OSHA Considering Amendments to Oregon State Standards

Aug. 10, 2004
Oregon wants to amend three of its occupational safety and health standards fall protection, forest activities (logging) and steel erection, so federal OSHA is seeking public comment on the changes.

OSHA's review and approval process for changes to state occupational safety and health standards requires public comment if a state standard differs significantly from the comparable federal standard, or if OSHA needs more information on whether the standard meets its requirements. A state standard must be "at least as effective" as the federal standard. If applicable to a product in interstate commerce, the standard must also be required by local conditions and not unduly burden commerce.

The state of Oregon operates an OSHA-approved state plan administered by the Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division (OR-OSHA) of the Department of Consumer and Business Services. OR-OSHA standards are fully enforceable upon adoption and prior to Federal review and approval. Significant differences in the three standards include:

Forest Industries Oregon's forest industries requirements are more extensive than the federal logging requirements and were developed to address the differences in western-style logging.

Steel Erection Federal OSHA generally requires fall protection at 15 feet and at 30 feet in some cases. Oregon's amended standard parallels the federal fall protection levels. It contains additional requirements, including a written site-specific erection plan, use of tag lines to control loads, and protection with covers or guardrails of large roof and floor openings that can't be decked over.

Fall Protection Oregon's fall protection rules have a higher overall height requirement, but the state does not allow as many alternatives and exceptions as the federal standard and residential construction compliance policy.

About the Author

Sandy Smith

Sandy Smith is the former content director of EHS Today, and is currently the EHSQ content & community lead at Intelex Technologies Inc. She has written about occupational safety and health and environmental issues since 1990.

Sponsored Recommendations

Committing to Safety: Why Leadership’s Role in Safety Excellence is Key

Jan. 13, 2025
Leadership has the power to transform an organization through their behavior and vision, which can result in the creation of an organizational culturethat supports safety excellence...

Speak Up! Cementing "See Something, Say Something" to Drive Safety

Jan. 13, 2025
Many organizations promote "see something, say something" to encourage their people to intervene and make work safe. But most don't go far enough to equip teams with the skills...

The Truth and Challenges of Cultivating Chronic Unease

Jan. 13, 2025
DEKRA announces its latest white paper, “The Truth and Challenges of Cultivating Chronic Unease,” as a definitive look into why being vulnerable to incidents strengthens our commitment...

Mitigating Risks: Strategies for Safeguarding Workers in Hazardous Workplaces

Jan. 13, 2025
Join our expert team in taking on the challenge to make safety part of your organization’s DNA as work, the workforce, and workplaces evolve.

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of EHS Today, create an account today!