Calling Out $92M in Uncollected Debts Lands Anonymous Individual Public Service Award

Disclosing a software flaw that led to $92 million in uncollected debts owed to the Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has led one anonymous individual to be anointed as the 2021 Special Counsel Public Service Award, the Office of Special Counsel announced last week.

The whistleblower in question noticed that 11,000 fines that were assessed by OSHA on employers for workplace safety violations had not been collected. Calling out the software error led the Treasury Department to look into the situation and identify 12 other agencies that were affected by the glitch. The Office of Special Counsel is still assessing how much in unpaid debts were accumulating at those 12 other agencies.

At OSHA, the debts were valued at $92 million and had been assigned to the Treasury Department for collection. But the software issue led to those debts collecting dust, not being collected. New software that was installed at the Treasury Department in 2017 was not compatible with OSHA’s software, meaning certain fields and information were not populated properly, which made it impossible for federal officials to contact those who had been fined by OSHA.

“Each year, OSC recognizes the courage of a whistleblower who speaks up to disclose a problem,” said Special Counsel Henry J. Kerner, in a statement

. “This year’s recipient, who chose to remain anonymous, is well-deserving of this distinction. I want to thank this individual for coming forward to OSC with allegations that resulted in substantial corrective action. Because of this brave whistleblower’s actions, millions of dollars are being reimbursed to the government for the full benefit of American taxpayers.”