Complaints
How to File a Safety and Health Complaint with SC OSHA
The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 gives employees and their representatives the right to file a complaint and request an OSHA inspection of their workplace if they believe there is a serious hazard or their employer is not following OSHA standards. Workers do not have to know whether a specific OSHA standard has been violated in order to file a complaint. The complaint should be filed as soon as possible after noticing the hazard or lack of compliance because OSHA citations may only be issued for violations that currently exist or existed in the past 6 months.
Complaint Filing Options
Go to the Online Complaint Form.
Written complaints that are signed by workers or their representative and submitted to the SC OSHA Office are more likely to result in onsite OSHA inspections.
Download the OSHA complaint form and instructions (or request a copy from the SC OSHA Office).
Complete it and then fax or mail it back to the SC OSHA Office. Written complaints that are signed by a worker or representative and submitted to the SC OSHA Office are more likely to result in onsite OSHA inspections. Please include your name, address and telephone number so we can contact you.
Address:
- 121 Executive Center Dr., Suite 230
- Synergy Business Park
- Columbia, SC 29210
Fax number: (803) 896-7670
SC OSHA Office at (803) 896-7825.
SC OSHA staff can discuss your complaint and respond to any questions you have.
Additional Information
A hazard is a condition, practice or act which could result in an injury or illness to an employee.
SC OSHA recommends that employees try to resolve safety and health issues first by reporting them to their supervisors, managers or the workplace safety and health committee. At any time, however, employees can file a complaint with the SC OSHA. SC OSHA's jurisdiction is limited to workplaces within South Carolina and includes only hazards that currently exist or have existed within the past six months.
Employees or their representatives have a right to 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" exists. Anyone who knows about a workplace safety or health hazard may file a complaint.
Employees or their representatives must provide enough information for SC OSHA to determine that a hazard possibly exists. Employees do not have to know whether the specific OSHA standard has been violated in order to file a complaint.
If you believe you have been retaliated or discriminated against at work for complaining of, filing or being involved with a health or safety issue, you may file a complaint online.