What can I do if I think a company is breaking OSHA regulations?

Question

A company I work for has very noisy equipment running all day, yet it doesn't offer hearing protection. Is this illegal? If so, how do I go about reporting it?

Answer 1

find someone who got hearing damage and have them visit an attorney.  That would be a personal injury lawsuit.  Gold.  He'll never have to work again. And your company will have to fix the problem

Answer 2

Buy yourself some earplugs sir.  OSHA does inspect companies yearly and some times more if there are infractions.  Perhaps OSHA found the noise level not to be of concern in their yearly inspections.

Answer 3

The first thing I would do, is check the machinery. If it is a noise hazard, there should be a sign on the equipment signifying this. There should also be warnings posted in the area letting everyone know that hearing protection is required.

If hearing protection is required, then your employer must provide that hearing protection. If these things are not occurring then contact OSHA at the url previously given.  

Answer 4

How about getting another job.  

Answer 5

Without knowing HOW load it is, we can't say if there is a regulation that applies.  Assuming the are in violation, OSHA would be the agency to report the situation to.

Answer 6

You report them.  Find out your local office and file a complaint:

http://www.osha.gov/

Answer 7

You can file a complaint.  You need to give them as much info as possible, not just "they are doing it wrong". The problem comes when OSHA knows things when they investigate that only you could have told them, it can be easy for your employer to figure it out. Try to only give details that more people than you might know about (at least at first). Make sure you don't make things up, guess, or embellish anything. You can also call your OSHA regional office to discuss the situation anonymously (third reference).

Answer 8

If you are paid twice the minimum wage, you need to supply your own hearing protection. If paid less,  then the companymust provide at no charge

Continuous noise needs to be above 90 DBA to require hearing protection.  Pretty loud.

Osha or your state OSHA can run tests.

Answer 9

Contact OSHA

http://www.osha.gov/html/Feed_Back.html

Answer 10

There should be a OSHA poster posted where you can see it.  Look for it.  

Answer 11

I would imagine it is. Call OSHA, they should take it from there.

In fact, I am pretty sure that they not only have to provide hearing protection, but they also have to enforce that you wear it. They did in the Navy and they don't have nearly the level of medical liability.