An employee who believes their workplace presents an unsafe condition may file a confidential complaint with Cal/OSHA. By law, the employee's identity:

Explanation

Labor Code section 6309 requires the Division to keep the name of a complaining employee confidential unless the employee requests otherwise, and an inspector does not tell the employer who complained. The reason is practical rather than sentimental: a complaint is often the only way a hazard becomes known, and a worker who expects to be named will not make one. Option (b) has an instinctive appeal - the employer is answering an allegation - but the Division investigates the CONDITION, and the employer's answer is to show the condition is safe, which does not require a name. Options (c) and (d) delay disclosure rather than withhold it, and a protection that expires is no protection. Section 6310 separately makes it unlawful to discharge or discriminate against the employee who complained.