A proposal making it easier for whistle-blowers to file complaints recently passed a significant hurdle when the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs approved an online retaliation complaint form.

The form will allow workers to electronically submit retaliation complaints under any of the 22 whistle-blower statutes overseen by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Presently, OSHA accepts whistle-blower complaints from workers orally or in writing, says SHRM.

When OSHA proposed the form in the Jan. 17, 2013, Federal Register, it said the form “will enable workers to electronically submit whistleblower complaints directly to OSHA 24-hours a day, which will provide workers with greater flexibility for meeting statutory filing deadlines.”

Additionally, OSHA pointed out that an online form would streamline the agency’s electronic complaint filing process, reduce the complaint-processing time and improve the quality of customer service, SHRM says.

It is not yet known when the form will be available on OSHA’s website.