Tim Burnett (@Twburnett)

After the Texas Governor and our local Mayor issued orders, during early July 2020, requiring the wearing of face masks while at work, my private university employer issued a directive for all employees and students to wear face masks. I responded with an open objection to the directive, citing health and safety concerns related to dangerously low volume of oxygen, high volume of carbon dioxide, and potential bacterial infection in lungs. On September 4, 2020, I filed an OSHA complaint against my private university employer, asking the agency to determine whether the HVAC system was properly converted to offset dangerously low volume of oxygen inside covered space of face masks required to be worn by the employer. One week later, on September 10, my employer fired me under allegations of not wearing a face mask and violating a Mayoral Proclamation for employers to require employees to wear face masks. OSHA basically protected the employer with a weak Whistleblower investigation and final determination on appeal in favor of the employer. OSHA accepted statements from all parties as given to the human resources director without OSHA agents interviewing them under penalty of perjury. On appeal, the Directorate affirmed the Regional Office's findings in favor of the employer without investigating my concerns. OSHA's Workplace investigation findings report stated the air quality in the building met OSHA standards and did not inspect air quality inside covered face mask space to compare with the air in the building. During December 2020, I filed a separate OSHA Workplace complaint as a former employee, citing the same concerns noted above. This complaint narrowly focused only on the covered space under worn face masks. The Regional Office decided to not inspect because my second complaint allegedly addressed the same issue as the first complaint. I appealed to the Washington D.C. office. Waiting to see if they will investigate my December complaint and test the air quality inside the covered space of face masks worn by employees required to wear them. Remember -- OSHA exists to protect employees.