We’re dedicated to improving workplace safety and health in Oregon and committed to working with labor, business, and other government agencies to achieve that goal. We carry out our mission in a variety of ways, including:
- Consultation services:
- At no cost, our consultants will show you how to develop a complete program to manage safety and health, including in areas of industrial hygiene, ergonomics, and workplace safety.
- Enforcement:
- We inspect workplaces based on valid complaints, serious injuries, and fatalities and help employers with citations to correct hazards. We review challenges to citations and conduct informal conferences with employers. Informal conferences resolve about 90 percent of appealed cases. We refer unresolved cases to the
Workers’ Compensation Board.
- Laboratory:
- We operate a nationally certified occupational health lab in Wilsonville where we analyze samples of hazardous substances.
- Public education:
- We offer workshops and materials covering basic safety and health programs, and other topics, including safety committees, accident investigations, and job safety analyses.
- Standards and Technical Resources:
- We develop, interpret, and give technical advice on safety and health rules. We also publish safe-practices guides and other materials for employers and workers, as well as manage the Resource Center, which offers safety videos, books, and research assistance.
Our history
The federal Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 became part of national labor law in 1971. Two years later, Oregon passed its own workplace safety and health law: the Oregon Safe Employment Act (OSEA). The state law authorized Oregon OSHA to enforce statewide workplace safety and health rules. We’re part of the
Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services.