HR and Workplace Safety: Oregon

Federal law and guidance on this subject should be reviewed together with this section.

Author: Leanne Coffman

Summary

• Oregon has a federally approved State Plan governing the safety and health of workers. See Overview.
• OR-OSHA has several divisions, which share the central mission of advancing and improving workplace safety and health for all employees in Oregon. See Divisions of OR-OSHA.
• Oregon sponsors two voluntary compliance programs: the Safety And Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP) and the Voluntary Protection Program (VPP). See Compliance Programs.
• Oregon has safety standards that are more protective than federal standards. See Compliance Overview.
• Oregon lists additional reporting requirements apart from the federal requirements. See Reporting Injuries and Fatalities.
• Oregon requires employers covered under OR-OSHA to implement a written Safety and Health Program. See Safety and Health Program.
• The majority of Oregon employers must implement an effective safety committee. See Safety Committees.
• Oregon prohibits employers from barring or discharging an employee from employment or otherwise discriminating against any employee or prospective employee because they have engaged in certain protected activities, including making a complaint about unsafe working conditions. See Whistleblower and Retaliation Protections.
• There are COVID-19 compliance requirements relating to face coverings, testing and notice. See COVID-19 Compliance Requirements.
• Employers must comply with Oregon's Heat Illness Prevention Rules that apply whenever an employee performs work activities, in indoor or outdoor environments, where the heat index reaches or exceeds a certain temperature. See Heat Illness Prevention.
• Employers must implement certain measures aimed at protecting employees exposed to fine particulate matter found in wildfire smoke. See Employee Exposure to Wildfire Smoke.
• OR-OSHA's strategic plan includes methods to reduce musculoskeletal injuries through outreach and the use of voluntary services. See Ergonomics.
• OR-OSHA issues its own safety and health posters, which must be posted in the same manner as the federal OSHA poster. See Posters.
• Oregon has a two-year statute of limitations for individuals to sue for personal injuries. See Statute of Limitations.
• Several Oregon laws place restrictions on cell phone usage while operating a motor vehicle. See Driving Policies.
• Oregon does not have specific civil rights laws that limit or prohibit drug testing in the workplace. However, certain laws do restrict breathalyzer testing without consent. See Drug and Alcohol Testing as a Safety Measure.