Category: OSHA

Stoel Rives’ Occupational Safety and Health Law attorneys have extensive experience helping clients understand and comply with federal and state occupational safety and health laws and regulations. Our attorneys have extensive experience representing clients in responding to citations that allege violations of safety and health regulations.

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Oregon OSHA Proposes Final, Permanent COVID-19 Safety Rules for Oregon Employers

By John Dudrey and Karen O'Connor on Posted in coronavirus, COVID-19, Oregon, OSHA, Updates, workplace injury
As many of you know, effective November 16, 2020, the Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OR OSHA”) adopted a comprehensive set of workplace safety rules designed to address the COVID-19 pandemic.  (More information about the rules is available here, here and here). These temporary rules remain in effect until May 4, 2021. Late last … Continue Reading

OR-OSHA Publishes Model Infection Control Policy Required by New COVID- 19 Rules

By John Dudrey, Lou Ferreira, Karen O'Connor and Willa Perlmutter on Posted in coronavirus, COVID-19, employer policies, Oregon, OSHA
On November 6, 2020, the Oregon Occupational Health and Safety Administration (“OR-OSHA”) published final temporary rules for workplace safety protections specific to COVID-19. Our alert about the new rules is available here. Among other requirements, the new rules require employers to adopt a COVID-19 Infection Notification policy for notifying exposed and affected employees of possible … Continue Reading

Take Action to Comply with OR-OSHA’s Final Temporary COVID-19 Safety Rules

By John Dudrey, Lou Ferreira, Karen O'Connor and Willa Perlmutter on Posted in coronavirus, COVID-19, employer policies, Oregon, OSHA
On November 6, 2020, the Oregon Occupational Health and Safety Administration (“OR-OSHA”) published final temporary rules for workplace safety protections specific to COVID-19. The text of the final rules is available on OR-OSHA’s website. The effective date for the new rules is November 16, 2020, although the timeline for different requirements under the rules varies. … Continue Reading

Oregon OSHA Releases Near Final Draft of its COVID-19 Standard

By Lou Ferreira and Willa Perlmutter on Posted in News, Oregon, OSHA
Oregon OSHA has released its “Near Final Draft” of a COVID-19 Temporary Standard. This proposed new regulation sets forth a number of new rules for how an employer must operate in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and respond to any positive cases among its employees. The regulation applies to employers and building operators. … Continue Reading

Oregon Now Requires Face Coverings in Public and Private Offices

By Caroline Sundbaum and Laura Rosenbaum on Posted in coronavirus, COVID-19, Oregon, OSHA, Updates
The Oregon Health Authority recently updated the state’s COVID-19 guidance to expand the use of face coverings to public and private offices. Under the new rule, masks, face coverings, or face shields are required at all times for office employees, including in hallways, bathrooms, elevators, lobbies, break rooms, and other common spaces, unless employees are … Continue Reading

OSHA Web Alert: New Enforcement Policy Places Respiratory Hazards Under Employer’s “General Duty”

By Adam Belzberg on Posted in OSHA, Updates
A new enforcement policy from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) states employers may face citations for subjecting their employees to hazardous air contaminants even if the levels are below or not covered by a permissible exposure limit. This new enforcement policy comes from OSHA’s recent memorandum released to the public on December 7, … Continue Reading

OSHA Rescinds Rule on Union Reps Participating in Safety Walk-Throughs

By John Dudrey on Posted in Labor, OSHA
The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) announced late last week that it was rescinding its 2013 “Fairfax” memorandum, which allowed union representatives to participate in workplace safety walk-throughs. Here is the background. Soon after the Occupational Health and Safety Act (“the Act”) passed in 1970, OSHA interpreted the law to allow employees to accompany … Continue Reading

New Drug Testing Rules in Oregon Follow OSHA

By Ryan Kunkel, Carolyn Walker, Tim O'Connell and Jim Shore on Posted in Oregon, OSHA, Practical Tips, Updates, Washington, workplace injury
Employers are probably aware that OSHA’s new drug testing and anti-retaliation rule is now in effect. (See our post here discussing the rule.)  However, as we blogged previously, many states have their own reporting requirements, which are not required to track OSHA’s  rules precisely, but which must be “at least as effective” as OSHA’s rules. … Continue Reading

OSHA Delays Enforcement of New Reporting Requirements for Drug & Alcohol Testing

By Tim O'Connell on Posted in Gov't Agencies, OSHA, Updates
As previously reported, OSHA’s latest revisions for covered employers will dramatically impact routine post-accident drug testing programs.  The new rules are available for review here, but here’s what you need to know: OSHA Postponed Enforcement. OSHA just delayed the date on which it will begin enforcing these new requirements. OSHA’s memo postponing enforcement is available … Continue Reading

OSHA Promotes Workplace Safety by . . . Limiting Drug and Alcohol Testing?

By Ryan Kunkel, Karen O'Connor and Ryan Gibson on Posted in OSHA
Employers that promote workplace safety by ensuring workers are not under the influence of drugs or alcohol after they suffer a workplace injury will soon face greater scrutiny from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”).  A new OSHA rule that goes into effect August 10, 2016 casts serious doubt on whether employers can lawfully … Continue Reading
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