A federal whistleblower investigation found that a Sioux Falls, South Dakota-based helicopter ambulance officer retaliated against a mechanic who reported safety problems over several months last year, filed a complaint with the Federal Aviation Administration and was then fired.
An Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigation found that Avera Careflight — a division of Avera McKennan — violated federal law protecting workers who raise safety concerns, and the agency ordered the company to reinstate the mechanic, according to a statement Thursday.
In addition, OSHA ordered Avera Careflight to pay the employee more than $30,600 in back wages and $25,000 in damages and to remove adverse reports from the worker̵
7;s personnel records, according to the statement.The company and the former employee may file objections or request a hearing with the department’s office of administrative law judge within 30 days of receiving the agency’s order.
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