Dealing With Unsafe Conditions at Work
by
Attorney Amy DelPo
Steps to take if you think conditions at your workplace pose a hazard to your health or safety.
The federal Occupational Safety and Health Act (the OSH Act) and similar state laws spell out your rights in the event of a workplace hazard. How to deal with the unsafe condition depends on how immediate and serious the danger is.
If You Are in Imminent Danger
If you think your life is in imminent danger because of a workplace hazard, you have the right to refuse to work. You should immediately call the emergency telephone line of the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (known as OSHA), at 800-321-OSHA (6742). Of course, if you or anyone else at the workplace needs immediate medical attention, call 911.
How do you know if an imminent danger exists? All of the following must be true:
- you believe that performing your work poses a real danger of death or serious physical injury
- your employer refuses to correct the problem, and
- there isn't enough time to eliminate the danger through other means, such as requesting an OSHA inspection.
In some states, you have the right to refuse to work even if the harm is not life threatening. To find out about workplace safety laws in your state, contact your state labor department.
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