Can I walk off the job if my employer won't fix a safety problem?

Question: I work in an enclosed warehouse. For the past week, the circulation system that takes the exhaust and fumes out of the workspace has not been working regularly.

An Overview of Occupational Diseases Caused by Work Exposures

An occupational disease can be caused by work exposures to irritants like dust, fibers, fumes, chemicals, and molds.

Workplace Violence: Understand and Avoid It

Workplace violence and disgruntled employees -- all of us have heard the horror stories: a former worker with a grudge, an employee's ex-lover, or an enr

Jobs With an Increased Risk of Occupational Disease

Working around dusts, fibers, chemicals, or fumes can put you at risk of developing an occupational disease. Studies have shown that 4% to 10% of all cancers in the United States are caused by work exposures. And, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than thirteen

Assert Your Safety Rights Without Fear of Retaliation

Both federal and state workplace safety laws prohibit your employer from retaliating against you for asserting your rights under those laws. An employer retaliates when it makes any negative change in your working conditions to punish you for having asserted your rights under the law. This can include

Dealing With Workplace Health and Safety Issues

If you're working in a hazardous environment, the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act (the OSH Act) and similar state laws give you some important rights. How you should deal with the unsafe condition depends on how immediate the danger is. If you think your life is in imminent danger because of a workplace hazard, you can refuse to work. If the danger is not imminent, ask your employer to take care of the problem.

State and Local Health and Safety Laws

Many states and municipalities have laws that mandate a certain level of safety in the workplace. These laws vary greatly in what they require, how they are enforced, and even which employers they cover. Early on, California began enforcing the most powerful of these laws: It requires every employer

Enforcing Your OSHA Rights

If you believe that your workplace is unsafe, your first action should be to make your supervisor at work aware as soon as possible.

Employee Rights Under OSHA (the Occupational Safety and Health Act)

The main federal law covering threats to workplace safety is the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA). OSHA created the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (also called OSHA) to enforce workplace safety. And it created the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to

Does my employer have to offer a smoking area?

Question: I just started a new job, and the company I work for doesn't have a smoking area, indoors or outdoors.

Can an employer ban e-cigarettes in the workplace?

Question: I work in an office building. Smoking is prohibited throughout the entire building, as well as in outdoor spaces within a certain distance from the entrance.

Workplace Smoking Laws in Your State

Select your state to learn about your state's laws. Alabama

Smoking in the Workplace

The days when smoking in the workplace was as accepted as drinking coffee are long gone.

How do I protect myself from secondhand smoke at work?

If OSHA won't protect me from secondhand tobacco smoke at work, is there anything I can do to limit or avoid exposure?