How to report unsafe conditions at work

This page is general information, not legal advice. It covers safety and health dangers. For pay problems, see How to file a wage claim.

What counts as unsafe at work?

If it could hurt you or a coworker, it is worth reporting. Common examples:

• Machines without guards, or no training on how to use them
• Chemicals with no gloves, masks or eye protection
• Ladders, scaffolds or roofs with no fall protection
• Blocked exits, missing fire extinguishers, broken wiring
• No water, shade or rest in the heat (see Heat at work)
• Mold, bad air, or fumes that make people sick
• Threats or violence from anyone at work
• Being pushed to work too fast to be safe

You do not need to know the exact rule that was broken. Describe what you see. Cal/OSHA decides if it breaks a safety rule.

Work in a private home? Since July 1, 2025, a state law called SB 1350 brought most household workers under Cal/OSHA, such as people working for cleaning companies or home care agencies (Cal/OSHA domestic service FAQ). It does not cover IHSS work or families who hire someone directly for cleaning, cooking or caregiving.

How do I report to Cal/OSHA?

You have two main ways, and you can file at any time:

1. Call the Cal/OSHA district office closest to your worksite. Staff can talk with you about the problem and answer questions. If you need an interpreter, call 833-579-0927.
2. Email the district office. Find the right office by typing your worksite zip code on the Cal/OSHA complaint page.

When you report, give:

• The business name and the exact address where the danger is (not the main office, if it is different)
• What the danger is and where it is in the building or site
• How many people it affects
• How long it has been going on, and whether anyone has been hurt
• Whether you told a supervisor, and what they said
• A way to reach you, if you are willing

Which Cal/OSHA office covers the Bay Area?

These are the Bay Area district offices listed by Cal/OSHA (district offices, checked October 21, 2026). The zip code finder tells you which one covers your worksite.

Outside the Bay Area? The same district office list covers all of California.

What happens after I report?

Cal/OSHA picks one of two paths (Cal/OSHA):

• An inspection. An inspector can show up at your job without warning. Cal/OSHA generally inspects in person for serious and imminent dangers. After the inspection, Cal/OSHA sends its findings to the person who complained. If the employer gets a citation, it must post it at work.
• A letter to your employer. For other problems, Cal/OSHA may send your employer a description of the danger. The employer has 14 days to answer in writing. If you left contact information, you get a copy of the answer. If you are not satisfied, you can ask for an inspection.

Can I refuse to do dangerous work?

Sometimes, yes. California protects a worker who refuses work that would break a safety law or rule and would create a real and apparent hazard to that worker or coworkers (Labor Commissioner, safety retaliation). That is Labor Code 6311.

A separate law, Labor Code 1139, protects workers who refuse to report to, or who leave, a workplace that is unsafe because of an emergency. It also bars employers from blocking your phone when you need it for an emergency or to check on someone's safety (Laws that prohibit retaliation, Labor Commissioner).

If you refuse:

• Say calmly what the danger is and that you will do other safe work.
• Tell a supervisor, and write down who you told and when.
• Report it to Cal/OSHA the same day if you can.

What if my boss punishes me for reporting?

That is illegal retaliation. Your employer may not fire you, cut your hours, move you to a worse shift, threaten you, or treat you worse because you did any of these (Labor Commissioner, safety retaliation):

• Complained about safety or health conditions, for yourself or coworkers
• Reported an injury at work to your employer
• Refused unsafe work as described above
• Served on a safety committee
• Testified or took part in a safety case

How to file. Send a complaint to the Labor Commissioner's Retaliation Complaint Investigation Unit (how to file):

• Online through the retaliation complaint form
• By email to oshaRetaliation@dir.ca.gov
• In person at any Labor Commissioner office
• By mail to 2031 Howe Ave, Suite 100, Sacramento, CA 95825, or 320 W Fourth St, Suite 450, Los Angeles, CA 90013
• By phone at (714) 558-4913. Leave a message. The office says it calls back within one business day.

Deadline: within one year of what your employer did. The law lets the office extend that for good cause, but do not count on it (Labor Code 98.7).

What you can get. If the office finds retaliation, it can order your employer to rehire you, pay lost wages with interest, and pay penalties (Labor Code 98.7). You do not have to use this office before going to court.

If you lose. Only the worker who complained can appeal, to the Director of the Department of Industrial Relations, within 15 days of getting the decision (Labor Commissioner).

Punished for filing a workers' comp claim instead? That goes to the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board, not the Labor Commissioner (Laws that prohibit retaliation). See Hurt at work. For other kinds of punishment, see What counts as illegal retaliation at work.

Does my immigration status matter?

No. The Labor Commissioner says it will not question workers' immigration status and will not report it to other agencies. You do not need a Social Security number or photo ID to file a retaliation complaint (Labor Commissioner).

If your boss threatens to call immigration because you reported a danger, that is its own violation. Starting January 1, 2027, AB 2495 also bars using a worker's perceived status in ways that would scare them out of using their rights, with penalties up to $10,000 per person per violation. See My boss threatens to call immigration.

What mistakes should I avoid?

• Waiting until someone gets hurt. Report early. Cal/OSHA takes reports of hazards, not only injuries.
• Reporting the wrong address. Give the worksite where the danger is.
• Throwing away proof. Keep photos, texts and your notes on your own phone or at home, not on a work computer.
• Taking photos where it is unsafe or banned. Your safety comes first. A clear written description works too.
• Missing the one year retaliation deadline. File as soon as you are punished. Keep gathering proof after.
• Signing papers you do not understand after an injury or a complaint. Ask for a copy and get advice first.

Who can help?

These are free public offices and nonprofit clinics. Contact them to confirm hours, languages and openings. Being listed here is not a referral or a promise of service.

• Cal/OSHA: safety complaints, with phone interpreters at 833-579-0927. File a complaint
• Labor Commissioner: retaliation, with phone interpreters at 833-526-4636. Safety retaliation complaints
• Legal Aid at Work, Workers' Rights Clinic: free and confidential for people within its income limits or age 60 and over. East Palo Alto line: (415) 404-9093. Clinic details
• More local help: see Free help with a work problem in the Bay Area.

Speaking up about danger protects you and the people next to you. You do not have to do it alone.

Questions people ask

Can I report without giving my name? Yes. If you leave no contact information, Cal/OSHA cannot follow up with you, but it still gets the report. If you do give your name, the law keeps it confidential.

Can a family member report for me? Yes. Anyone can describe a danger at a worksite. The more exact the details, the better.

I quit because it was unsafe. Can I still report? Yes. Report the danger to Cal/OSHA. If you were pushed out for complaining, also talk to a clinic about a retaliation complaint and about unemployment.

My employer says the problem is fixed, but it is not. Tell the district office. If you got a copy of your employer's letter, you can ask for an inspection.

Is there a worksheet I can print?