OAR 437-004-0251
Safety Committees and Safety Meetings


Definitions:
Management — includes all supervisors and persons who regularly exercise direction and control over workers.
Workers — for the purposes of determining the need for a safety committee, include both full and part-time employees.
Purpose. The purpose of safety committees and safety meetings is to bring workers and management together in a non-adversarial, cooperative effort to promote safety and health in each workplace. A safety committee assists the employer by establishing procedures, performing inspections, evaluating safety and health programs, and recommending changes in workplace conditions and practices. By participating in safety meetings, workers and management work together to recognize hazards and to make safety and health improvements at the workplace.

(1)

Application: This applies to agriculture employers with workers other than seasonal workers covered in OAR 437-004-0240 (Safety Orientation for Seasonal Workers).

(2)

General Requirements.

(a)

You must either have an effective safety committee or hold effective safety meetings. (See Table 1.)

(b)

If you have employees with language barriers, you must communicate safety awareness information in a manner that workers can understand. Include content that is either translated into the language used to hire and supervise these employees or that is otherwise effectively conveyed, such as through visual media.

(c)

If you are a labor contractor, you must have a committee or meetings based on the number of employees that you direct and control.
NOTE: Nothing in these rules prevents you from having seasonal workers attend safety meetings.
Table 1
IF: You can have a You can have safety safety committee meetings instead of a safety committee
You have 10 or fewer
workers at a location: Yes Yes
You have more than
10 workers at a location: Yes No
You have satellite or auxiliary
worksites with 10 or fewer
workers at each location: Yes Yes

(3)

Safety Committees.

(a)

Management’s Duties.

(A)

Pay members at their regular rate of pay for attending the meetings, trainings, inspections, and other functions required by this rule.

(B)

Provide committee members with timely access to these rules (OAR 437-004-0251 (Safety Committees and Safety Meetings)) and to all Oregon OSHA standards that apply to their work.

(C)

Respond to safety committee recommendations within a reasonable time.

(b)

Effective Safety Committees. You must ensure that the committee produces at least the following results:

(A)

Employees are aware of the committee, who is on it, when it meets and how information is shared between management and workers.

(B)

Employees are aware of their right to have their safety and health concerns heard by the committee.

(C)

Employees know the employer’s method or system for reporting safety and health concerns, incidents, and accidents.

(c)

Centralized Safety Committee. You may choose a centralized safety committee if all of the following apply:

(A)

You have more than one geographic employment location.

(B)

The locations are close enough to ensure that a joint committee meets the requirements in OAR 437-004-0251 (Safety Committees and Safety Meetings)(2)(b), Effective Safety Committees.

(C)

The joint committee represents the safety and health concerns of all employees at all locations.

(d)

Membership and Training.

(A)

Have at least two members on your committee if you have 20 or fewer workers. Have at least four members if you have more than 20 workers. Members should represent the major activities of your business.

(B)

Have an equal number of employer-selected members and worker-elected or volunteer members. If both parties agree, the committee may have more worker-elected or volunteer members.
NOTE: Management can select a supervisor or other employee to represent them. Workers can volunteer or elect any peer as a representative.

(C)

Provide training on the purpose and operation of the safety committee, in hazard identification, and in the principles of accident investigation.
NOTE: Oregon OSHA provides no-cost, safety committee-related training available through the web site at www.orosha.org/education.html.

(D)

Have members serve a minimum of one year, when possible.

(E)

Have a majority agree on a chairperson.

(e)

Safety Committee Functions. Ensure that the committee does all of the following:

(A)

Meets at least monthly, except in those months when quarterly inspections occur.

(B)

Establishes procedures for doing the quarterly safety and health inspections required by OAR 437-004-0099 (General Standards)(3). Persons performing inspections must be trained in hazard identification.

(C)

Reviews all quarterly safety and health inspection reports and makes recommendations to eliminate identified hazards.

(D)

Works with management to establish procedures for investigating all safety incidents, accidents, work-related illnesses, and fatalities. Persons investigating these events must be trained in the principles of accident investigation.
NOTE: OAR 437-004-0099 (General Standards)(4) requires agricultural employers to investigate every work-related lost-time injury.

(E)

Evaluates all investigation reports and makes recommendations for ways to prevent recurrence.

(F)

Sets guidelines for the training of safety committee members.

(G)

Evaluates the accident and illness prevention programs at the workplace.

(f)

Safety Committee Records.

(A)

Ensure that records have at least the following information.
(i)
Meeting date.
(ii)
Names of those attending.
(iii)
All reports, inspections, evaluations, recommendations, management responses, and other safety and health-related items brought before the committee.
(iv)
The date that management agrees to respond to specific recommendations.

(B)

Make these records available to all employees and to Oregon OSHA representatives, upon request.

(C)

Maintain these records for at least three years.

(4)

Safety Meetings

(a)

Effective Safety Meetings. You must ensure that safety meetings produce at least the following results:

(A)

Employees are aware of safety meetings, when and where they are held, and how information is shared between management and workers.

(B)

Employees know that they have a right to have their safety and health concerns heard and questions answered at safety meetings.

(C)

Employees know the employer’s method or system for reporting safety and health concerns, incidents, and accidents.

(b)

Meeting Requirements. Safety meetings must have all of the following characteristics:

(A)

Include all available employees.

(B)

Include at least one employer representative.

(C)

Be on company time with attendees paid at their regular rate of pay.
NOTE: If you have questions about this, contact the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries.

(D)

Occur at least monthly.

(c)

Meeting content. Safety meetings must include the following:

(A)

Information about safety and health issues relevant to the workplace.

(B)

Reports from quarterly workplace safety inspections and from investigations of any work-related, time-lost injuries, including suggested corrective measures.
NOTE: OAR 437-004-0099 (General Standards)(3) requires a competent person to inspect the agricultural workplace at least quarterly. OAR 437-004-0099 (General Standards)(4) requires agricultural employers to investigate every work-related lost-time injury. See Division 4/A for details.

(C)

Opportunities for employees to ask questions, bring up safety and health concerns, and make suggestions.

(D)

Information that is presented in a manner that can be understood by all employees.

(d)

Meeting Records.

(A)

Meeting notes must include the following information:
(i)
Meeting date.
(ii)
Names of those attending.
(iii)
Topics discussed.

(B)

Keep the records for at least 3 years.

(C)

Make the records available to your employees and to Oregon OSHA representatives, upon request.
NOTE: If all your employees attend a safety meeting, you are only required to record the meeting date and a list of the employees attending.

Source: Rule 437-004-0251 — Safety Committees and Safety Meetings, https://secure.­sos.­state.­or.­us/oard/view.­action?ruleNumber=437-004-0251.

437‑004‑0001
Application
437‑004‑0002
Scope
437‑004‑0003
Exclusive Coverage
437‑004‑0005
Access to Employee Exposure and Medical Records
437‑004‑0099
General Standards
437‑004‑0100
Universal Definitions
437‑004‑0150
Standards Organizations
437‑004‑0240
Safety Orientation for Seasonal Workers
437‑004‑0251
Safety Committees and Safety Meetings
437‑004‑0310
Working Surfaces
437‑004‑0320
Guarding Floor and Wall Openings and Holes
437‑004‑0330
Fixed Industrial Stairs
437‑004‑0340
Portable Ladders
437‑004‑0350
Orchard Ladders
437‑004‑0360
Fixed Ladders
437‑004‑0370
Scaffolding
437‑004‑0380
Manually Propelled Mobile Ladder Stands and Scaffolds (Towers)
437‑004‑0390
Other Working Surfaces
437‑004‑0405
Exits and Emergency Action Plan
437‑004‑0450
Emergency Action Plan
437‑004‑0570
Manlifts
437‑004‑0610
Ventilation
437‑004‑0630
Noise Exposure
437‑004‑0650
Ionizing Radiation
437‑004‑0710
Compressed Gases
437‑004‑0715
Acetylene
437‑004‑0716
Oxygen
437‑004‑0717
Hydrogen
437‑004‑0720
Flammable and Combustible Liquids
437‑004‑0725
Spray Finishing
437‑004‑0770
Explosives and Blasting Agents
437‑004‑0780
Storage and Handling of Liquefied Petroleum Gases
437‑004‑0790
Use of Liquefied Petroleum Gas or Natural Gas in Fields and Orchards
437‑004‑0800
Storage and Handling of Anhydrous Ammonia
437‑004‑0950
Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER)
437‑004‑1005
General Requirements for Protective Equipment
437‑004‑1020
Personal Fall Protection
437‑004‑1030
Work Clothing
437‑004‑1035
Eye and Face Protection
437‑004‑1041
Respiratory Protection
437‑004‑1050
Head Protection
437‑004‑1060
Hand, Foot, and Extremity Protection
437‑004‑1070
Working Underway on Water
437‑004‑1075
Working Over or In Water
437‑004‑1105
Sanitation
437‑004‑1110
Field Sanitation for Hand Labor Work
437‑004‑1115
COVID-19 Workplace Requirements for Employer-Provided Labor Housing
437‑004‑1120
Agricultural Labor Housing and Related Facilities
437‑004‑1140
Lighting
437‑004‑1150
Safety Colors for Marking Physical Hazards
437‑004‑1180
Accident Prevention Signs
437‑004‑1250
Confined and Hazardous Spaces
437‑004‑1260
Manure Lagoons, Storage Ponds, Vats, Pits and Separators
437‑004‑1275
The Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout)
437‑004‑1305
Medical Services and First Aid
437‑004‑1430
Sources of Fire
437‑004‑1440
Required Postings
437‑004‑1450
Extinguishers
437‑004‑1460
Fire Prevention Plan
437‑004‑1470
Employee Equipment and Training
437‑004‑1505
Air Receivers and Pressure Systems
437‑004‑1525
Boilers and Steam Systems
437‑004‑1610
General Requirements
437‑004‑1630
Conveyors
437‑004‑1670
Automotive Hoists
437‑004‑1680
Storage of Hazardous Chemicals
437‑004‑1700
Forklifts and Other Powered Industrial Trucks
437‑004‑1750
Helicopters
437‑004‑1805
Rope, Chain, Rigging, and Hoists
437‑004‑1825
Tackle and Hoisting Equipment
437‑004‑1910
General Equipment Guarding
437‑004‑1940
Farm Field Equipment
437‑004‑1970
Farmstead Equipment
437‑004‑2000
Powered Saws
437‑004‑2100
Grinders
437‑004‑2220
General Requirements — Small Tools
437‑004‑2230
Guarding and Operation of Portable Powered Tools
437‑004‑2240
Power Lawnmowers
437‑004‑2260
Other Portable Tools and Equipment
437‑004‑2310
General Requirements
437‑004‑2350
Oxygen-Fuel Gas Welding and Cutting
437‑004‑2400
Arc Welding and Cutting
437‑004‑2810
General Requirements
437‑004‑2850
Temporary Lighting and Wiring
437‑004‑2860
Flexible Cable and Extension Cords
437‑004‑2870
Attachment Plugs and Receptacles
437‑004‑2880
Cord and Plug-Connected Equipment
437‑004‑2900
Grounding and Bonding
437‑004‑2950
Switches and Circuit Breakers
437‑004‑3000
Identification and Load Ratings
437‑004‑3050
Work Near Overhead Lines
437‑004‑3075
Agricultural Buildings with Special Hazards
437‑004‑3100
Excavation
437‑004‑3410
Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Vehicles
437‑004‑3420
Working from Vehicles and Vehicle Loads
437‑004‑3430
Training for Agriculture Tractor Operators
437‑004‑3460
Industrial Vehicles
437‑004‑3480
Bridges, Roads and Ramps
437‑004‑3550
Servicing Multi Piece and Single Piece Rim Wheels
437‑004‑3600
Roll-Over Protective Structures (ROPS) for Tractors in Agriculture
437‑004‑3650
Roll-Over Protective Structures — Industrial Vehicles
437‑004‑3660
Vehicle-Mounted Elevating and Rotating Work Platforms
437‑004‑6000
Adoption by Reference of Federal Standard
437‑004‑6001
Expiration and Implementation Dates
437‑004‑6401
Effective dates for worker training programs in Oregon
437‑004‑6405
Restrictions Associated With Outdoor Production Pesticide Applications
437‑004‑6406
Pesticide Spray Drift and Innovative Methods
437‑004‑6501
Handler training programs in Oregon
437‑004‑6502
Oregon requirements for Worker Protection Standard trainers of handlers who qualify using train-the-trainer programs
437‑004‑6508
Respiratory Protection
437‑004‑6509
Emergency eye-washes and eye flushing supplies
437‑004‑9000
Oregon Rules for Air Contaminants
437‑004‑9010
Fumigated Areas.
437‑004‑9050
Asbestos
437‑004‑9090
13 Carcinogens
437‑004‑9600
Lead
437‑004‑9620
Cadmium
437‑004‑9626
Chromium (VI)
437‑004‑9640
Benzene
437‑004‑9650
Bloodborne Pathogens
437‑004‑9710
Acrylonitrile
437‑004‑9720
Thiram
437‑004‑9740
Ethylene Oxide
437‑004‑9760
Formaldehyde
437‑004‑9780
Methylendianiline
437‑004‑9800
Hazard Communication Standard for Agricultural Employers
437‑004‑9830
Retention of Department of Transportation (DOT) Markings, Placards and Labels
437‑004‑9850
Pipe Labelling
437‑004‑9860
Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories
Last Updated

Jun. 8, 2021

Rule 437-004-0251’s source at or​.us