Retaliation After Reporting Safety Violations

I worked as a forklift operator at a distribution warehouse in Marietta for four years. In January, one of the lift trucks started failing to hold its load, causing the mast to drop several inches without warning. I reported this to my shift supervisor three times over two weeks, including once in writing via email, and requested that the unit be tagged out. Nothing happened, and I was told to keep using it.

On February 3rd, a pallet fell about six feet from a co-worker. That week, I filed a safety complaint with OSHA. Eleven days later, I was terminated for "attendance," despite my last written warning being in 2022 and my attendance record remaining unchanged.

I've been out of work for five months. I’m not looking to punish anyone; I want the retaliation on record and the equipment fixed before someone gets hurt. Two co-workers are willing to confirm my reports.