Oregon OSHA
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A state agency that oversees workplace safety has announced it will start dropping in on businesses to make they’re complying with requirements intended to control the COVID-19 outbreak.
Since Gov. Kate Brown ordered many businesses shut and required others to maintain social distancing last month, the Oregon Occupational and Safety Health Administration has received complaints that workers are being put at risk of exposure to the virus.
From March 2 through April 12, the agency received 2,887 complaints related to the COVID-19 outbreak, more than the 2,000 complaints it typically receives annually, according to Oregon OSHA. Over 1,200 of those complaints were filed during the week of March 23 when the governor issued her order.
Employers in Marion and Polk counties generated 238 complaints, according to Oregon OSHA data. They include large government employers, including the Oregon Department of Corrections. They also include private employers, such as Amazon and Salem Health.
Oregon OSHA has asked employers who’ve been subject to complaints to respond to the allegations. Spot checks are intended to confirm that employers are actually taking steps they told the agency they were to prevent the spread of the virus.
“This approach will allow us to verify the responses to complaints that we’ve received so far from employers while focusing our enforcement resources on those employers most likely to be in continued non-compliance,” said Michael Wood, administrator for Oregon OSHA, in a statement.
Aaron Corvin, spokesman for Oregon OSHA, said in an email that spot checks are focused on checking on sites that have been the subject of a complaint. He said spot checks involve agency staff visiting worksites to see what signs are posted and stepping inside to see if social distancing guidelines are being followed. He said that Oregon OSHA will be checking a variety of industries, including businesses that have been ordered to close to the public.
He said that the agency indicated that it has previously conducted about two dozen spot checks. Currently, there are 75 enforcement officers, as well as managers and other staff bringing total staff involved in the effort to 120, he said.
“This particular spot check system we’ve introduced is unique to the pandemic,” said Corvin. “Although our normal inspection process includes confirmation of actions taken to correct hazards.”
The spot checks are less time-consuming and resource-intensive than inspections, which can take weeks to complete. The agency has opened a dozen on-site inspections. So far, no citations have been issued.
Contact reporter Jake Thomas at 503-575-1251 or [email protected] or @jakethomas2009.
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