Section 215 of the Congressional Accountability Act (CAA) requires legislative branch employing offices to provide their employees with workplaces that are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees. Legislative branch employers and employees are also required to comply with applicable OSHA standards.
The General Counsel of the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights (OCWR) enforces the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act) as applied by the CAA. Individuals alleging a violation may file a request for inspection with the General Counsel. Such requests should be filed promptly after the occurrence of an incident or discovery of a potential hazard. For more about the OCWR’s enforcement of the OSH Act in the legislative branch, please visit the OSH Program page.
Request an OSH Inspection
To initiate an OCWR investigation of a workplace injury or a potential safety or health hazard in the workplace, you may file a request for inspection by using this form:
Request for OSH Inspection of Employing Offices Form
You may email the completed form to OSH@ocwr.gov (preferred), fax it to (202) 426-1913, or drop it off at the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights, located in the John Adams Building, 110 Second Street, SE, Room LA-200, Washington, DC 20540-1999. Forms may also be mailed to the OCWR office, but may take several weeks to arrive.
Please note that when you request an OSH inspection, you may request that your identity be kept confidential: if you check the box on the form indicating you wish to remain anonymous, the OCWR will not reveal your name to others. However, requestors’ names and contact information must be provided to the OCWR so that we may follow up as needed.
If you have safety and health concerns but are uncertain whether you wish to file a formal request, you may contact us at OSH@ocwr.gov or (202) 724-9250 to discuss the process. All such calls are confidential.
What to Expect After Filing a Request for OSH Inspection
After a request for inspection is filed, the Office of the General Counsel of the OCWR will notify the employing office(s) responsible for abating any potential hazards related to the request. A typical investigation begins with an opening conference, followed by a site inspection, review of relevant documents and other information, and interviews with individuals knowledgeable about the allegedly unsafe working conditions. OCWR personnel typically follow up with the requestor several times to obtain more information and keep the requestor posted on the progress of the investigation.
If the investigation results in findings of hazards, the General Counsel issues a report to the employing office(s) responsible for correcting the violations, including an explanation of each finding and a timeframe for required abatement. The OCWR monitors the progress of abatement and offers assistance as needed to support the employing offices’ abatement efforts. If the employing office fails to abate the hazard or commit to an abatement plan, the General Counsel may file an administrative complaint with the OCWR Executive Director. The complaint is submitted to a hearing officer, whose decision may be appealed to the OCWR Board of Directors. Board decisions may then be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
Unlike with claims of unlawful discrimination, which legislative branch employees may file and pursue through the OCWR’s administrative dispute resolution process, there is no private right of action for alleged violations of the OSH Act as applied by the CAA. The General Counsel enforces these provisions and has exclusive authority to file OSH complaints with the OCWR Executive Director.
The OCWR has conducted OSH investigations into a wide variety of incidents and alleged hazards, ranging from employee fatalities and injuries to concerns over vermin infestations, inadequate fall protection, asbestos and lead exposures, respiratory protection, electrical hazards, hazard communication deficiencies, and others.