OR-OSHA proposes new rules for safety committees and safety meetings

Oregon OSHA is developing new rules for establishing and administering employers' safety committees and for holding safety meetings as a result of a bill passed by the 2007 Oregon Legislature.

Nearly all employers will be affected by this new rule because the rule changes apply to every public and private employer operating in the state of Oregon subject to OR-OSHA jurisdiction.

The new law requires Oregon OSHA to adopt new Oregon Administrative Rules for safety committees and safety meetings. The changes to the existing rule, OAR 437-001-0765, are titled Rules for Workplace Safety Committees and Safety Meetings.

The rules for establishing and administering safety committees have minimal changes; however, smaller employers who previously were not required to have safety committees would be required to conduct "safety meetings." Criteria for determining which option an employer may choose are outlined in the body of the rule.

The rules will continue to allow for centralized and innovative safety committees under certain circumstances. Many of the 838 current innovative safety committees will no longer be classified as innovative once the employer is able to exercise the additional options for safety meetings.

Learn more about this rulemaking on the Oregon OSHA web page.

The public also may make comments by calling Oregon OSHA through February 19. Contact Ron Haverkost of OR-OSHA at 503.947.7421.