Ventilation

Overview

Ventilation is essentially the intentional introduction of outside air into a space. That space could be as large as an entire building or as small as a sewer hole. In large spaces, ventilation is necessary to keep workers comfortable and healthy; in small confined spaces, ventilation may be necessary to keep them alive. Ventilation is one of the most important engineering controls for improving or maintaining the quality of the air in an enclosed space.

Mechanical ventilation uses fans to move air into a space. Remove the fan and you are left with natural ventilation. Don’t confuse ventilation with air that is simply moved around indoors – with a ceiling fan, for example. Access to outside air is essential for ventilation.

There are ventilation requirements in Oregon OSHA’s general industry, construction, and agriculture rules.

All available content

Publications

Checklists
- Environmental controls
  Checklist for environmental controls.
  English
Fact sheets
- Craft distilleries
  Describes the hazards involved in craft distilling, hazard controls, and safe practices for distilling.
  English 11/25/2014
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

Rules and rule-related

Final Rules
- Division 2, Subdivision G, Occupational Health and Environmental Control
  7-2013 Word version
- Division 2, Subdivision Q, Welding, Cutting, and Brazing
  Administrative Order 11-2021 Word version
- Division 3, Subdivision D, Occupational Health and Environmental Controls
  3-2019 Word version
- Division 3, Subdivision J, Welding and Cutting
  6-2014 Word version
Interpretations
- Using PVC for general ventilation
  11/25/2007
Program Directives
- Confined Spaces and Permit Required Confined Spaces in General Industry and Construction
  Purpose: This instruction establishes enforcement policy and provides explanation of the standard to ensure uniform enforcement.
  A-062 12/31/2014
- Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution Facilities
  Purpose: This guide provides inspection assistance related to 1910.269 and a glossary of industry terms to assist OR-OSHA staff performing inspections and consultations at electric power generation, transmission, and distribution facilities.
  A-212 02/03/2017
- Grain Handling Facilities
  Purpose: This instruction provides guidelines for inspections conducted in grain handling facilities and clarifications of 1910.272.
  A-189 04/25/2011
- Indoor Air Quality (IAQ): OR-OSHA Procedures for Assessing and Responding to Complaints and Employer Requests for Assistance
  Purpose: This directive establishes a policy for handling complaints and employer requests for assistance regarding problems with IAQ in any building, and provides guidelines to be used when evaluating IAQ concerns.
  A-252 06/29/2017
- Methylene Chloride
  Purpose: This instruction establishes policies and provides clarification to ensure uniform enforcement of the Occupational Exposure to Methylene Chloride Standard, OAR 437-002-1910.1052, and OAR 437-003-1926.1152.
  A-221 02/07/2002
- Welding, Cutting, or Heating Metals Coated with Lead Based Paint
  Purpose: This directive explains the requirements imposed by rules 1926.353(c)(1) through 1926.354 when welding, cutting, or heating is performed in an enclosed space on metals coated with lead-bearing paint.
  A-009 06/06/2000

Ventilation

Overview

All available content

Publications

Education and training

Rules and rule-related

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