Imminent Danger

What It Means

Imminent danger situations receive OSHA's top inspection priority. An imminent danger exists when a condition or practice could reasonably be expected to cause death or serious physical harm immediately or before the danger can be eliminated through normal enforcement procedures. Examples include structural collapse hazards, exposure to explosive atmospheres, workers in a confined space without proper ventilation or rescue equipment, and unprotected workers on scaffolding at great heights during severe weather. When OSHA identifies an imminent danger, the compliance officer will ask the employer to voluntarily remove employees from danger and correct the hazard immediately. If the employer refuses, OSHA can seek an emergency temporary restraining order from a federal district court to shut down the operation or remove workers. This is one of the few situations where OSHA can effectively halt work at a jobsite. Workers also have the right to refuse work they believe poses an imminent danger, provided they have asked the employer to eliminate the hazard and the danger is so urgent that there is insufficient time for OSHA to inspect. Imminent danger inspections frequently result in Willful or Serious citations.

Frequently Asked Questions