What does 29 CFR 1977.9(c) say about lodging complaints with employers?

• A. Complaints can be discouraged
• B. Complaints made in good faith are protected from discharge or discrimination
• C. Complaints must be filed in triplicate
• D. Complaints are ignored unless made by a supervisor

Answer: (B)

The key idea is that reporting safety concerns to your employer in good faith is protected activity. When you believe there’s a hazard or a safety violation and you raise that issue with your employer honestly and without malice, your job and rights are shielded from retaliation. Good faith means you genuinely think there’s a problem and you’re making a truthful effort to improve safety, not making a false or baseless accusation.

Because of this protection, an employer cannot retaliate against you for lodging the complaint, for participating in safety investigations, or for taking part in activities aimed at correcting hazards. If retaliation does occur, there are remedies under OSHA’s whistleblower protections.

That’s why the correct choice is about protection for good-faith complaints—discouraging complaints, requiring triplicate filings, or ignoring complaints would all undermine the safety-and-retaliation protections this provision is designed to uphold.