Every worker deserves to return home safely at the end of the day. That's why OSHA and the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Columbia River have signed a 5-year Memorandum of Understanding expanding our efforts to strengthen maritime safety and health in Northwest Oregon.

By combining expertise, we will improve how to identify and address workplace hazards through joint training, technical assistance, and participate in joint inspections. Cross training on investigative practices, marine casualty work, vessel inspections, and other critical topics will help respond more effectively to risks and better protect the workers who keep our ports and waterways moving. Read the memorandum to learn more about this partnership and its benefits for maritime workers.

July 30 is National Whistleblower Day, recognizing the important role people play when they step forward to report misconduct, fraud, corruption, and other unlawful practices.

OSHA's Whistleblower Protection Program enforces 25 whistleblower laws that are in place to protect workers if an adverse action is taken against them for engaging in activities protected under these laws.

Retaliation against employees is illegal and when employees are afraid to exercise their rights, it can impact worker safety and business. Establishing an effective anti-retaliation program encourages open communication so issues can be addressed early, strengthen workplace culture, improve employee engagement, and better protect workers and the public.

Read the story below to learn how OSHA's Whistleblower Protection Program helped one employee after they experienced retaliation for speaking up about a violation of federal law and why protecting workers who speak up makes workplaces safer for everyone.

July 22-24: AGC Construction Safety & Health Conference

July 30: National Whistleblower Day

August 10-16: Safe & Sound Week

August 30-September 2: VPPPA Safety+ Symposium

September 11-18: NSC Safety Congress and Expo

September 14-18: Construction Suicide Prevention Week

September 21-25: Farm Safety and Health Week

Do you have a public safety and health event, training, or webinar that you'd like to have featured in QuickTakes? Please share event information with us including the date, time, location, and a short description.

Workers who manufacture, finish, or install natural and engineered stone countertop products can be exposed to health hazards from silica dust. This can lead to serious and life-threatening illnesses including silicosis, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and kidney disease.

Read our fact sheet to learn practical ways to reduce exposure and help keep workers safe.

Looking to strengthen your workplace safety knowledge? The OSHA Training Institute Education Centers offer training for workers, supervisors, and professionals across a wide range of industries. Visit our website to explore courses, schedules, certificates, and more.

A Georgia technology plant partnered with the state's On-Site Consultation Program to help improve its workplace safety culture. Together, they achieved zero recordable injuries by implementing targeted safety training, holding monthly safety meetings, enhancing housekeeping practices, strengthening ergonomics processes, and prioritizing employee wellbeing.

Our On-Site Consultation Program offers no-cost, confidential consultations for small and midsize businesses. Consultants from state agencies and universities can help employers identify and address hazards and establish or improve safety and health programs. Find and book a consultant near you.

A car dealership employee informed their supervisor that several new vehicles in the showroom had malfunctioning airbag sensors. The next day, the employee was informed they were no longer allowed to work with new cars and had their hours cut.

The employee filed a whistleblower complaint with OSHA, and our investigator found that the employer's actions violated the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21), which protects motor vehicle industry workers. As a result, the worker's schedule was restored, and the vehicle defects were reported to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. This case is a reminder that workplace safety is a shared responsibility – employers and workers both play a crucial role. Workers have the right to report safety concerns without fear of retaliation.

Learn more about 50 years of whistleblower protections on our website. If you believe you were retaliated against for exercising your legal rights, you can file a whistleblower complaint with OSHA.

With our look back at OSHA's first five decades completed in our last issue, we're now looking ahead to how we're continuing that legacy to shape the future of worker safety in America.

Collaboration is one of the most effective ways to protect our workforce. We want businesses to feel comfortable approaching us and understand the benefits of working with us.

To do that, we are strengthening customer service through our OSHA CARES initiative, expanding compliance assistance, and making sure that every interaction with OSHA is valuable. Through our Safety Champions Program, we're meeting employers wherever they are on their safety journey – whether they are well-established or just starting out – to help them develop, grow, and implement their safety and health programs. And we are encouraging businesses to take proactive steps for continuous improvement to prevent workplace injuries, illnesses, and fatalities, such as reaching out to our On-Site Consultation Program.

We believe that we are stronger when we work together to ensure that all workers go home safe and healthy every day.

❓ What increases the risk of heat illness in indoor workplaces?