Bill Overview
Title: Offshore Oil and Gas Worker Whistleblower Protection Act
Description: This bill prohibits an employer from discharging or discriminating against employees working in waters above the Outer Continental Shelf who report or testify about violations of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, including about unsafe conditions or the adequacy of any oil spill response plan required by law. The bill establishes procedures for the filing, investigation, and adjudication of a whistle-blower complaint. Additionally, employers are required to post a notice approved by the Department of Labor explaining employee rights and remedies in a conspicuous workplace location; provide training to employees about their rights within 30 days of employment, and at least once every 12 months thereafter; and provide employees with a card containing a toll-free telephone number for obtaining information or for filing a complaint.
Sponsors: Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-11]
Target Audience
Population: People working in offshore oil and gas industry globally
Estimated Size: 35000
- The bill specifically mentions employees working in waters above the Outer Continental Shelf, which refers to the offshore oil and gas industry.
- The Outer Continental Shelf is under U.S. jurisdiction, and it involves domestic and international workers operating for U.S and foreign companies.
- The number of people globally working in offshore oil and gas is significant, as this is a major industry.
- The legislation is focused on protecting whistleblowers, so it particularly targets those who may have concerns about safety and compliance within this workplace environment.
Reasoning
- The policy directly targets individuals working in offshore oil and gas, primarily in dangerous or environmentally sensitive conditions. It is designed to protect those who might feel compelled to report safety concerns without fear of retaliation.
- The estimated target population affected directly by the policy is approximately 35,000 individuals, a significant number but not overly large when considering sector size. This reflects a moderate implementation cost within the budget constraints.
- Including a variety of roles—ranging from drilling to support staff on oil rigs—provides a well-rounded perspective on how the policy might affect different actors within this environment.
- Economic factors, job risk levels, and existing safety norms within companies greatly influence how much impact such a policy might have on wellbeing.
- While some individuals may be directly affected due to their proximity to policy-relevant activities, others may see indirect benefits through improved workplace norms.
Simulated Interviews
Offshore Drilling Engineer (Houston, TX)
Age: 35 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- As an engineer, I've seen some questionable calls regarding safety procedures.
- Providing whistleblower protection seems crucial.
- This gives me a sense of security in reporting issues without fearing job loss.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Environmental Officer (New Orleans, LA)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Protection for whistleblowers is long overdue in our industry.
- This policy could help spotlight environmental hazards.
- I expect less pushback from companies on our assessments.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Oil Platform Cook (Baton Rouge, LA)
Age: 42 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I don't deal with safety directly, but knowing others can report issues safely makes me feel better about being here.
- Better safety helps everyone, even if indirectly.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Health and Safety Officer (Galveston, TX)
Age: 31 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is a step forward for safety officers like me who sometimes face pushback.
- It empowers us to enforce regulations more effectively.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Oil Rig Technician (Lafayette, LA)
Age: 39 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Increasing whistleblower safety might encourage more reports.
- Sometimes management needs a nudge to do the right thing.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Logistics Coordinator (Miami, FL)
Age: 30 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While not directly a safety role, knowing safety standards are upheld benefits everyone.
- I hope this reduces incidents that disrupt operations.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Operations Manager (Cameron, LA)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I already practice a strong safety culture, so this is a welcome formalization.
- It might push others to adopt similar practices.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Senior Geologist (Houston, TX)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Protection for whistleblowers is a moral necessity.
- It may help to highlight urgent environmental issues faster.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Drill Deck Crew (Corpus Christi, TX)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I've been scared to report issues due to fear of losing my job.
- Hopefully, this will allow me to speak up more often.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 3 |
Diving Support Technician (Pascagoula, MS)
Age: 56 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Good whistleblower protections mean I don't have to keep quiet about safety risks anymore.
- I would support this kind of regulation wholeheartedly.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $15000000 (Low: $12000000, High: $18000000)
Year 2: $13000000 (Low: $11000000, High: $16000000)
Year 3: $12000000 (Low: $10000000, High: $14000000)
Year 5: $10000000 (Low: $8000000, High: $12000000)
Year 10: $7000000 (Low: $5000000, High: $9000000)
Year 100: $3000000 (Low: $1000000, High: $5000000)
Key Considerations
- The potential positive long-term economic impacts due to enhanced safety and compliance may not become evident immediately.
- Global offshore oil and gas market fluctuations can affect the actual impact on GDP and employment within the sector.
- Industry resistance or lobbying could affect the implementation and compliance with the provisions of the bill.
- Legal challenges could delay implementation or require further resources.