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How Do You Report a Workplace Safety Violation?

Find out how to report a workplace safety violation, what details help OSHA evaluate a hazard, and when to use a retaliation complaint instead.

Direct answer

To report a workplace safety violation, use OSHA's safety and health complaint process and describe the hazard, where it is happening, the employer involved, and whether workers are exposed now. If your employer retaliated after you raised the issue, file a whistleblower complaint as a separate or additional path.

current workplace hazard + employer and location details = OSHA safety complaint

Details OSHA can use

Employer name

Identifies the workplace

Company and site name

Worksite address

Routes the complaint

Street, city, state

Hazard description

Explains the violation

Fall hazard, chemical exposure

Where it happens

Helps inspection planning

Line, floor, room, jobsite

Retaliation facts

May trigger another path

Threat, discipline, firing

Detail	Why it helps	Example
Employer name	Identifies the workplace	Company and site name
Worksite address	Routes the complaint	Street, city, state
Hazard description	Explains the violation	Fall hazard, chemical exposure
Where it happens	Helps inspection planning	Line, floor, room, jobsite
Retaliation facts	May trigger another path	Threat, discipline, firing

Not every workplace problem is an OSHA safety violation

OSHA's safety complaint path is for unsafe or unhealthy working conditions. Pay, scheduling, discrimination, and general workplace disputes may belong with another agency unless they also involve a safety or health hazard.

Report the violation

1Identify the unsafe or unhealthy condition and where workers are exposed.
2Gather employer, worksite, hazard, date, and witness details.
3Use OSHA's safety and health complaint path online, by phone, by mail or email, or through a local office.
4Mention whether the hazard is current and whether anyone has already been hurt.
5Use the whistleblower complaint path too if retaliation or threats followed protected activity.

FAQ

What details should I include in a workplace safety complaint?

Include the employer name, address, hazard location, what is unsafe or unhealthy, how long it has been happening, and whether anyone has been injured or threatened.

Can I report a safety violation in any language?

Yes. OSHA says workers can submit oral or written complaints in any language.

What if my employer threatened me after I complained?

Use OSHA's whistleblower complaint path for retaliation or threats, and consider filing a separate safety and health complaint if the hazard is still present.

Sources & method

We reviewed these references while writing this answer. Figures are estimates — confirm safety-critical work with a professional. Last updated June 7, 2026.