Agricultural labor housing

Topic index

Oregon OSHA appointed an advisory committee to provide recommendations on the estimated fiscal impact of the proposed rule for consideration in preparation of the fiscal impact statements. The fiscal impact advisory committee considered proposed draft fiscal impact statements and recommended amendments. Oregon OSHA considered those recommendations and the work of the committee in preparing the fiscal impact statements for its employer-provided housing rulemaking. Oregon OSHA appreciates the hard work and efforts by the committee to assist Oregon OSHA with this rulemaking. Please note additional information related to Oregon OSHA’s proposed rule for employer-provided housing can be found on the ALH advisory committee page.

Overview

Oregon OSHA’s agricultural labor housing rules apply to any place where there are living areas or other housing provided by someone who recruits workers to work on an agricultural establishment.

Agricultural labor housing for workers who produce or harvest farm crops must be registered with Oregon OSHA, except when the housing is occupied by members of the same family or by five or fewer unrelated people.

After housing is registered with Oregon OSHA, the operator will receive a certificate that must be displayed in a location frequented by employees. The operator of the agricultural labor housing must also provide and display a translation of the certificate in the language or languages used to communicate with the employees.

All available content

Publications

Brochures/Guides
- An overview of the Application Exclusion Zone (AEZ) employer requirements
  Information employers need to provide to employees when enclosed structures are within the designated exclusion zone for an outdoor pesticide application.
  English Order printed copy 08/02/2023
- Application exclusion zone information sheet: steps to take for an AEZ
  Agricultural employer requirements for securing agricultural structures that fall within the Application Exclusion Zone for outdoor crop areas.
  English Order printed copy 11/29/2022
- Application exclusion zone: Oregon OSHA’s Worker Protection Standard
  Information to help employers navigate the Application Exclusion Zone with specific Oregon requirements under the Worker Protection Standard.
  English Order printed copy 02/12/2019
- Cultivate a safe agricultural workplace
  Offers general rule-related requirements and recommendations for agricultural employers to create a safer workplace.
  English 06/06/2012
- Hoja de información sobre la zona de exclusión de la aplicación de pesticidas: pasos a tomar para una AEZ
  Application exclusion zone information sheet
  Requisitos agrícolas para el empleador para asegurar estructuras o edificios agrícolas que están dentro de la zona de exclusión de la aplicación para áreas de cultivo al aire libre.
  Spanish Order printed copy 12/14/2018
- Una descripción general de los requisitos del empleador de la Zona de exclusión de aplicaciones (AEZ)
  Application exclusion zone information sheet
  Información que los empleadores necesitan proporcionar a los empleados, cuando cualquier estructura o edificio agrícola que se puede cerrar cae dentro de la zona de exclusión de la aplicación de pesticidas al aire libre.
  Order printed copy 08/03/2023
- Zona de exclusión de aplicación: Estándar para la Protección del Trabajador de Oregon OSHA
  Application Exclusion Zone: Oregon OSHA’s Worker Protection Standard
  Información para ayudar a los empleadores a navegar por la zona de exclusión de aplicación con los requisitos específicos de Oregon bajo la norma de protección para el trabajador.
  Spanish Order printed copy 03/14/2019
Checklists
- Agricultural labor housing inspection checklist
  A convenient checklist of the requirements in Subdivision 4J, 437-004-1120, agricultural labor housing and related facilities.
  English 03/10/2023
- Lista de verification para la inspección de vivienda de trabajo agrícola
  Agricultural labor housing inspection checklist
  Una lista de verificación conveniente de los requisitos en la Subdivisión 4J, 437-004-1120, viviendas de trabajo agrícola e instalaciones relacionadas.
  Spanish 11/09/2018
Fact sheets
- Key requirements: Oregon OSHA’s amendment to 437-004-1120, addressing high ambient temperatures in labor housing
  Oregon OSHA adopted a temporary amendment to 437-004-1120, Agricultural Labor Housing and Related Facilities, to ensure that workers who live in employer-provided labor housing can recover after working long hours outdoors. This fact sheet describes the amendment’s key requirements.
  English 06/10/2022
- Protection From Wildfire Smoke Rules Key Requirements
  Fact sheet describing the key requirements of Oregon OSHA’s permanent rules for protection from wildfire smoke, effective July 1, 2022. In May 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency modified the calculation for AQI. The requirements based on PM2.5 concentrations in the Oregon OSHA wildfire smoke rules are not changing. For more information, please see the guidance document https://osha.oregon.gov/OSHARules/comments/comments-and-decisions-AO4-2022-wildfire-smoke.pdf
  English Guidance document 06/06/2024
- Requisitos clave: norma de Oregon OSHA sobre las altas temperaturas ambientales en las viviendas laborales
  Key requirements: Addressing high ambient temperatures in labor housing
  Apartir junio 2022, Oregon OSHA adoptó el subpárrafo 25 de las Normas Administrativas de Oregon (OAR) 437-004-1120, Viviendas del Trabajo Agrícola e Instalaciones Relacionadas, con el fin de garantizar que los que viven en viviendas laborales proporcionadas por los empleadores puedan recuperarse después de trabajar muchas horas al aire libre. En esta ficha técnica se describen los requisitos clave.
  Spanish 06/17/2022
- Requisitos clave: reglas para la protección contra el humo causado por los incendios forestales
  Protection From Wildfire Smoke Rules Key Requirements
  Hoja informativa que describe los requisitos clave de las reglas permanentes de la OSHA de Oregón para la protección contra el humo de los incendios forestales, vigentes a partir del 1 de julio de 2022. En mayo de 2024, la Agencia de Protección Ambiental de EE. UU. modificó el cálculo del AQI. Los requisitos basados en las concentraciones de PM2.5 en las normas sobre humo de incendios forestales de la OSHA de Oregón no cambian. Para obtener más información, consulte el documento de orientación https://osha.oregon.gov/OSHARules/comments/comments-and-decisions-AO4-2022-wildfire-smoke.pdf
  Spanish Guidance document 06/10/2024
- 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 08/11/2022
Forms
- Agricultural Labor Housing (ALH) application for registration
  Fill-in form for registering Agricultural Labor Housing
  English 10/19/2024
- 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
Labels and stickers
- Agua no potable! No Tomar
  Bad Water! Do not drink.
  Spanish Order printed copy 05/28/2008
Other
- Does your agricultural labor housing have lead-based paint or asbestos-containing materials?
  English 10/01/2013
Posters
- Heat Risks in Housing
  Poster resource for Heat Illness Prevention in Agricultural Labor Housing
  English 08/02/2021
- Riesgos del Calor en la Viviendas
  Heat Risks in Housing
  Poster resource for Heat Illness Prevention in Agricultural Labor Housing
  Spanish 05/16/2022
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
- Table of Agriculture Labor Housing Requirements
  Tables describing requirements such as: sinks, showers, sleeping rooms, cooking and living space, distances, windows, and more.
  English 07/21/2016

Education and training

Online course
- Curso en línea sobre el humo por incendios forestales
  Wildfire Smoke online course
  Este curso en línea está diseñado para satisfacer 5 de los 10 requisitos de capacitación que se encuentran en las reglas de Oregon OSHA para abordar la exposición al humo causado por incendios forestales.
  Spanish Online course 06/15/2022
- Heat Illness Prevention online course
  This online course is designed to satisfy 5 of the 7 training requirements found in Oregon OSHA’s rules to address heat illness prevention
  English Online course 05/27/2022
- Prevención de Enfermedades causadas por el Calor
  Este curso en línea está diseñado para satisfacer 5 de los 7 requisitos de capacitación que se encuentran en las normas de Oregon OSHA, para abordar la prevención de enfermedades causadas por el calor (OAR 437-002-0156 y OAR 437-004-1151).
  Spanish Online course 05/27/2022
- Wildfire Smoke online course
  This online course is designed to satisfy 5 of the 10 training requirements found in Oregon OSHA’s rules to address exposure to wildfire smoke.
  English Online course 06/10/2022

Rules and rule-related

Advisory Group

Agriculture labor housing

Adopted Rules
- Heat and Wildfire Smoke Rules Summary
Advisory Memo
- Cambios a los requisitos del lugar de trabajo de COVID-19 para todos los lugares de trabajo y requisitos para viviendas laborales proporcionadas por el empleador a partir del 3 de abril de 2023
  Effective April 3, 2023 the COVID-19 rules were withdrawn and all other Advisory Memos in relation to COVID-19 are no longer in effect 03/29/2023
- Changes to COVID-19 Workplace Requirements for All Workplaces and Requirements for Employer-Provided Labor Housing effective April 3, 2023
  Effective April 3, 2023 the COVID-19 rules were withdrawn and all other Advisory Memos in relation to COVID-19 are no longer in effect 03/29/2023
Final Rules
- Division 2, Subdivision J, General Environmental Controls
  Administrative Order 3-2022 Word version
- Division 4, Subdivision J, 437-004-1120, Agricultural Labor Housing and Related Facilities
  Administrative Order 3-2022
- Division 4, Subdivision J, Work Environment
  Administrative Order 2-2023 Word version
Interpretations
- Agricultural labor housing interpretations (Q&A)
  Questions and answers relating to rules and standards for ag labor housing.
  02/23/2024
- Agriculture labor housing (ALH) heater memo
  08/06/2008
- Composting toilets in labor housing
  12/09/1999
- Hot water requirements
  12/12/2000
- Hotels and motels used in employer-provided housing- Policy Guidance
  Policy Guidance: Oregon OSHA policy on the use of hotels/motels in employer-provided housing in response to increased demand for seasonal farmworkers coupled with reduced housing availability, in large part due to significant damage to available housing as a result of wildfires and other pressures to affordable housing in communities across the state.
  04/12/2022
- Labor camp inspection meeting with U. S. Department of Labor
  08/02/1996
- Labor camps, emergency situations (revised April 11, 2003)
  04/11/2003
- Windows in agricultural housing units
  01/06/1999
Program Directives
- Guidelines for Scheduling and Conducting Inspections of Agriculture Labor Housing
  Purpose: To establish and implement procedures and guidelines for inspecting agricultural labor housing by Oregon OSHA personnel.
  A-222 12/12/2018
- 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
- 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
Proposed Rules
- Proposed Comprehensive Amendments to Agricultural Labor Housing and Related Facilities
  Text of proposed changes
Summary of comments and decisions
- Summary of comments and agency decisions regarding proposed changes to agriculture labor housing in the Division 4 Agriculture Administrative Rules
  4-2008
- Summary of comments and agency decisions regarding the rules addressing employee and labor housing occupant exposure to high ambient temperatures
  Administrative Order 3-2022

Video Resources

Borrow 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
  Language: English Length: 5 minutes
- Wildfire smoke protection
  Videos from Wildfire Smoke online course
  Language: English Length: 5 minutes
Spanish
- Protección contra el humo por incendios forestales
  Wildfire smoke protection videos
  Videos del curso en línea Wildfire Smoke Protection de Oregon OSHA.
  Language: Spanish Length: 5 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.
  Language: Spanish Length: 5 minutos

Additional Resources

Agricultural Labor Housing Registry

Application for registering agricultural labor housing

Field Inspection Reference Manual (FIRM)

H-2A Temporary Agricultural Program
see the Oregon Employment Department website
or the U.S. Department of Labor website