When it comes to workplace safety, knowing your worker rights is the first step in protecting yourself from potential hazards. Under the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), workers are entitled to a range of protections that ensure they can perform their jobs in a safe and healthy environment. From the right to report unsafe conditions to the right to receive proper training and equipment, OSHA sets the standard for worker safety across industries.
Worker Rights Under OSHA
The Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act) gives workers the right to safe and healthy working conditions. It is the employer’s responsibility to provide a workplace that is free from known dangers that could harm employees. The OSH Act gives workers important rights to participate in activities to ensure their protection from hazards.
- Receive workplace safety and health training in a language you understand
- Work on safe machines
- Refuse to work in unsafe situations that may expose you to hazards
- Receive required safety equipment, such as gloves or fall protection equipment
- Be protected from toxic chemicals
- Request an OSHA inspection and speak to an inspector
- Report an injury or illness, and receive copies of your medical records
- Review records of work-related injuries and illnesses
- And, see results of tests taken to find workplace hazards, such as hazard identification and risk assessments
Your Right to File a Complaint
Worker’s also have the right to file a complaint with OSHA, including a Safety and Health Complaint and a Whistleblower Complaint. You have the right to file a safety and health complaint if you believe working conditions are unsafe or unhealthful. You also have the right to file a whistleblower complaint if you believe your employer retaliated against you for exercising your rights as an employee.
As a worker, you are protected from retaliation. Thanks to OSHA, it is illegal for an employer to fire, demote, transfer, or retaliate in any other way, against you for filing complaints with OSHA for using your legal rights.
Employer Responsibilities
As a worker, it is important to be aware of what your employer’s responsibilities are. Employers must provide employees with a workplace that does not have serious hazards and must follow OSHA standards and regulations. Additionally, employers must:
- Prominently display OSHA’s “It’s The Law” poster that describes rights and responsibilities under the OSH Act
- Inform workers about hazards through training, labels, alarms, color coded systems, chemical information sheets, and additional methods
- Train workers in a language and vocabulary they can understand
- Keep accurate records of work related injuries and illnesses
- Perform tests in the workplace, such as air sampling, required by some OSHA standards
- Provide hearing exams or other medical tests required by OSHA
- Post OSHA citations and injury and illness data where workers can see them
- Notify OSHA within 8 hours of a workplace fatality or within 24 hours of any work related inpatient hospitalization, amputation, or loss of an eye
- And, not retaliate against workers for using their rights under the law
Conclusion
Understanding your OSHA worker rights is crucial for maintaining a safe and healthy workplace. OSHA provides essential protections that ensure you’re working in an environment free from unnecessary hazards, with access to necessary training, equipment, and proper reporting channels. By knowing your rights, you can take steps to protect yourself and your colleagues from unsafe conditions and advocate for better practices.