The aerospace giant Boeing has found itself mired in scrutiny as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has received a total of 32 whistleblower complaints over the past three years. The claims, which highlight potential retaliation against employees who have raised safety concerns, span a spectrum of issues including aviation safety, workplace safety, fraud, and the handling of toxic chemicals.
Thirteen of these complaints were specifically related to aviation safety, a figure that throws a harsh light on Boeing’s commitment to standards at a time when the company’s safety record is under fierce examination. While the details of the complaints remain unspecified, the sheer number of them casts a shadow over Boeing’s work environment.
According to documents obtained by freedom of information requests, OSHA has concluded most of these cases without taking action. The primary reason for dismissal cited was the whistleblowers’ failure to file reports within the required timeframe, which ranges from 30 to 180 days. Other reasons included lack of jurisdiction and insufficient cooperation from the complainants.
The documents also bring to attention the case of John Barnett, a former Boeing employee and whistleblower who was found dead last month from a suspected self-inflicted gunshot wound. At the time of his death, Barnett was appealing OSHA’s dismissal of a 2017 whistleblower complaint with a higher adjudication body. Emily Hargrove, OSHA’s chief of staff, in an email correspondence, underlined the agency’s public affairs team were “asking that we review the decision back in 2017 to dismiss the case”.
At the heart of the controversy are the recent public testimonies from current and former Boeing employees. During a U.S. Senate committee hearing, engineer Sam Salehpour claimed he had been threatened after raising concerns about structural gaps in the 787 Dreamliner. “They are putting out defective airplanes,” Salehpour said. “I have serious concerns about the safety of the 787 and 777 aircraft, and I’m willing to take on professional risk to talk about them.” Another former engineer, Ed Pierson, accused the company of a “criminal cover-up” relating to the investigation of a 737 Max 9 incident.
Despite the allegations and ongoing reviews, Boeing insists on its safety-first approach. “For more than a decade, Boeing has had a safety initiative called Go4Zero that aims to eliminate all workplace injuries,” a company spokesperson stated, noting a significant reduction in serious and recordable injuries. The spokesperson affirmed that Boeing does not tolerate retaliation against employees who raise safety concerns.
Relevant articles:
– Boeing hit with 32 whistleblower claims, as dead worker’s case reviewed
– 32 whistleblower complaints filed with US workplace safety regulator against Boeing, The Business Standard, Fri, 19 Apr 2024 04:45:00 GMT