Agriculture

Overview

Like cultivating a crop, cultivating a safe workplace requires commitment and knowing what to do. Oregon OSHA’s most violated agriculture rules include: toilet and hand washing facilities for hand labor work, living areas and site requirements for agricultural labor housing, no safety committees or safety meetings, and no written hazard communication program.

Publications

Apps-mobile/online
- Prácticas de Seguridad Cuando se Trabaja con Químicos Agrícolas Peligrosos - versión para teléfono celular
  Safe practices when working around hazardous agricultural chemicals - mobile version
  Ayuda a los trabajadores entender como reducir los peligros de los pesticidas.
  Spanish 07/17/2015
- Safe practices when working around hazardous agricultural chemicals - mobile version
  Helps workers understand how to reduce the dangers from pesticides.
  English 07/17/2015
Brochures/Guides
- Air you breathe: Oregon OSHA's respiratory protection guide for agricultural employers
  Describes how to protect your employees from agricultural respiratory hazards and how to develop an effective respiratory protection program.
  English Order printed copy 08/31/2018
- Business readiness guidebook for Oregon marijuana operations
  The guidebook is intended to provide applicants and licensees with knowledge and tools for establishing and operating OLCC-licensed recreational marijuana businesses.
  English 06/30/2016
- Cultivate a safe agricultural workplace
  Offers general rule-related requirements and recommendations for agricultural employers to create a safer workplace.
  English 06/06/2012
- Fighting farmland and rangeland wildfires
  A reference guide for employers engaged in Oregon OSHA’s agriculture activities (Division 4).
  English Order printed copy 07/30/2019
- Heat safety: Water. Rest. Shade.
  Describes the two types of heat illness: heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Gives tips on how to stay safe and healthy when working in the heat.
  English Order printed copy 05/01/2019
- Personal protective equipment: Selecting the right PPE for pesticide use
  Helps employers and employees understand the requirements for personal protective equipment (PPE) that are listed on pesticide product labels. Gives general advice about best practices for cleaning, maintaining, and storing PPE along with guidelines for choosing the most effective PPE from head to toe.
  English Order printed copy 10/30/2018
- Prácticas de seguridad cuando se trabaja con químicos agrícolas peligrosos
  Safe practices when working around hazardous agricultural chemicals
  Ayuda a los trabajadores entender como reducir los peligros de los pesticidas.
  Spanish Order printed copy 06/03/2019
- Safe practices when working around hazardous agricultural chemicals
  Covers safe practices for employees who work around hazardous chemicals and pesticides.
  English Order printed copy 06/03/2019
- Safety committees and safety meetings quick guide - agriculture
  Describes how to comply with Oregon OSHA's safety committees and safety meetings requirements for agricultural employers: 437-004-0251.
  English Order printed copy 08/15/2012
- Seguridad sobre el calor: Agua. Sombra. Descansos.
  Heat safety: Water. Rest. Shade.
  Describe el agotamiento por el calor, la insolación, y las maneras importantes para prevenir estas enfermedades.
  English Order printed copy 05/01/2019
- Worker Protection Standard reference guide
  Describes what employers must do to comply with the Worker Protection Standard and gives Oregon-specific requirements.
  English Order printed copy 03/11/2020
Cards
- Cold stress card
  Describes the symptoms of frostbite and hypothermia, with instructions on how to help sufferers.
  English Order printed copy 08/19/2005
- Heat stress card
  Describes the symptoms of heat stress and heat stroke, with instructions on how to help sufferers.
  English Order printed copy 08/19/2005
- Tarjeta de estrés por el calor
  Heat stress card
  Describe los síntomas de agotamiento por el calor e insolación, con instrucciones en cómo ayudar a los afectados
  Spanish Order printed copy 08/19/2005
- Tarjeta de estrés por el frío
  Cold stress card
  Describe los síntomas de congelación parcial y la hipotermia, con instrucciones en cómo ayudar a los afectados
  Spanish Order printed copy 08/19/2005
Fact sheets
- All-terrain vehicles (ATVs)
  Read this fact sheet to find out what you should know about using an ATV on the job.
  English 02/08/2016
- Aluminum phosphide and fumigation management plans for burrowing pests
  Describes Aluminum phosphide health hazards and how to prepare a fumigation management plan for burrowing pests
  English 03/19/2014
- Aluminum phosphide and fumigation management plans for structures
  Describes aluminum phosphide health hazards and how to prepare a fumigation management plan for structures.
  English 03/19/2014
- Chemical storage guidelines - agricultural pesticides and chemicals
  Describes where to store agricultural pesticides and chemicals, safe practices for storing chemicals, and how to respond to emergencies.
  English 10/03/2018
- COVID-19 Temporary rules regarding field sanitation, housing, and transportation related to agriculture
  This fact sheet explains Oregon OSHA's temporary rules regarding field sanitation, housing, and transportation related to agriculture as they relate to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  English 10/26/2020
- Field sanitation for agricultural hand labor
  Describes requirements for drinking water, toilets, and hand-washing facilities that must be provided for workers who do agricultural hand labor.
  English 11/12/2019
- Hazard communication in agriculture - GHS training requirements
  GHS training requirements for agricultural employers.
  English 11/06/2014
- Personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements for agriculture
  Outlines Oregon OSHA's PPE requirements for agricultural employers, including examples of hazards with the appropriate PPE.
  English 03/27/2013
- Protección de la respiración - agricultura
  Respiratory protection - agriculture
  Describe como proteger a los trabajadores de respirar sustancias dañinas y resume las partes de un programa efectivo de protección de la respiración.
  Spanish 11/07/2007
- Protecting Oregon’s agricultural workers from tractor hazards
  Provides information about tractor hazards, along with safety measures to better protect tractor operators.
  English 09/08/2017
- Respiratory protection - agriculture
  Describes how to protect employees from breathing harmful substances and summarizes elements of an effective respiratory protection program.
  English 04/17/2009
- Respiratory protection - agriculture
  Describes agricultural employer's responsibilities for protecting employees who are exposed to respiratory health hazards. Also summarizes the elements of an effective respiratory protection program
  Russian 11/07/2007
- Safety committees and safety meetings - agriculture
  Summarizes the key requirements for Oregon OSHA's safety committee and safety meeting rule for agricultural employers - 437-004-0251.
  English 01/05/2011
- Safety orientation for seasonal workers in agriculture
  Explains the requirements of 437-004-0240, Safety Orientation for Seasonal Workers, which applies to agricultural employers who hire seasonal workers.
  English 02/23/2012
- Water temperatures referenced in Oregon OSHA's rules
  Defines the various water temperature terms and requirements that ensure employers provide workers with cold, cool, tepid, warm, or hot water for drinking, bathing, hand washing, laundering clothes, etc.
  English 11/20/2012
Forms
- Fumigation management plan for burrowing pests
  This plan is required by the fumigant label to be completed for every application of aluminum or magnesium phosphide products for burrowing rodents. Common names for these products include: Fumitoxin, Phostoxin, Gastoxin or Phosfume.
  English Word version 01/05/2012
- Heat Illness Prevention Plan
  Sample written program for heat illness prevention.
  English Word version 04/12/2018
- Plan de Prevención de la Enfermedad Por el Calor
  Heat Illness Prevention Plan
  Programa escrito de muestra para la prevención de enfermedades por calor.
  Spanish Word version 04/12/2018
- Respiratory protection: Agriculture-specific example program for employees required to wear respirators during normal work operations
  An example agriculture-specific respiratory protection form for when respirators are REQUIRED for normal work operations and emergencies.
  English Word version 10/31/2014
- Respiratory protection: An agriculture-specific example program for employees who choose to wear respirators
  An example agriculture-specific respiratory protection form for the voluntary use of respirators.
  English Word version 10/31/2014
- Worker Protection Standard required pesticide information
  Worker Protection Standard required pesticide information
  English Word version 10/31/2014
- WPS Handler Training Record
  Agriculture employers are required to document each pesticide handler’s training and maintain that documentation for two years from the date of the training.
  English Word version 03/25/2019
- WPS Worker Training Record
  Agriculture employers are required to document each worker’s training and maintain that documentation for two years from the date of the training.
  English Word version 03/25/2019
Hazard alerts
- Biosolides - potential risks to workers exposed to Class B biosolids
  This guidance is for controlling health risks to workers from Class B biosolids during handling and land application.
  English 07/30/2002
- Engulfment and suffocation in grain bins
  Hazard alert on engulfment and suffocation in grain bins.
  English 10/03/2011
- Equipo para la cosecha de avellanas
  Filbert harvesting equipment
  Describe los peligros en el proceso de la cosecha de avellanas y provee una guía para el desarrollo de operaciones seguras.
  Spanish 05/31/2016
- Farm Tractors to Move Large Bales
  Beginning in the mid-1970s, standard small-bale forage balers began to be replaced by large-bale balers in the agricultural industry. The chance for serious injury or death to workers grows with the size and weight of bales. Bales that weigh more than 750 pounds put workers at especially high risk.
  English 07/01/2001
- Filbert harvesting equipment
  Describes the hazards of the filbert harvesting process and gives guidelines for safe operations.
  English 04/26/2016
- Ignition hazard from drilling into sealed frames of agricultural equipment
  Do not drill, cut, weld, or otherwise penetrate sealed frames of agricultural equipment.
  English 07/05/1998
- Lime sulfur reacts to form deadly hydrogen sulfide gas
  Hazard alert on how lime sulfur reacts to form deadly hydrogen sulfide gas.
  English 04/08/2013
- Transporte de trabajadores en vehículos y maquinarias agrícolas por caminos públicos
  Transporting workers on agricultural vehicles and farm equipment over public roadways
  Explica los requisitos al conducir vehículos agrícolas y transportar trabajadores por vías públicas.
  Spanish 05/29/2020
- Transporting workers on agricultural vehicles and farm equipment over public roadways
  Explains the requirements when driving agricultural vehicles and transporting workers over public roadways.
  English 05/29/2020
Labels and stickers
- Léa, antes de lavar la ropa que usó mientras aplicaba pesticidas
  Washing clothes worn while applying pesticides
  ¡La ropa que usó mientras aplicaba pesticidas puede estar contaminada! Aplique esta imán en máquinas lavadoras y secadoras que podrían ser usadas por trabajadores que usan pesticidas.
  Spanish Order printed copy 02/15/2011
- Washing clothes worn while applying pesticides
  A magnet with instructions on how to wash clothing worn while applying pesticides
  English Order printed copy 02/15/2011
Posters
- Aviso de sanidad en el campo
  Field sanitation notice
  Explica a los trabajadores acerca de los requisitos de sanidad en el campo y los riesgos individuales a la salud.
  Spanish Order printed copy 02/01/2019
- Con agua uno rinde mas
  Heat safety poster
  Lista de consejos para prevenir enfermedad por el calor.
  Spanish
- Field sanitation notice
  A bright 8 1/2 x 11-inch notice on weatherproof paper that informs field workers of their employer's responsibilities to provide safe drinking water, toilets, and handwashing facilities.
  English Order printed copy 02/01/2019
- Protejése de los pesticidas
  Protect yourself from pesticides poster
  This poster contains pesticide safety information that is required under the Worker Protection Standard.
  English and Spanish Order printed copy 07/25/2017
- Stopping for water keeps you going.
  Gives tips to prevent heat illness.
  English 06/24/2011
Quick facts
- Comités de seguridad y reuniones de seguridad para trabajadores agrícolas
  Safety committees and safety meetings for agriculture workers
  Comités de seguridad y reuniones de seguridad para trabajadores agrícolas. Lo que trabajadores del campo necesitan saber sobre los comités de seguridad y las reuniones de seguridad. - | - Safety committees and safety meetings for agriculture workers. What agriculture workers need to know about safety committees and safety meetings.
  Spanish 03/25/2011
- Las volcaduras de tractores
  Tractor rollovers
  Las volcaduras de tractores son los accidents que causan mayor pérdida de vida en las granjas. ¡Usted puede prevenir volcaduras de tractores! Las volcaduras de tractores son los accidentes que causan mayor pérdida de vida en las granjas. - | - Tractor rollovers are the most deadly accidents on farms. You can prevent tractor rollovers! Tractor rollovers are the most deadly accidents on farms.
  Spanish 06/30/2011
References
- Rules with requirements
  We get many calls and emails from employers asking the same question. It begins: “Which of your rules have requirements for…” You can finish the sentence with words like “recordkeeping,” “employee training,” and “written documents.” To answer those questions, we’ve organized these rules requirements into a filterable, sortable, searchable table.
  English 05/10/2019

Education and training

No items are currently available

PESO
- Hazard Communication in Agriculture - GHS
  Comunicación de Riesgo en la Agricultura - SGA
  Overhead English
- Hazard Communication in Agriculture - GHS
  Comunicación de Riesgo en la Agricultura - SGA
  Overhead Spanish
- Hazard Communication in Agriculture - GHS
  Comunicación de Riesgo en la Agricultura - SGA
  Tailgate Spanish
- Hazard Communication in Agriculture - GHS
  Comunicación de Riesgo en la Agricultura - SGA
  Workbook Spanish
- Hazard Communication in Agriculture - GHS
  Comunicación de Riesgo en la Agricultura - SGA
  Tailgate Spanish
- Hazard Communication in Agriculture - GHS
  Comunicación de Riesgo en la Agricultura - SGA
  Overhead English
- Hazard Communication in Agriculture - GHS
  Comunicación de Riesgo en la Agricultura - SGA
  Overhead Spanish
- Hazard Communication in Agriculture - GHS
  Comunicación de Riesgo en la Agricultura - SGA
  Workbook Spanish

Rules and rule-related

Advisory Committee

Small Agricultural Employer

Final Rules
- Division 4, Agriculture
  2-2018
- Division 4, Subdivision A, General Subjects
  4-2010 Word version
- Division 4, Subdivision B, Definitions
  3-2014 Word version
- Division 4, Subdivision C, Safety Awareness
  4-2010 Word version
- Division 4, Subdivision D, Work Surfaces
  9-2006 Word version
- Division 4, Subdivision E, Exits/Plans
  9-2006 Word version
- Division 4, Subdivision F, Manlifts
  4-1998 Word version
- Division 4, Subdivision G, Health/Environment
  9-2006 Word version
- Division 4, Subdivision H, Hazardous Materials
  3-2014 Word version
- Division 4, Subdivision I, Protective Equipment
  4-2012 Word version
- Division 4, Subdivision J, Work Environment
  4-2011 Word version
- Division 4, Subdivision K, Medical/First Aid
  4-2010 Word version
- Division 4, Subdivision L, Fire
  3-2014 Word version
- Division 4, Subdivision M, Compressed Gasses
  4-1998 Word version
- Division 4, Subdivision N, Material Handling
  3-2014 Word version
- Division 4, Subdivision O, Equipment Guarding
  9-2006 Word version
- Division 4, Subdivision P, Small Tools
  7-2008 Word version
- Division 4, Subdivision Q, Welding
  2-2010 Word version
- Division 4, Subdivision S, Electricity
  9-2006 Word version
- Division 4, Subdivision T, Miscellaneous
  9-2006 Word version
- Division 4, Subdivision U, Vehicles
  9-2006 Word version
- Division 4, Subdivision W, Worker Protection Standard
  2-2018 Word version
- Division 4, Subdivision Z, Chemical/Toxins
  3-2014 Word version
Interpretations
- Anhydrous ammonia in agricultural farm supply businesses
  10/15/2010
- Division 4, agriculture clarifications
  08/21/2002
- Fish hatcheries
  02/25/2011
- Jurisdiction for farms when the farm's only employees are family members
  08/23/2011
- Number of toilets per person in fixed work area
  12/07/2005
- Pesticide labels and eyewash requirements
  08/02/2007
- Roll-Over Protective Structures Exemption Clarification for Low Profile Tractors and Side-By-Side All Terrain Vehicles
  This guidance memo contains a number of questions and answers to use as examples and provide clarification in relation to the exemption of Roll-over protective structures (ROPS) for tractors used in orchards 437-004-3600(5)(a), and when that exemption can be utilized.
  07/02/2020
- Using orchard ladders for other than orchard work
  12/06/2007
- Waterless hand sanitizer use in agriculture
  07/08/2011
Program Directives
- Inspection Criteria: Inspection Exemption for Agricultural Small Employers
  Purpose: Provide guidance to assist the compliance officer in determining when an agriculture employer meets the inspection exemption requirements of OAR 437-001-0057(12).
  A-214 05/04/2015
- Inspection Criteria: Scheduling Lists for Safety and Health Inspections
  Purpose: This Program Directive explains how the safety and health scheduling lists will be created and the criteria and ranking factors that will be used to identify the places of employment the Director believes to be the most unsafe in the state of Oregon.
  A-244 05/10/2012
- Local Emphasis Program (LEP): Field Sanitation
  Purpose: To establish and implement an LEP for field sanitation inspections and to provide guidelines for the inspection of agricultural establishments covered by the Field Sanitation Standard in Division 4, Agriculture.
  A-174 08/11/2011
- Local Emphasis Program (LEP): Pesticides
  Purpose: To establish methods the enforcement staff will use to provide effective, efficient and consistent enforcement inspections in the variety of occupational sites where pesticides are made, used and stored.
  A-235 02/28/2018
- Workplace Water Quality Standards
  Purpose: This directive establishes field procedures for Oregon OSHA staff who will evaluate the adequacy of potable water from drinking water sources such as public or private water systems, wells or springs.
  A-237 04/15/2019
Summary of comments and decisions

Video Resources

Borrow from the Resource Center

Agriculture
See available titles
Borrow DVDs about Agriculture from the Resource Center

Watch Online

English
- Application Exclusion Zone (AEZ) Explained
  This video explains Oregon OSHA's application exclusion zone in the worker protection standard
  English 5 minutes
- U.S. Agricultural Safety and Health Centers YouTube Channel
  This channel is a joint effort by all 10 Agricultural Safety and Health Centers to share the videos we have created. Video playlists include: Heat Illness (Español/Spanish), Livestock Safety, Forestry and Logging Safety, Needlestick Prevention, Pesticide Safety, and many more.
  English various
- Work Smarter Not Harder grant projects video
  Developed by the Oregon Association of Nurserymen by a workplace education and training grant from Oregon Occupational Safety and Health (Oregon OSHA)
  English 15:06 minutes
Spanish
- Christmas Tree Harvest Safety grant project video
  Learn how to protect yourself while harvesting Christmas trees. Learn about protective clothing, equipment, techniques, and general safety guidelines.
  Spanish 25.32 minutes
- Pesticide Safety for Agricultural Workers
  Available in both English and Spanish languages. EPA Approved training video for training agricultural workers about pesticides and the Worker Protection Standard (WPS). This video satisfies the pesticide safety training requirement for workers under the revised WPS effective January 1, 2016.
  Spanish 18:28 minutes
- Zona de Exclusión de aplicación (AEZ) Explicado
  Application Exclusion Zone (AEZ) Explained
  Este video explica la zona de exclusión de aplicación de Oregon OSHA en el estándar de protección del trabajador.
  Spanish 5 minutos

Additional Resources

Federal OSHA's Campaign to Prevent Heat Illness in Outdoor Workers

Washington State Dept. of Labor & Industries Agriculture information

Washington State's Hop Dust and Respiratory Disease Fact Sheet

COVID-19-Related Rule Updates

Infectious Disease Advisory Committee

Temporary Rule and Appendix Addressing COVID-19 Workplace Risks(AO 3-2020, November 6, 2020 & AO 4-2020 December 11, 2020)

Overview Table for Oregon OSHA COVID-19 Temporary Rule
Questions and Answers (Spanish)
Fact Sheet: COVID-19 Temporary Rule for All Workplaces (Spanish)
Fact Sheet: Provisions with Delayed Effective Dates (Spanish)
COVID-19 Hazards Poster
- English and Spanish
Model Policy for Notification of Employees when COVID-19 Exposure Occurs
- Word document or PDF
- Spanish Word document and PDF

Employers need NOT submit their exposure risk assessment, infection control plans, employee training information, etc. to the Agency in advance for review or approval.

Exposure Risk Assessment Form
- *Fill-in Word document and Print version
Infection Control Plan
- *Fill-in Word document, Spanish, and Print version
Training materials in English and Spanish
- Training verification form Not required by the rule, but we are providing one as a courtesy.

* The following Risk Assessments and Infectious Control Plans are provided as examples, and may not reflect every situation or all hazards in your workplace. These sample programs should only be used as reference sources and not as a replacement of conducting a Hazard Assessment or Infection Control Plan specific to your workers and workplace.

Example Risk Assessment
Sample Items to Consider for Risk Assessment
- Fill-in Word version and Spanish
Example Infection Control Plan
Sample Items to Consider for Infection Control Plan
- Fill-in word version and Spanish

Clarifying the Relationship between Temporary COVID-19 Rulemaking and other ongoing rulemaking activities.
Spanish - Aclarando la relación entre la reglamentación temporal sobre el COVID-19 y otras actividades en curso de reglamentación.

The Temporary rule addressing the COVID-19 emergency in employer-provided housing, labor-intensive agricultural operations, and agricultural transportation was set to expire on October 24, 2020. On October 23, 2020 Governor Brown issued an Executive Order (20-58) extending the requirements of employer-provided housing (Section 2) of the Temporary Rule. Labor-intensive agricultural operation (Section 1) and agricultural transportation (Section 3) of the temporary rule expired on October 24, 2020 and are no longer in effect.

Executive Order (20-58)
Supplemental ALH Checklist
Temporary Rule Fact Sheet
The following resources do not reflect the expiration of Sections 1 and 3, but continue to be available to provide guidance on Section 2 (Housing)
- Questions and Answers document about temporary emergency rule (Spanish)
- Video (Spanish)

Highlights

Field Sanitation for Agricultural Hand Labor
thumbnail image of Factsheet

Quick guide to safety committees and safety meetings for agriculture employers
thumbnail image of guide