Worker Rights

California workers have the right to a safe workplace and a number of other more specific rights under the California Occupational Safety and Health Act.

1. Get training from your employer about workplace hazards and workers rights

2. Request information on injuries and illnesses in your workplace and information on hazardous substances in your workplace such as material safety data sheets and exposure records

3. Request action from your employer to correct hazards or violations

4. File a complaint with Cal/OSHA if you believe that there are either violations of Cal/OSHA standards or serious workplace hazards

5. Be involved in Cal/OSHA's inspection of your workplace by participating in the walkaround

6. Find out the results of a Cal/OSHA inspection

7. Get involved in any meetings or hearings to discuss any objections your employer has to Cal/OSHA's citations or to changes in abatement deadlines

8. File a formal appeal of deadlines for correction of hazards

9. File a Cal/OSHA discrimination or whistleblower complaint with the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement

10. Request a research investigation on possible workplace health hazards from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

11. File a petition to the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board for a new standard

12. Participate in developing new standards by joining a Cal/OSHA standards development committee or by providing testimony to the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board at a hearing when the board is considering adopting a new standard.

You can find answers to other frequently asked questions about safety and health rights on the DIR workers’ portal.