Your right to refuse dangerous work
When danger is imminent, a worker may stop work and evacuate. Dismissing or penalising you for that is illegal.
When you can stop
- Safety guards are missing or broken
- Protective equipment is not provided
- Something looks about to collapse, or you smell gas
- You are told to work at height without a harness
- You are told to enter a confined space without measurement
- There is a risk of electric shock
- Weather conditions — heavy rain, strong wind — are dangerous
Steps
- Stop and move to safety.
- Tell the supervisor — specifically what is dangerous.
- Keep records — photos, messages, the time.
- Do not resume until it is fixed.
- If nothing is done, report it to KOSHA 1544-3088 or 1350.
- Report immediately if you are penalised.
What you need
- Photos or video of the hazard
- A record of telling the supervisor (messages)
- Colleagues as witnesses
Where to go
- 1544-3088 KOSHA · www.kosha.or.kr
- 1350 Ministry of Employment and Labor
- 119 if you are in danger now
- Your local support centre for foreign workers
- 112 if there is coercion or threats
Questions people ask
They say I'll be fired if I refuse. Penalising a work stoppage over imminent danger is illegal. Record the threat itself and report it to 1350.
All my colleagues just do it. Custom does not guarantee safety. Accidents happen exactly where "we've always done it this way".
I'm not sure what counts as imminent danger. If it feels dangerous to you, stop first and ask. You can call 1544-3088.
What about pay for the stopped time? A legitimate work stoppage must not disadvantage you. Get advice from 1350.
Take care
Your life is worth more than a day's pay. Accidents happen on the "just this once" job. Stopping is your right, and a company that blames you for stopping is the one in the wrong.
Related
protective-equipment · safety-training · workplace-injury-first-steps · industrial-accident-basics
Source
KOSHA www.kosha.or.kr / As of 2026-08