If you are told to do work that could kill or seriously injure you, ask your employer to correct the hazard or assign other work. OSHA says refusal is protected only when all four conditions are met: where possible, you asked the employer to eliminate the danger and the employer failed to do so; you genuinely believe an imminent danger exists; a reasonable person would agree there is a real danger of death or serious injury; and the urgency leaves no time to use regular enforcement channels. Remain at the worksite unless your employer orders you to leave. A Section 11(c) retaliation complaint must be made to OSHA within 30 days of the alleged reprisal.
Checked against official OSHA, NIOSH, CDC and Texas pages on October 16, 2026. This page explains rules and where to get help. It is not legal or medical advice, and it does not replace your employer's safety training.
When refusing may be protected
OSHA says the right to refuse a task is protected when all four conditions are met:
- Where possible, you asked the employer to eliminate the danger, and the employer failed to do so.
- You refuse in good faith because you genuinely believe an imminent danger exists.
- A reasonable person would agree there is a real danger of death or serious injury.
- The urgency leaves too little time to use regular enforcement channels, such as requesting an OSHA inspection.
Retaliation
- OSHA: “It is illegal for an employer to fire, demote, transfer, or otherwise retaliate against a worker for complaining to OSHA.”
- Section 11(c) of the OSH Act: file within 30 days. OSHA runs more than 20 whistleblower laws, with deadlines from 30 to 180 days.
- File online at whistleblowers.gov (OSHA's preferred method), by phone, in person, or by fax, mail or email.
Where to get help in Texas
Federal OSHA offices cover private-sector employers and workers in Texas. Call 800-321-6742 or contact one of the nine Texas area offices: Austin, Corpus Christi, Dallas (in Richardson), El Paso, Fort Worth, Houston North (in Conroe), Houston South, Lubbock and San Antonio. A safety and health complaint may be filed anonymously or by a representative.
Free tool: refusal conditions check
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OSHA's four conditions
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Sources
- OSHA: Workers right to refuse dangerous work
- OSHA: Workers rights
- Whistleblowers.gov: How to file a complaint
- OSHA: File a safety and health complaint
- OSHA area offices in Texas
- OSHA: State Plans
