OSHA issues rule protecting food handling whistleblowers

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration published a final rule establishing procedures for handling complaints under the Food Safety Modernization Act concerning retaliation against employees who report problems with the handling of food, including transportation. The final rule also explains the burdens of proof, remedies and statute of limitations similar to other whistleblower protection statutes that OSHA administers. The rule follows an interim final rule published in 2014.

The final OSHA rule follows by less than two weeks a final Food and Drug Administration rule establishing new procedures for the safe transportation of food.

For more information, read the April 18 Federal Register notice.