How to Report an OSHA Violation

Who can file an OSHA complaint?

Any worker, former worker, or authorized representative (including a union or family member) can file a complaint with OSHA about unsafe or unhealthful working conditions. You do not need to be a U.S. citizen. You do not need to be the person directly exposed to the hazard. Under Section 8(f)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (the OSH Act), OSHA is required to conduct an inspection when it receives a written, signed complaint from a current employee or employee representative alleging an imminent danger or a violation of an OSHA standard.

Contractors, subcontractors, and employees at multi-employer construction sites all have standing to file complaints. If you are a contractor who has observed unsafe conditions created by another employer on a jobsite, you can report those conditions to OSHA as well.

When should you report?

You should consider filing a complaint when you observe or experience any of the following:

• An imminent danger — a condition or practice that could reasonably be expected to cause death or serious physical harm before normal enforcement procedures can address it.
• A violation of an OSHA standard — for example, missing fall protection on a construction site above 6 feet (29 CFR 1926.501), lack of required personal protective equipment (29 CFR 1926.95), or failure to provide hazard communication training (29 CFR 1910.1200).
• An employer who has not corrected hazards previously cited by OSHA.
• A workplace injury, illness, or fatality that suggests underlying safety violations. Note: employers are separately required to report fatalities within 8 hours and in-patient hospitalizations, amputations, or losses of an eye within 24 hours under 29 CFR 1904.39.

How to file an OSHA complaint

OSHA provides several ways to file a complaint. The method you choose affects how quickly OSHA responds and whether a formal on-site inspection is triggered.

Option 1: Call the OSHA hotline

The fastest way to report an imminent danger is to call OSHA directly:

1-800-321-OSHA (1-800-321-6742)

The hotline is staffed Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time. TTY users can call 1-877-889-5627. When you call, an OSHA representative will ask for details about the hazard, the employer, the worksite address, and whether you want your name kept confidential. Imminent danger complaints are prioritized and may result in same-day or next-day inspection activity.

Option 2: File online

You can submit a complaint through OSHA's online complaint form at osha.gov/workers/file-complaint. The form asks for your name and contact information (which can be kept confidential), the employer's name and address, a description of the hazard, and when the condition was observed. Online complaints that are signed and describe a specific hazard are treated as formal complaints and trigger an inspection. Unsigned or vague submissions may be handled as non-formal complaints through a phone-and-fax investigation.

Option 3: Contact your local OSHA area office

OSHA operates area offices across the country. You can visit or call your nearest area office to file a complaint in person. To find your local office, visit osha.gov/contactus/bystate or call the national hotline. Filing in person allows you to discuss the hazard in detail and ask questions about the process. In state-plan states, complaints may be handled by the state agency rather than federal OSHA.

Option 4: Send a written complaint by mail or fax

You can mail or fax a written complaint to your local OSHA area office. Written, signed complaints from current employees are formal complaints and require OSHA to open an inspection. Your letter should include the employer's name and worksite address, a description of the hazardous condition, the approximate number of workers exposed, and your signature. OSHA provides a downloadable complaint form (OSHA Form 7) that you can print and mail.

Option 5: Report through a union or authorized representative

If your workplace is unionized, you can file a complaint through your union representative. The union can file the complaint on your behalf. Authorized representatives, including attorneys and family members, can also file complaints.

Can you file anonymously?

Yes, with important distinctions. You can request that OSHA keep your name confidential — OSHA will not share your identity with your employer. However, truly anonymous complaints (where OSHA does not know your identity) are handled differently. Under OSHA policy, unsigned complaints are classified as non-formal and may be addressed through a phone-and-fax inquiry to the employer rather than a full on-site inspection. For the strongest response, file a signed complaint and request confidentiality.

In practice, even confidential complaints may indirectly reveal the complainant's identity if the hazard described is very specific or only a small number of workers are exposed. OSHA is aware of this and takes steps to protect complainants, but workers should consider this when deciding what details to include.

Whistleblower protections: Section 11(c)

Section 11(c) of the OSH Act prohibits employers from retaliating against workers who exercise their rights under the Act. Protected activities include:

• Filing a complaint with OSHA.
• Participating in an OSHA inspection.
• Reporting a work-related injury or illness.
• Refusing to perform work that poses an imminent danger of death or serious injury (under limited circumstances described in 29 CFR 1977.12).
• Raising safety concerns with the employer.

Retaliation can include firing, demotion, transfer, reduction of hours, intimidation, threats, or any other adverse action taken because an employee exercised their safety rights. If you believe you have been retaliated against, you must file a whistleblower complaint with OSHA within 30 days of the retaliatory action. This is a strict deadline — complaints filed after 30 days are generally dismissed.

To file a whistleblower complaint, call 1-800-321-OSHA or submit the complaint online at osha.gov/whistleblower/WBComplaint. OSHA's Whistleblower Protection Program investigates these complaints separately from safety inspections. If OSHA finds merit, it can order the employer to reinstate the worker, pay back wages, and restore benefits.

What happens after you file a complaint?

The process depends on how the complaint is classified:

Formal complaints (signed, specific hazard)

1. OSHA reviews the complaint and assigns a priority based on severity. Imminent dangers receive the highest priority, followed by fatalities, formal complaints, and referrals.
2. An inspection is scheduled. OSHA is required to inspect in response to formal complaints. The inspection may occur within days for imminent dangers or within weeks for other complaints, depending on the area office's workload.
3. The compliance officer conducts the inspection. This includes an opening conference, walkaround, employee interviews, and a closing conference.
4. OSHA issues citations if violations are found. The employer receives a Citation and Notification of Penalty detailing the violations, proposed penalties, and required abatement dates. For information on penalties, see our OSHA fines and penalties guide.
5. The complainant is notified. OSHA informs the complainant of the inspection results and any citations issued.

Non-formal complaints (unsigned or lacking specificity)

1. OSHA contacts the employer by phone and fax, describing the alleged hazard and requesting a written response.
2. The employer must respond within five working days, describing the conditions and any corrective actions taken.
3. OSHA reviews the response and shares it with the complainant. If the response is inadequate or the complainant is dissatisfied, OSHA may escalate to a formal inspection.

Tips for filing an effective complaint

• Be specific. Describe the exact hazard, its location, the number of workers exposed, and when you observed it. Reference the OSHA standard being violated if you know it.
• Document what you can. Photographs, dates, times, and the names of witnesses strengthen a complaint. Do not put yourself at risk to gather evidence.
• Sign the complaint. Signed complaints trigger mandatory inspections. Unsigned complaints may only result in a phone inquiry.
• Request confidentiality. If you are concerned about retaliation, explicitly request that OSHA keep your identity confidential.
• File promptly. Hazards should be reported while they still exist. If you are reporting retaliation, the 30-day Section 11(c) filing deadline is critical.

State-plan states

In states that operate their own OSHA-approved occupational safety and health programs (state-plan states), complaints are typically filed with and investigated by the state agency rather than federal OSHA. State-plan programs must be at least as effective as federal OSHA, and most follow similar complaint procedures. However, filing deadlines, penalty amounts, and enforcement priorities may differ. For a full list of state-plan states and their agencies, see our OSHA requirements by state guide.

Employer perspective: what to do if a complaint is filed

If you are a contractor and an OSHA complaint is filed against your company, the best response is preparation, not panic. Employers who maintain current written safety programs, conduct regular hazard assessments, and document training are better positioned to respond to inspections and demonstrate good-faith compliance. Having organized safety documentation does not guarantee a clean inspection, but it demonstrates to compliance officers that safety is an active part of your operation — not an afterthought.

For guidance on preparing for inspections, see our contractor guide to OSHA inspections. For guidance on responding to citations, see our OSHA citation response guide.