File a Complaint

Contact us if you are an employee in Oregon and would like to report hazards at your worksite or feel you have been discriminated against on the basis of safety and health issues. You can file a complaint via phone or by printing out the complaint form and mailing it to the appropriate office. Contact the closest field office to the employer's location.

Oregon OSHA recommends that employees attempt to resolve safety and health issues by reporting them to their supervisors, managers, or to the safety and health committee.

Complaint Process

Program Directive A-219 establishes policies and procedures for handling complaints relating to workplace safety and health conditions.

Complaints are evaluated by field office managers, and handled one of two ways:

1. An inspection of the alleged hazard(s) at the employer's work site.
2. An inquiry, which is handled by letter or phone and fax to the employer.

OR-OSHA will choose whether to conduct an inquiry or inspection. This allows the division to use resources where the most serious workplace hazards may exist. Employees who request an inquiry may request an on-site inspection of potential violations and hazards if they are not satisfied with the inquiry.

If an inquiry is handled by phone and fax, a division representative calls the employer, describes the alleged hazards and then follows up with a faxed letter. Otherwise, a letter will be mailed by certified mail to the employer. The employer must respond in writing within five days for phone and fax letters, and ten days when sent by mail. The employer must identify any problems found and document actions they have taken or planned to correct the hazard(s). The person who filed the original complaint will receive a copy of the employer's response. If the response is unsatisfactory, an on-site inspection may be requested.

Employees or their representatives may request an inspection of a workplace if they believe there is a violation of a safety or health standard, or if there is any danger that threatens physical harm, or if an "imminent danger" hazard exists. Anyone who knows about a workplace safety or health hazard may contact Oregon OSHA and the hazards will be evaluated.

OR-OSHA will keep the employee's identity confidential at the employee's request. Confidentiality requires a signature as per ORS 654.062(4) of the OSEAct.

Filing a Discrimination Complaint with the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI)

Per ORS 654.062(5) it is an unlawful employment practice to discriminate against any employee or prospective employee because the employee has opposed any practice prohibited by ORS 654.001 to 654.295 and ORS.654.750 to 654.780 (Oregon Safe Employment Act), filed a complaint with OR-OSHA, instituted or caused to be instituted any proceeding under the Oregon Safe Employment Act, or has testified or is about to testify in such a proceeding.

Any employee or prospective employee who believes that they have been barred or discharged from employment, or otherwise discriminated against by any person in violation of the above may, within 30 days after the employee has reasonable cause to believe that a violation has occurred, file a complaint with the Commissioner of the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries alleging discrimination under provisions of ORS 659A.820.