[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 29, Volume 9]
[Revised as of July 1, 2005]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 29CFR1981.103]

[Page 220-221]
 
                             TITLE 29--LABOR
 
CHAPTER XVII--OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT 
                          OF LABOR (CONTINUED)
 
PART 1981_PROCEDURES FOR THE HANDLING OF DISCRIMINATION COMPLAINTS 
 
 Subpart A_Complaints, Investigations, Findings, and Preliminary Orders
 
Sec. 1981.103  Filing of discrimination complaint.

    (a) Who may file. An employee who believes that he or she has been 
discriminated against by an employer in violation of the Act may file, 
or have filed by any person on the employee's behalf, a complaint 
alleging such discrimination.
    (b) Nature of filing. No particular form of complaint is required, 
except that a complaint must be in writing and should include a full 
statement of the acts and omissions, with pertinent dates, which are 
believed to constitute the violations.
    (c) Place of filing. The complaint should be filed with the OSHA 
Area Director responsible for enforcement activities in the geographical 
area where the employee resides or was employed, but may be filed with 
any OSHA officer or employee. Addresses and telephone numbers for these 
officials are set forth in local directories and at the following 
Internet address: http://www.osha.gov.
    (d) Time for filing. Within 180 days after an alleged violation of 
the Act occurs (i.e., when the discriminatory decision has been both 
made and communicated to the complainant), an employee who believes that 
he or she has been discriminated against in violation of the Act may 
file, or have filed by any person on the employee's behalf, a complaint 
alleging such discrimination. The date of the postmark, facsimile 
transmittal, or e-mail communication will be considered to be the date 
of filing; if the complaint is filed in person, by hand-delivery or 
other means, the complaint is filed upon receipt.

[[Page 221]]

    (e) Relationship to section 11(c) complaints. A complaint filed 
under the Pipeline Safety Act that alleges facts which would constitute 
a violation of section 11(c) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, 
29 U.S.C. 660(c), will be deemed to be a complaint filed under both the 
Pipeline Safety Act and section 11(c). Similarly, a complaint filed 
under section 11(c) that alleges facts that would constitute a violation 
of the Pipeline Safety Act will be deemed to be a complaint filed under 
both the Pipeline Safety Act and section 11(c). Normal procedures and 
timeliness requirements for investigations under the respective laws and 
regulations will be followed.