503 U.S. 115 (1992)
Collins v. City of Harker Heights is a landmark decision by the United States Supreme Court that addressed the scope of civil rights protections available to public employees under 42 U.S.C.
Does a public employee have a constitutional right to a safe working environment under the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, such that a municipal government can be held liable under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 for failing to provide it?
The Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment does not create a constitutional duty on the part of the government to ensure the safety of its employees from risks not caused by the government itself.
The Supreme Court held that the city's failure to train or warn its employees about safety issues did not infringe upon the substantive due process rights of the employee under the Fourteenth Amendment. The Court concluded that the Constitution does not guarantee a safe working environment for public employees.
Collins v. City of Harker Heights is an important case for law students as it reinforces the principles concerning the limits of governmental liability under Section 1983 for workplace safety in public employment. It illustrates the judiciary's cautious approach in extending constitutional protections to the domain of employment and workplace conditions, focusing instead on preventing abuses of governmental power. This decision is fundamental in shaping the legal discourse around substantive due process and its applicability regarding negligence and omission without direct government culpability.