You can refuse work you believe is unsafe.
In Ontario, if you have a real reason to think a job is likely to hurt you or someone else, you can refuse to do it, and you keep getting paid while it's sorted out. Your employer can't punish you for it. Here's the exact process and its limits.
Free. No payment to start. This is information, not legal advice.
In 30 seconds, here's what's true
- Under Ontario's health and safety law (OHSA), you can refuse work you have reason to believe is likely to endanger you or another worker. You only need a genuine reason, not proof.
- When you refuse, you stay at work in a safe spot, and you're entitled to be paid at your regular rate while it's investigated.
- Your employer investigates with you and a safety rep. If it's not resolved, either side calls a Ministry of Labour inspector, who makes a decision.
- Your employer can't fire, discipline, or threaten you for refusing unsafe work or for using your safety rights. That's called a reprisal, and it's against the law.
- Some workers have a limited right, like police, firefighters, and some health-care staff, when the danger is a normal part of the job or refusing would put someone else in danger.
How the process works
Report it right away
Tell your employer or supervisor that you're refusing the work and exactly why you think it's unsafe. Do it as soon as the concern comes up.
Stay put and stay safe
Wait in a safe place near your work station. You stay on the clock during this first stage, so you should keep getting paid.
Take part in the investigation
Your employer looks into it with you and a health and safety rep present. Explain the hazard clearly and stick to the facts.
Call in an inspector if needed
If you still believe it's unsafe after the investigation, you can keep refusing, and you or your employer can call a Ministry of Labour inspector to investigate and decide.
Push back on any punishment
If you're disciplined or fired for refusing, that's a reprisal. A non-union worker can file a complaint with the Ontario Labour Relations Board, where the employer has to prove it wasn't punishment.
What to do next
- Make sure your reason is about a real safety risk to you or a co-worker.
- Tell your supervisor you're refusing, and why, right away.
- Stay in a safe place nearby, don't just go home.
- Take part in the workplace investigation with a safety rep.
- Keep notes: what the hazard is, who you told, and when.
- Ask for a Ministry of Labour inspector if it's not resolved.
- Check whether your job has a limited right to refuse.
- If you're punished, file a reprisal complaint with the OLRB.
Common myths
| Myth | Reality |
|---|---|
| I need solid proof before I can refuse. | No. You just need a real reason to believe the work is likely to be dangerous. You don't have to prove the danger first. |
| If I refuse, I can be sent home without pay. | During the first stage you stay at work in a safe place and should keep being paid at your regular rate. |
| My boss can fire me for refusing unsafe work. | No. Punishing you for using your safety rights is a reprisal, and it's illegal. You can complain to the labour board. |
| Only certain jobs can refuse unsafe work. | Most workers have this right. A few jobs have a limited version, but the general right covers the large majority of employees. |
| Health-care and emergency workers can never refuse. | They can, just not when the danger is a normal part of the job or refusing would endanger someone else. Outside that, they have the right too. |
| I should just quietly fix the hazard myself. | You don't have to put yourself at risk. Report it and let the safety process work. That's what it's there for. |
| Refusing means walking off the job. | No. You stay on site in a safe place while it's investigated. Leaving the workplace isn't the same as a legal work refusal. |
| There's no point complaining if they punish me. | There is. At the labour board, once you show you used your rights and got punished, the employer must prove it wasn't a reprisal. |
Last reviewed July 2026
Written and reviewed by the founder of PLAIN, checked against primary government and legal sources. How we research these guides
Sources
PLAIN gives legal information, not legal advice. It is not a substitute for a lawyer or paralegal — and we'll point you to free ones. Laws change; we review these pages regularly, but always confirm current rules with the Ministry of Labour or a licensed professional.
Free. No payment to start. This is information, not legal advice.