How to report a health and safety concern at work?

Answer 1

If you are concerned that some aspect of your workplace is unsafe or not healthy, tell your manager or supervisor. If you are uncomfortable with approaching that person on such a topic, tell one of the following:

• your supervisor's supervisor
• your union representative
• a safety specialist in your workplace
• your personnel or HR contact
• a nurse, first aid volunteer or doctor employed by or for your workplace
• the plant manager
• the president or vice president of the company (write a letter if it is a large company).

If you've tried these without success, then contact the government agency that regulated workplace health and safety in your country, state, province or region.

In the US, that is OSHA or a State OSHA plan. Look them up in the yellow pages or on line. Yes, you have a right to file a complaint with OSHA regarding unsafe or unhealthful conditions in the workplace that are not being addressed by your employer.

But keep in mind that this may be regarded as whistle-blowing if you don't inform the company first (and give it an opportunity to correct the situation). OSHA also enforces protection for those who are discriminated against or retaliated against because they filed a complaint, but some believe that protections for whistle-blowers have eroded somewhat in recent times.

It is the employees' right to health and safety security in the workplace so if ever you are working in a place that is not OSHA compliant, be sure to make ways to be compliant.

In Canada it is usually your Provincial Ministry of Labour, or in a few cases, the Canadian ministry of Labour.

In the UK it is the Health and Safety Executive.

In Australia it is WorkSafe Australia or one of the State equivalents.

The first thing is to share your concerns with your supervisor or manager. If that person is part of your concerns, talk to his or her manager, or to the Human Resources person in your company. If you are member of a Trade union, you can talk to your Union Representative. If your company employs someone to manage their Safety program, you should talk to that person. If still not satisfied, you could try to get the attention of higher level managers, or you can, in many countries, file a complain with the government agency that is responsible for Workplace Safety and Health regulations. In the UK that is the Health and Safety Executive. In Canada it is your Provincial Ministry of Labour or Workers Compensation carrier. In the US it is OSHA or an equivalent state organization.