A Texas pipe manufacturer is in hot water with OSHA after firing a whistleblower who requested to use a respirator to protect themselves from smoke and fumes.
OSHA filed a lawsuit against Tyler Pipe Company following a whistleblower investigation regarding the alleged October 2022 retaliation.
Investigators discovered that the company violated federal whistleblower provisions by terminating an employee who exercised their right to request PPE.
“Every worker is empowered with the right to speak up if they are concerned about their safety or that of others,” OSHA Regional Administrator Eric Harbin said. “Rather than fulfilling their responsibility to provide a safe and healthy workplace, Tyler Pipe Company terminated an employee who raised safety concerns and that is unacceptable.”
OSHA’s lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. The complaint requests that the court order Tyler Pipe to re-instate the worker with back pay and benefits.
