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For Workers

Know Your Rights

State law entitles you to a safe workplace. Your employer must keep your workplace free of known health and safety hazards. You have the right to speak up about hazards without fear of retaliation. You also have the right to:

  • Receive workplace safety and health training in a language you understand
  • Work on machines that are safe
  • Receive required safety personal protective equipment, such as gloves or a harness and lifeline for falls
  • Be protected when working with toxic chemicals
  • Request a HIOSH inspection
  • Report an injury or illness, and get copies of your medical records
  • Review records of work-related injuries and illnesses
  • See results of tests taken to find workplace hazards

File a Complaint

File a Safety & Health Complaint

If you believe working conditions are unsafe or unhealthful, you may file a confidential complaint with HIOSH and ask for an inspection. If possible, tell your employer about your concerns first.

File a Whistleblower Complaint

It is illegal for an employer to fire, or otherwise retaliate against a worker who complains to HIOSH and uses their rights. If you believe you have been retaliated against in any way, file a whistleblower complaint.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

If you believe working conditions are unsafe or unhealthful, you may file a complaint with HIOSH concerning a hazardous working condition at any time. If possible, bring the conditions to your employer’s attention first. If the condition clearly presents a risk of death or serious physical harm, there is not sufficient time for HIOSH to inspect, and, where possible, a worker has brought the condition to the attention of the employer, the worker may have a legal right to refuse to work in a situation in which he or she would be exposed to the hazard. If you have questions about what to do, contact HIOSH.

Yes, a complaint can be filed on your behalf by: an authorized representative of a labor organization or other employee bargaining unit; an attorney; any person acting as a bona fide representative, including members of the clergy, social workers, spouses and other family members; government officials or nonprofit groups; and organizations acting upon specific complaints and injuries from you or your coworkers. In addition, anyone who knows about a workplace safety or health hazard may report unsafe conditions to HIOSH, and HIOSH will take appropriate actions with the concerns reported.

Each complaint is evaluated on a case-by-case basis to determine whether it should be handled as an off-site investigation or an on-site inspection. Specific written complaints (or filed online) that are signed by workers or their representative and submitted to a HIOSH are more likely to result in on-site HIOSH inspections.

When the HIOSH inspector arrives, workers and their representatives have the right to talk privately with the HIOSH inspector before and after the inspection. A worker representative may also go along on the inspection. Where there is no union or employee representative, the HIOSH inspector must talk confidentially with a reasonable number of workers during the course of the investigation.

If you are injured, call a supervisor for help. If the supervisor is not available, get medical assistance or call 911.

All employers must notify HIOSH:

  • within 8 hours of a workplace fatality, and
  • within 24 hours of any inpatient hospitalization of an employee, employee amputation, employee’s loss of an eye, or excess property damage of $25,000 as a result of work-related incident.

Resources

Occupational Safety and Health

Lea Faka-Tonga (Tongan)

‘Okú ke fie maʻu tokoni ʻi ha lea fakafonua ʻe taha? Temau kumi haʻo taha fakatonulea taʻetotongi. Telefoni ki he (808-586-9116) ke fakahā mai ʻa e lea fakafonua ʻokú ke lea aí.

You have the right to an interpreter at no cost to you.

Occupational Safety and Health

VISAYAN: CEBUANO

Gakinahanglan ka ba ug tabang sa imong pinulongan? Amo kang mahatagan ug libre nga maghuhubad. Tawag sa (808-586-9116) aron magpahibalo kung unsa ang imong sinulti-han.

You have the right to an interpreter at no cost to you.

Occupational Safety and Health

TIẾNG VIỆT: VIETNAMESE

Bạn có cần giúp đỡ bằng ngôn ngữ khác không ? Chúng tôi se yêu cầu một người thông dịch viên miễn phí cho bạn. Gọi (808-586-9116) nói cho chúng tôi biết bạn dùng ngôn ngữ nào.

You have the right to an interpreter
at no cost to you.

Occupational Safety and Health

ภาษาไทย: THAI

คุณต้องการความช่วยเหลือทางด้านภาษาหรือไม่ ทางเราจะจัดหาล่ามฟรีให้คุณ โทรที่เบอร์ (808-586-9116) และบอกเราว่าคุณพูดภาษาอะไร

You have the right to an interpreter
at no cost to you.

Occupational Safety and Health

TAGALOG: TAGALOG

Kailangan ba ninyo ng tulong sa ibang lengguwahe? Ikukuha namin kayo ng libreng tagasalin. Tumawag sa (808-586-9116) para sabihin kung anong lengguwahe ang nais ninyong gamitin.

You have the right to an interpreter
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Occupational Safety and Health

ESPAÑOL: SPANISH

¿Necesita ayuda en otro idioma? Nosotros le ayudaremos a conseguir un intérprete gratuito. Llame al (808-586-9116) y diganos que idioma habla.

You have the right to an interpreter
at no cost to you.

Occupational Safety and Health

GAGANA SAMOA: SAMOAN

E te mana’o mia se fesosoani i se isi gagana? Matou te fesosoani e ave atu fua se faaliliu upu mo oe. Vili mai i le numera lea (808-586-9116) pea e mana’o mia se fesosoani mo se faaliliu upu.

You have the right to an interpreter
at no cost to you.

Occupational Safety and Health

KAJIN MAJÔL: MARSHALLESE

Kwoj aikuij ke jiban kin juon bar kajin? Kim naj lewaj juon am dri ukok eo ejjelok wonen. Kirtok (808-586-9116) im kwalok non kim kajin ta eo kwo melele im kenono kake.

You have the right to an interpreter
at no cost to you.

Occupational Safety and Health

한국어: KOREAN

다른언어로 도움이 필요하십니까? 저희가 무료로 통역을 제공합니다. (808-586-9116) 로 전화해서 사용하는 언어를 알려주십시요

You have the right to an interpreter
at no cost to you.

Occupational Safety and Health

日本語 (JAPANESE)

貴方は、他の言語に、助けを必要としていますか ? 私たちは、貴方のために、無料で 通訳を用意で きます。電話番号の (808-586-9116) に、電話して、私たちに貴方の話されている言語を申し出てください。

You have the right to an interpreter
at no cost to you.

Occupational Safety and Health

ILOKANO: ILOCANO

Masapulyo kadi ti tulong iti sabali a pagsasao? Ikkandakayo iti libre nga paraipatarus. Awaganyo ti (808-586-9116) tapno ibagayo kadakami no ania ti pagsasao nga ar-aramatenyo.

You have the right to an interpreter
at no cost to you.

Occupational Safety and Health

ʻŌLELO HAWAIʻI: HAWAIIAN

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You have the right to an interpreter
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Occupational Safety and Health

KAPASEN CHUUK: CHUUKESE

En mi niit alilis lon pwal eu kapas? Sipwe angei emon chon chiaku ngonuk ese kamo. Kokori (808-586-9116) omw kopwe ureni kich meni kapas ka ani.

You have the right to an interpreter
at no cost to you.

Occupational Safety and Health

中文 – CHINESE Mandarin

您需要其它語言嗎？如有需要, 請致電 (808-586-9116), 我們會提供免費翻譯服 (Traditional)

您需要其它语言吗？如有需要,请致电 (808-586-9116), 我们会提供免费翻译服务 (Simplified)

You have the right to an interpreter at no cost to you.

Occupational Safety and Health

中文 – CHINESE: Cantonese

您需要其它語言嗎？如有需要, 請致電 (808-586-9116), 我們會提供免費翻譯服務 (Traditional)

您需要其它语言吗？如有需要,请致电 (808-586-9116), 我们会提供免费翻译服务 (Simplified)

You have the right to an interpreter at no cost to you.