Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination Is Illegal—and “Right to Know” Matters
“Know your rights workplace discrimination is illegal” is a message many employees recognize from required labor posters, but it’s also a practical reminder: you have the right to a workplace free from unlawful discrimination and a right to know about hazards at work. While anti-discrimination protections are generally enforced under federal and state employment laws, OSHA’s role is essential to the “right to know” side of the equation—especially when chemical hazards, training, and Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) are involved.
In this article, we’ll connect the dots between the know your rights poster concept and OSHA’s worker protections—so employees and employers understand what must be communicated, posted, trained, and documented.
What “Right to Know” Means Under OSHA
OSHA’s “right to know” is most closely tied to the Hazard Communication Standard (HazCom), 29 CFR 1910.1200. This standard requires employers to inform and train employees about hazardous chemicals in their workplace.
Core HazCom rights employees should expect
Under 29 CFR 1910.1200, workers generally have the right to:
- Access Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) for hazardous chemicals they work with or may be exposed to
- Receive training on chemical hazards, protective measures, and how to read labels and SDSs
- See proper labeling on shipped containers and workplace containers (as applicable)
- Understand the employer’s written Hazard Communication Program and where chemicals are used/stored
Important: OSHA’s HazCom standard is about hazard information and training—not discrimination law. But communication failures can create unequal access to safety information, which can compound workplace issues and risk.
Where “Workplace Discrimination Is Illegal” Fits In
The phrase “know your rights workplace discrimination is illegal” reflects a separate set of legal protections that address discriminatory treatment based on protected characteristics (such as race, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, and more depending on jurisdiction). Those protections are typically enforced by the EEOC and state agencies.
So why mention it in an OSHA “right to know” conversation?
Because access to safety information must be consistent
Even when the underlying law differs, a safety program fails if hazard communication is inconsistent—for example, if training is not provided to certain shifts, if materials are not accessible to non-English speakers where needed, or if workers are discouraged from asking questions.
OSHA’s HazCom standard requires training to be effective and provided at the time of initial assignment and when new hazards are introduced. Employers should take steps to ensure training is understandable and available to the workforce that actually faces the exposure.
The “Know Your Rights Poster” and Workplace Posting Requirements
Many people use the term know your rights poster to refer to mandatory workplace postings. Employers may be required to post various federal/state notices (e.g., wage and hour notices, anti-discrimination notices, and OSHA notices).
From an OSHA perspective, one of the most recognized posting requirements is:
OSHA “Job Safety and Health” poster
OSHA requires most covered employers to display the OSHA Job Safety and Health: It’s the Law poster (commonly OSHA Poster 3165). This poster explains workers’ rights, including the right to:
- Work in conditions that do not pose a risk of serious harm
- Receive information and training about hazards, methods to prevent harm, and OSHA standards
- Review records of work-related injuries/illnesses in certain cases
- File a complaint and request OSHA inspection
- Exercise rights without retaliation
Retaliation for raising safety concerns can trigger enforcement under OSHA’s anti-retaliation provisions (often associated with Section 11(c) of the OSH Act). While separate from discrimination law, this is another “know your rights” protection that matters in day-to-day safety culture.
Chemical Hazard Communication: Practical Rights Employees Can Use Today
Knowing your rights is only helpful if you know what to ask for and what “good” looks like. Here’s what employees can reasonably expect in a compliant HazCom program.
SDS access: immediate and without barriers
Under 29 CFR 1910.1200(g), employers must maintain SDSs and ensure they are readily accessible to employees when they are in their work areas during each work shift.
Employees should be able to:
- Find SDSs quickly (not “ask someone who’s not here”)
- Access them during nights/weekends if work occurs then
- Use SDS information during an incident (spill, exposure, fire)
Labels: clarity, consistency, and GHS alignment
Under 29 CFR 1910.1200(f), shipped containers must be labeled and workplace labeling must communicate hazard information. Labels should match the chemical and hazards present, and employees should be trained on label elements and pictograms.
Training: understandable, job-relevant, and updated
Under 29 CFR 1910.1200(h), training must cover:
- Requirements of the HazCom standard
- Operations where hazardous chemicals are present
- The location/availability of the written HazCom program, chemical list, and SDSs
- Methods to detect chemical presence or release
- Physical and health hazards
- Protective measures (engineering controls, work practices, PPE)
- Details of labeling systems and SDS format
Employer Best Practices: Build “Right to Know” Into Your Safety System
Compliance is the baseline; strong safety culture goes further. Employers can reduce risk (and confusion) by strengthening how hazard information is managed and communicated.
Maintain a complete chemical inventory
A chemical inventory is central to HazCom because you can’t communicate hazards you haven’t identified. A solid inventory includes:
- Product name as it appears on the label/SDS
- Manufacturer/supplier
- Location(s) of use/storage
- Quantity on hand and typical use
- Dates received and expiration (where applicable)
Keep SDSs current and easy to retrieve
Outdated SDSs and broken binder systems are common failure points. A modern approach is using a centralized, searchable SDS library.
SwiftSDS supports this by providing a secure, cloud-based SDS library with mobile access, so employees can quickly pull up SDS information from a phone, tablet, or workstation—helping satisfy the “readily accessible” intent of 29 CFR 1910.1200(g).
Connect “Right to Know” with incident response
Workers should know, before an incident occurs:
- Where eyewash/showers are located
- Who to notify
- How to reference SDS sections for first aid, spill cleanup, and firefighting measures
SwiftSDS can help by making SDSs available on the floor, in the field, or at multiple facilities—supporting faster decisions during spills or exposures.
A Simple Workplace Checklist: Are You Meeting the “Right to Know” Standard?
Use this quick self-audit to spot gaps:
- Is the OSHA “Job Safety and Health” poster displayed where employees can see it?
- Do you have a written Hazard Communication Program (29 CFR 1910.1200(e))?
- Do you maintain a current hazardous chemical inventory?
- Are SDSs readily accessible during every shift without delays (29 CFR 1910.1200(g))?
- Are containers labeled appropriately (29 CFR 1910.1200(f))?
- Do employees receive effective initial and refresher training when hazards change (29 CFR 1910.1200(h))?
- Can employees access SDSs on mobile devices or at remote job sites?
If any answers are “no,” the fix is often straightforward—especially when SDS storage, inventory, and access are centralized.
Learn More and Take Action
Knowing your rights at work includes understanding that workplace discrimination is illegal and that you also have an OSHA-backed right to know about hazardous chemicals, training, and safety procedures. Employers who make hazard information easy to find and easy to understand protect workers and reduce compliance risk.
If your SDS binder is outdated, hard to search, or inaccessible across shifts, it’s time to modernize.
Call to action: Streamline your Hazard Communication program with SwiftSDS—centralize your SDS library, track chemical inventory, and give employees fast mobile access to the information they need. Explore how it works by visiting SwiftSDS SDS Management or request a walkthrough at Contact Us.