower
Investigations
Manual
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Occupational Safety and Health Administration

DIRECTIVE NUMBER: CPL 02-03-007 EFFECTIVE DATE: 01/28/2016
SUBJECT: WHISTLEBLOWER INVESTIGATIONS MANUAL
ABSTRACT
Purpose: This Instruction implements the OSHA Whistleblower
Investigations Manual, and supersedes the April 21, 2015
Instruction. This manual outlines procedures, and other
information relative to the handling of retaliation complaints under
the various whistleblower statutes delegated to OSHA and may be
used as a ready reference.
Scope: OSHA-wide.
References: The whistleblower provisions of the following statutes:
Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA 11(c)), 29 U.S.C. §
660(c); Surface Transportation Assistance Act (STAA), 49 U.S.C.
§ 31105; Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA), 15
U.S.C. § 2651; International Safe Container Act (ISCA), 46 U.S.C.
§ 80507; Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), 42 U.S.C. § 300j-9(i);
Federal Water Pollution Control Act (FWPCA), 33 U.S.C. § 1367;
Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), 15 U.S.C. § 2622; Solid
Waste Disposal Act (SWDA), 42 U.S.C. § 6971; Clean Air Act
(CAA), 42 U.S.C. § 7622; Comprehensive Environmental
Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), 42 U.S.C.
§ 9610; Energy Reorganization Act (ERA), 42 U.S.C. § 5851;
Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st
Century (AIR21), 49 U.S.C. § 42121; Sarbanes Oxley Act (SOX),
18 U.S.C. § 1514A; Pipeline Safety Improvement Act (PSIA), 49
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U.S.C. § 60129; Federal Railroad Safety Act (FRSA), 49 U.S.C. §
20109; National Transit Systems Security Act (NTSSA), 6 U.S.C.
§ 1142; Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA), 15
U.S.C. § 2087; Affordable Care Act (ACA), 29 U.S.C. § 218C;
Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010 (CFPA), Section 1057
of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection
Act of 2010, 12 U.S.C. § 5567; Seaman’s Protection Act, 46
U.S.C. § 2114 (SPA), as amended by Section 611 of the Coast
Guard Authorization Act of 2010, P.L. 111-281; FDA Food Safety
Modernization Act (FSMA), 21 U.S.C. § 399d; and Section 31307
of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-
21), 49 U.S.C. § 30171.
29 CFR Part 1977 - Discrimination Against Employees Exercising
Rights under the Williams-Steiger Occupational Safety and Health
Act; 29 CFR Part 1978 - Procedures for the Handling of
Retaliation Complaints Under the Employee Protection Provision
of the Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1982 (STAA), as
Amended; 29 CFR Part 1979 - Procedures for the Handling of
Discrimination Complaints under Section 519 of the Wendell H.
Ford Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century; 29
CFR Part 1980 - Procedures for the Handling of Discrimination
Complaints under Section 806 of the Corporate and Criminal
Fraud Accountability Act of 2002; 29 CFR Part 1981 - Procedures
for the Handling of Discrimination Complaints under Section 6 of
the Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002; 29 CFR Part 24 -
Final Rule, Procedures for the Handling of Retaliation Complaints
under the Employee Protection Provisions of Six Federal
Environmental Statutes and Section 211 of the Energy
Reorganization Act of 1974, as amended; 29 CFR Part 1982 –
Procedures for the Handling of Retaliation Complaints Under the
National Transit Systems Security Act and the Federal Railroad
Safety Act; 29 CFR Part 1983 - Procedures for the Handling of
Retaliation Complaints under Section 219 of the Consumer
Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008; 29 CFR 1984 –
Procedures for the Handling of Retaliation Complaints Under
Section 1558 of the Affordable Care Act; 29 CFR Part 1985 –
Procedures for Handling Retaliation Complaints Under the
Employee Protection Provision of the Consumer Financial
Protection Act of 2010; 29 CFR Part 1986 - Procedures for the
Handling of Retaliation Complaints Under the Employee
Protection Provision of the Seaman’s Protection Act; 29 CFR 1987
- Procedures for Handling Retaliation Complaints Under Section
402 of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act.
OSHA Instruction CPL 02-00-148, OSHA Field Operations
Manual (FOM), November 9, 2009.
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OSHA Instruction CPL 02-02-072, Rules of agency practice and
procedure concerning OSHA access to employee medical records,
August 22, 2007.
OSHA Instruction CPL 02-00-098, Guidelines for Case File
Documentation for Use with Videotapes and Audiotapes, October
12, 1993.
Cancellations: OSHA Instruction CPL 02-03-005, Whistleblower Investigations
Manual, April 21, 2015
State Plan Impact: Notice of Intent and Equivalency Required. See Chapter 1,
paragraph VI
Action Offices: National, Regional and Area Offices.
Originating Office: Directorate of Whistleblower Protection Programs
Contact: Directorate of Whistleblower Protection Programs
200 Constitution Avenue, NW, N4618
Washington, DC 20210
202-693-2199

By and Under the Authority of

David Michaels, PhD, MPH
Assistant Secretary
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Executive Summary
OSHA Instruction CPL 02-03-005, Whistleblower Investigations Manual, dated April 21,
2015, provided revised guidance for issuing damages and reviewing settlement
agreements. This Instruction updates the previous Whistleblower Investigations Manual
to revise Chapter 1, “Preliminary Matters” to remove its Non-Public Disclosure
discussion and incorporate it into a newly-added chapter. Chapter 3, “Conduct of the
Investigation” has been updated to provide clarification on the investigative standard for
whistleblower investigations. Chapter 23, “Information Disclosure” has been added to
provide detailed instructions on how whistleblower-related documents may be publically
disclosed or disclosed pursuant to OSHA’s Non-Public Disclosure policy, the Privacy
Act, or the Freedom of Information Act.
Significant Changes
● Chapter 1, Sections X “Investigative Records” and XI “Statistics” have been
deleted.
● Chapter 3, “Conduct of the Investigation,” has been updated.
● Chapter 23, “Information Disclosure,” has been added.
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Disclaimer
This manual is intended to provide instruction regarding some of the internal
operations of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and is
solely for the benefit of the Government. No duties, rights, or benefits, substantive
or procedural, are created or implied by this manual. The contents of this manual
are not enforceable by any person or entity against the Department of Labor or the
United States. Statements which reflect current Administrative Review Board or
court precedents do not necessarily indicate acquiescence with those precedents.
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Table of Contents
CHAPTER 1

PRELIMINARY MATTERS

I. PURPOSE. 1-1
II. SCOPE. 1-1
III. REFERENCES. 1-1
IV. CANCELLATIONS. 1-2
V. ACTION INFORMATION. 1-2
A. RESPONSIBLE OFFICE 1-2
B. ACTION OFFICES 1-3
C. INFORMATION OFFICES 1-3
VI. STATE PLAN IMPACT. 1-3
A. NOTICE OF INTENT AND EQUIVALENCY REQUIRED. 1-3
B. APPEAL PROCESS. 1-3
C. DUAL FILING. 1-4
D. REOPENING CASES. 1-4
E. REFERRALS. 1-4
F. ACTION. 1-4
VII. SIGNIFICANT CHANGES. 1-5
A. CHAPTER 1. PRELIMARY MATTERS 1-5
B. CHAPTER 23. INFORMATION DISCLOSURE 1-5
VIII. BACKGROUND 1-7
IX. FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES. 1-9
A. RESPONSIBILITIES. 1-9
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CHAPTER 2

INTAKE AND EVALUATION OF COMPLAINTS

I. SCOPE. 2-14
II. RECEIPT OF COMPLAINT. 2-14
III. INTAKE AND DOCKETING OF COMPLAINTS. 2-15
A. INTAKE OF COMPLAINTS. 2-15
B. DOCKETING. 2-17
IV. TIMELINESS OF FILING. 2-19
A. TIMELINESS. 2-19
B. DISMISSAL OF UNTIMELY COMPLAINTS. 2-19
C. EQUITABLE TOLLING. 2-20
D. CONDITIONS WHICH WILL NOT JUSTIFY EXTENSION OF THE FILING
PERIOD INCLUDE: 2-20
V. SCHEDULING THE INVESTIGATION. 2-21
VI. CASE TRANSFER. 2-21
VII. INVESTIGATIVE ASSISTANCE. 2-22
CHAPTER 3

CONDUCT OF THE INVESTIGATION

I. SCOPE. 3-1
II. GENERAL PRINCIPLES. 3-1
III. CASE FILE. 3-2
IV. PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION. 3-2
A. INTAKE AND EVALUATION. 3-2
B. EARLY RESOLUTION. 3-3
C. THRESHOLD ISSUES OF TIMELINESS AND COVERAGE. 3-3
D. PRE-INVESTIGATIVE RESEARCH. 3-4
E. COORDINATION WITH OTHER AGENCIES. 3-4
F. OTHER LEGAL PROCEEDINGS. 3-4
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V. WEIGHING THE EVIDENCE. 3-5
A. INVESTIGATIVE STANDARD. 3-5
B. CAUSATION STANDARDS. 3-6
VI. THE FIELD INVESTIGATION. 3-9
A. THE ELEMENTS OF A VIOLATION. 3-9
B. CONTACT WITH COMPLAINANT. 3-13
C. ON-SITE INVESTIGATION. 3-15
D. COMPLAINANT INTERVIEW. 3-16
E. CONTACT WITH RESPONDENT. 3-17
F. UNCOOPERATIVE RESPONDENT. 3-19
G. EARLY INVOLVEMENT OF THE RSOL. 3-20
H. FURTHER INTERVIEWS AND DOCUMENTATION. 3-21
I. RESOLVE DISCREPANCIES. 3-22
J. ANALYSIS. 3-22
K. CONCLUSION OF INVESTIGATIONS OF NON-MERIT COMPLAINTS. 3-22
L. DOCUMENTING THE INVESTIGATION. 3-23
CHAPTER 4

CASE DISPOSITION

I. SCOPE. 4-1
II. PREPARATION. 4-1
A. INVESTIGATOR REVIEWS THE FILE. 4-1
B. INVESTIGATOR AND SUPERVISOR DISCUSS THE CASE. 4-1
III. REPORT OF INVESTIGATION. 4-1
IV. CASE REVIEW AND APPROVAL BY THE SUPERVISOR. 4-1
A. REVIEW. 4-1
B. APPROVAL. 4-2
C. LEGAL REQUIREMENTS. 4-6
V. AGENCY DETERMINATION. 4-6
VI. APPEALS AND OBJECTIONS. 4-7
A. OSHA, AHERA, AND ISCA CASES. 4-7
B. OTHER CASE TYPES. 4-8
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VII. APPROVAL FOR LITIGATION 4-8
CHAPTER 5

DOCUMENTATION AND SECRETARY’S FINDINGS

I. SCOPE. 5-1
II. ADMINISTRATIVELY CLOSED COMPLAINTS. 5-1
III. CASE FILE ORGANIZATION. 5-1
IV. DOCUMENTING THE INVESTIGATION. 5-4
A. CASE ACTIVITY/TELEPHONE LOG. 5-4
B. REPORT OF INVESTIGATION (FORMERLY CALLED FINAL
INVESTIGATION REPORT OR FIR). 5-4
C. CLOSING CONFERENCE. 5-6
V. SECRETARY’S FINDINGS. 5-6
A. PURPOSE. 5-6
B. WHEN REQUIRED. 5-6
C. ORDERS AND PRELIMINARY ORDERS IN CASES WHICH MAY BE HEARD
BY OALJ. 5-7
D. FORMAT OF THE SECRETARY’S FINDINGS. 5-7
E. PROCEDURE FOR ISSUING FINDINGS UNDER OSHA 11(C), AHERA,
AND ISCA. 5-9
F. PROCEDURE FOR ISSUING FINDINGS UNDER STAA, ERA, CAA,
CERCLA, FWPCA, SDWA, SWDA, TSCA, AIR21, SOX, PSIA,
FRSA, NTSSA, CPSIA, ACA, CFPA, SPA, AND FSMA. 5-9
VI. DELIVERY OF THE CASE FILE. 5-10
VII. DOCUMENTING KEY DATES IN IMIS. 5-10
A. DATE COMPLAINT FILED. 5-10
B. ROI (FORMERLY FIR) DATE. 5-10
C. DETERMINATION DATE. 5-11
D. DATE APPEAL OR OBJECTION FILED. 5-11
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