Advancing and improving workplace safety and health for all workers in Oregon

Jurisdiction

Overview

Plain language can describe almost any concept clearly – except Oregon OSHA’s jurisdiction. It’s complicated, and the devil is buried in the details. In fact, it’s easier to explain the kinds of employers that do not fall under Oregon OSHA’s jurisdiction. They include:

Independent contractors, sole proprietors, and partnerships that have no workers’ compensation insurance coverage and no employees.
Corporations that have an owner as the sole employee and have no workers’ compensation insurance coverage.
Corporate family farms that employ only family members.

In addition, Oregon does not have jurisdiction over most maritime operations adjacent to navigable waters, commercial diving activities originating from an object afloat, construction activities on floating vessels in navigable waters, the U.S. Postal Service, U.S. military installations, and tribal and Indian-owned enterprises.

Delve into the details in Oregon OSHA’s Program Directive A-231: Jurisdiction: independent contractors, limited liability corporations (LLCs), partnerships, corporate officers, and corporate family farms.

Publications

References
- Guide to jurisdiction in OSHA, Region 10
  Federal civilian employers are covered by OSHA throughout the four-state region. State, county, municipal and other non-federal public employers are covered by state programs in Washington, Oregon, and Alaska. There is no state program in Idaho, and OSHA's coverage of public employers in Idaho is limited to the federal section; OSHA regulates virtually all private employers in Idaho.
  English 11/27/2018

Education and training

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Rules and rule-related

Interpretations
- Application of rules and sole proprietorship
  06/27/1997
- Jurisdiction for farms when the farm's only employees are family members
  08/23/2011
- Jurisdiction of city, state & county employees
  11/18/2007
- Jurisdiction of employees working on mine property
  11/18/2007
- Jurisdiction of tribal and Native-American owned enterprise
  12/01/1998
- Jurisdiction over non-profit organizations
  11/18/2007
- Law enforcement
  12/03/2012
- OSEA Act
  11/18/2007
- Recordkeeping requirements for prisoners
  11/18/2007
- Volunteer fire departments
  11/18/2007
Program Directives
- Jurisdiction: Independent Contractors, Limited Liability Companies, Partnerships and Corporate Officers.
  Purpose: This directive provides inspection assistance related to Oregon OSHA jurisdiction over independent contractors, LLCs, partnerships, corporate officers, and corporate family farms. This program directive replaces PD-210.
  A-231 11/17/2015
- Jurisdiction: Mine Safety and Health Administration
  Purpose: To clarify who has jurisdiction over the mining industry.
  A-114 03/21/2001
- Jurisdiction: OSHA and U.S. Coast Guard Authority Over Vessels
  Purpose: To inform OR-OSHA staff of the existence of a federal program directive.
  A-228 08/25/2005
- Memorandum of Understanding Between Federal OSHA and Employment Standards Administration, Wage and Hour Division, OSHA Instruction CPL 2.92
  Purpose: This directive is to inform OR-OSHA staff of the existence of an agreement between Federal OSHA and ESA concerning jurisdiction and referral methods for observed violations of labor and safety rules.
  A-170 10/21/1993
- Memorandum of Understanding Between the Occupational Safety & Health Administration, Oregon OSHA, and the United States Coast Guard
  Purpose: To inform Oregon OSHA staff of the existence of federal program directive.
  A-195 04/12/2012
- Multi-employer Workplace Citation Guidelines
  Purpose: These guidelines provide directions to compliance officers on how to issue citations at multi-employer worksites.
  A-257 12/15/2006
- Radiation: Inspecting NRC - Licensed Nuclear Facilities
  Purpose: This directive is to inform OR-OSHA staff of the existence of a federal Memo of Understanding between OSHA and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and OR-OSHA's involvement with it.
  A-201 01/18/2008

Video Resources

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Additional Resources

Interagency agreements