Reporter for The Canyon Weekly
New state rules aimed at protecting workers from wildfire smoke take effect July 1, and Oregon OSHA, which enforces the state’s workplace safety and health rules, is offering resources for employers.
Key offerings by OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) include a wildfire smoke online course and a fact sheet about key requirements .
Both documents are available in English and Spanish.
“These new tools underscore our ongoing commitment to provide employers with resources in advance to help them comply with the rule and protect their workers from the potential dangers of wildfire smoke,” said Renee Stapleton, acting administrator for Oregon OSHA, in a press release.
OSHA adopted wildfire smoke and heat rules in May. Both rules include protection for workers who rely on employer-provided housing and those that are part of farm operations. The rules were proposed in February and build on temporary emergency requirements that were adopted in the summer of 2021.
See https://www.oregon.gov/newsroom/Pages/NewsDetail.aspx?newsid=65417 for resources on workers’ rights, free consultations, and information on how to apply the rules to your workplace. There also is a toll-free phone number available: 800-927-1271.
