Rowan Business Forms Ordered by OSHA to Pay Over $83,000 for Terminating Whistleblower Truck Driver Who Reported Hazardous Conditions

Last week the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) ordered Rowan Business Forms, a Salisbury, North Carolina-based commercial printing company, to reinstate and pay over $83,000 in back wages and compensatory damages to a former truck driver after OSHA found reasonable cause to believe that Rowan violated the whistleblower provision of the Surface Transportation Assistance Act (STAA).

The former truck driver alleged that Rowan retaliated against him after he raised concerns in 2009 that the company’s dump truck was leaking brake fluid. According to the former employee, the leaking brake fluid almost caused him to hit a car because the brake pedal went all the way down to the truck floor. He reported this incident to his supervisor and was told by the company manager that the leak would be repaired before the next delivery. However, when the truck driver discovered that the repair had not been performed, he refused to drive the truck because he was concerned about his safety. The company terminated him the following day.

The Employment Law Group® law firm has an extensive whistleblower practice and represents employees nationally who have been victims of retaliation.

Tagged: Surface Transportation Assistance Act (STAA), Whistleblower Laws (Federal)