Under OSHA, workers have a right to refuse to do a job that is a serious and immediate hazard. You have protection against retaliation if you had a good reason to think that it was dangerous to do the work. It is hard to decide to refuse a direct order. Your boss may threaten to fire you. (Remember, if you are badly injured or killed, you won’t be able to work, anyway.) Talk to your co-workers – it's easier to convince your boss to make things safe if everyone refuses to do the dangerous job.

If faced with work that might injure or kill you:

  • Make sure the supervisor understands that:
    • You are refusing to do the job because of the serious hazard;
    • You will do the job if the hazard is taken care of;
    • You will do any other work that does not have a serious hazard
  • Ask for the company's safety officer to inspect the hazard.
  • If you have a union, tell the shop steward. Most union contracts give you more protection and rights to refuse dangerous work.
  • Call OSHA and ask for an inspection of an "imminent danger"
  • Stay at the workplace, away from the danger. If you leave work, it's harder to show that you were willing to work.

If two or more workers refuse to work because they reasonably think that there is a hazardous condition (even if it turns out later it was safe), they are protected by the National Labor Relations Act. This can give extra protection for workers to refuse to work, if it's not safe but may not be an "imminent hazard." You have to be at least 2 workers (or 1 worker who is supported by other workers) to be covered.