How to Report a Health Hazard In a Place of Employment
Employers are obligated by law to provide safe working conditions for employees and customers that visit their offices and job sites. The safety rules are dictated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), which is a division of the United States Department of Labor. Violating these health and safety rules can lead to a fine, as well as the cost of rectifying the problem. Employees who become aware of unresolved safety issues in the workplace can report them to OSHA.
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Instructions
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Report the health hazard to the employer's janitorial staff, office manager, human resources department or other supervisor to provide them an opportunity to resolve the problem.
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Visit the OSHA website and go to their online complaint form. A link to the form is located in the Resources section. If desired, you can also print out the form and mail it in.
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Provide detailed information about the health hazard including the name of the company, the company's address, an explanation of the health hazard, how many employees are affected, your name and phone number. You should also indicate whether the matter has been mentioned to the employer and specifics on where in the building the problem exists.
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Wait for OSHA to investigate the matter which may include phone calls, written requests and an onsite visit to the employer. You will receive a letter in the mail when the investigation is complete notifying you of the findings and penalties, if applicable.
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Tips & Warnings
If you wish to remain anonymous, fill out the online form but select the option that says "Do NOT reveal my name to my Employer."
If you want an official from OSHA to visit the workplace and perform an onsite inspection you must submit a written request.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit workplace image by Andrey Kiselev from Fotolia.com
