Which standard protects employees from being fired for asserting their health and safety rights?

The choice that protects employees from being retaliated against for asserting their health and safety rights is the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). OSHA establishes standards and regulations that ensure a safe and healthy workplace. One important aspect of OSHA’s regulations is the whistleblower protection provisions, which safeguard employees from discrimination or retaliation when they report unsafe conditions or exercise their rights under the Occupational Safety and Health Act.

This means that if an employee raises concerns about health and safety violations or refuses unsafe work, they are protected from being fired or facing adverse employment actions due to their assertive stance. These protections are crucial for promoting an environment where workers feel safe to speak up about hazards without fear of losing their job or suffering other forms of retaliation.

In contrast, while NIOSH focuses on research and recommendation of occupational safety and health practices, it does not enforce regulations or protect workers in the same way OSHA does. The EPA deals with environmental regulations, and ANSI develops consensus standards but does not have specific legal protections regarding employment rights related to health and safety issues.