Report an Unsafe Workplace
Confidential. Free. Federally protected from retaliation.
If conditions at your job threaten safety or health, you can file a confidential complaint with OSHA. Federal law protects workers from retaliation for raising safety concerns. This page walks you through the fastest path.
Step 1 — File with OSHA
OSHA accepts complaints online, by phone, by fax, by mail, and in person at any of its 10 regional offices. The fastest paths:
- Online: osha.gov/workers/file-complaint
- Phone: 1-800-321-OSHA (1-800-321-6742)
- Imminent danger: Call OSHA immediately for hazards that pose immediate risk of death or serious physical harm.
Step 2 — What to include
The more specific your complaint, the more likely it triggers an actual inspection:
- Employer name, address, and phone number
- Description of the hazard (be as specific as possible)
- Where the hazard is located on-site
- How many workers are exposed
- How long the hazard has existed
- Photos, video, or documentation, if you can safely obtain them
You can request confidentiality. OSHA will not disclose your name to the employer without your written consent.
Step 3 — Retaliation protection
Section 11(c) of the OSH Act prohibits employers from firing, demoting, transferring, or otherwise discriminating against workers for reporting safety concerns. If you experience retaliation, file a separate whistleblower complaint within 30 days at whistleblowers.gov. See our explainer on filing a complaint without retaliation for the longer playbook.
If your state runs its own OSHA
About half of U.S. states operate their own OSHA-approved safety programs (e.g. California Cal/OSHA, Michigan MIOSHA, Oregon OR-OSHA). In those states, file with the state agency rather than federal OSHA. Federal OSHA’s site lists every state plan and contact info.
Before you file
If you want context on the employer’s existing record before complaining — recent inspections, prior citations, accident history — pull their page from our employer index or use the step-by-step research guide.