Oregon workers have a right to safe and healthy workplaces, and employers are obligated to fulfill that right by protecting workers from hazards.
Just like employers, workers have something else to support them: free resources from Oregon OSHA and the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services, of which Oregon OSHA is a division.
Not sure how our complaint process works? Get the facts online, including videos that walk you through the process. Uncertain about whether you can speak up and have your employer address your safety or health concerns? You can. You have the right.
That’s the law. And you have the right to do so free of retaliation. Visit our worker rights and responsibilities page for additional information and resources.
But where do you go when you feel a little lost about how to recognize and protect yourself from common workplace safety and health hazards?
Oregon OSHA has a roadmap for you. It’s called “Your Safety and Rights: A Guide for Oregon Workers.” The guide is comprehensive. It helps you understand your rights to safe and healthy workplaces under the Oregon Safe Employment Act. It covers common safety and health issues at work and what your employer must do to keep you safe. It also provides a directory of community organizations, regulatory agencies, and services.
The guide is available online. Printed copies may be ordered by email: osha.resource@dcbs.oregon.gov.
Whether it’s worker rights videos or publications, Oregon OSHA offers them in multiple languages.
And speaking of videos: We offer free online training on everything from working safely at heights and lockout/tagout to personal protective equipment and safety committees and meetings. Find an online training that meets your needs.
Young workers, who face a greater risk of serious on-the-job injury, have free resources, too. Just visit our topic page, where you’ll also find an online training to help young workers protect themselves while on the job.
Did you know Oregon OSHA offers Workers’ Memorial scholarships to students, GED recipients, and recent graduates who are dependents or spouses of workers killed or permanently disabled by on-the-job injuries? Learn more about a fund that was created in 1991 by the Oregon Legislature to help surviving family members reach their educational goals.
Additional worker safety and health resources
The Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services maintains the Multicultural Communications Program that provides outreach to communities with limited English proficiency. That outreach encompasses information about on-the-job safety and health.
The Ombuds Office for Oregon Workers provides help with understanding workplace safety and health rights, and workers’ compensation rights.