An alternative dispute resolution pilot program for whistleblower complaints filed with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is being launched, with Hawaii included as part of the region participating in the program.

ADR can assist complainants and employers in resolving their disputes in a cooperative and voluntary manner, OSHA says.

The program will be implemented in two OSHA regions and offer two voluntary methods of ADR: early resolution and mediation. One of the two OSHA regions that will participate in the pilot is headquartered in San Francisco, which is responsible for whistleblower investigations filed with federal OSHA in Hawaii, Arizona, California, and Nevada, as well as various Pacific Islands including the commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam and American Samoa.

When a whistleblower complaint is filed with OSHA in one of the pilot regions, the parties will be notified of their ADR options and may work through an OSHA regional ADR coordinator to use these methods.