U.S. Labor Department sues Continental Alloys and Services Inc. in Houston for wrongfully firing an employee

Date of Action: Aug. 4, 2015

Type of Action: Lawsuit for violating the whistleblower provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Act

Name of Defendant: Continental Alloys and Services Inc. in Spring, Texas

Allegations: A whistleblower investigation by the department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration found sufficient evidence to support a former employee's allegation that Continental Alloys and Services wrongfully fired the worker after she complained to management about OSHA 300 log reporting deficiencies. The law requires employers to record on-the-job injuries. The former employee reported several alleged instances where injuries were not reported. In an attempt to gather evidence of the reporting deficiencies, the employee recorded a meeting with the individual responsible for reporting the injuries. These actions led to the employee's termination.

Resolution: The department is asking the judge to issue an injunction prohibiting Continental Alloys and Services from engaging in any further retaliation. It is also asking the judge to order the company to pay the complainant back pay, reinstate the complainant, and pay her any other damages she sustained as a result of the illegal termination.

Court: U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston division

Civil Action Number: 4:15-cv-2234

Information: OSHA enforces the whistleblower provisions of the Occupational Safety & Health Act of 1970 and 21 other statutes protecting employees who report violations of various airline, commercial motor carrier, consumer product, environmental, financial reform, food safety, health-care reform, nuclear, pipeline, worker safety, public transportation agency, maritime and securities laws.