ORS 654.025
Jurisdiction and supervision of Workers’ Compensation Board, director and other state agencies over employment and places of employment

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(1)

The Director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services is vested with full power and jurisdiction over, and shall have such supervision of, every employment and place of employment in this state as may be necessary to enforce and administer all laws, regulations, rules, standards and lawful orders requiring such employment and place of employment to be safe and healthful, and requiring the protection of the life, safety and health of every employee in such employment or place of employment.

(2)

The director and the Workers’ Compensation Board may make, establish, promulgate and enforce all necessary and reasonable regulations, rules, standards, orders and other provisions for the purpose of carrying out their respective functions under ORS 654.001 (Short title) to 654.295 (Application of Oregon Safe Employment Act), 654.412 (Definitions for ORS 654.412 to 654.423) to 654.423 (Use of physical force by health care employee in self-defense against assault) and 654.750 (Definitions for ORS 654.750 to 654.780) to 654.780 (Providing basic information to employees), notwithstanding any other statutory provisions which may be to the contrary. Nothing in ORS 654.001 (Short title) to 654.295 (Application of Oregon Safe Employment Act), 654.412 (Definitions for ORS 654.412 to 654.423) to 654.423 (Use of physical force by health care employee in self-defense against assault) and 654.750 (Definitions for ORS 654.750 to 654.780) to 654.780 (Providing basic information to employees), however, shall authorize or require medical examination, immunization or treatment for those who object thereto on religious grounds, except where such is necessary to protect the health or safety of others.

(3)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(a)

The director may enforce all regulations, rules and standards duly adopted by any other state agency for the safety and health of employees.

(b)

This grant of concurrent jurisdiction and authority to the director shall not be construed, however, as repealing or amending, or as derogating in any respect from, the statutory jurisdiction and authority of any other state agency to promulgate and enforce regulations, rules and standards and to conduct inspections and investigations, except that no other state agency shall issue the citations or assess the civil penalties provided in ORS 654.001 (Short title) to 654.295 (Application of Oregon Safe Employment Act), 654.412 (Definitions for ORS 654.412 to 654.423) to 654.423 (Use of physical force by health care employee in self-defense against assault) and 654.750 (Definitions for ORS 654.750 to 654.780) to 654.780 (Providing basic information to employees).

(c)

In the event a state of facts or condition constitutes a violation of more than one rule, regulation, standard or order of the director or any other agency pertaining to occupational safety or health, the state of facts or condition shall be the basis for the issuance of only one citation and proceeding or the assessment of only one penalty unless the statute specifically provides that a continuation of a state of facts or a condition constitutes a new violation.

(d)

Where another state agency, pursuant to its statutory authority, proposes to adopt a regulation, rule or standard relating to occupational safety or health, such agency shall accord the director an opportunity to review such regulation, rule or standard prior to its adoption for the purpose of assuring that employers will not be asked to comply with contradictory or inconsistent requirements or be burdened with an unnecessary duplication of occupational safety and health codes, inspections or reports.

(4)

The board and the director may subpoena witnesses, administer oaths, take depositions and fix the fees and mileage of witnesses and compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of papers, books, accounts, documents and testimony in any inquiry, investigation, hearing or proceeding in any part of the state, and the board and the director shall provide for defraying the expenses thereof.

(5)

The director and the board may do and perform all things, whether specifically designated in ORS 654.001 (Short title) to 654.295 (Application of Oregon Safe Employment Act), 654.412 (Definitions for ORS 654.412 to 654.423) to 654.423 (Use of physical force by health care employee in self-defense against assault) and 654.750 (Definitions for ORS 654.750 to 654.780) to 654.780 (Providing basic information to employees) or in addition thereto, which are necessary or convenient in the exercise of any power, authority or jurisdiction conferred upon them by ORS 654.001 (Short title) to 654.295 (Application of Oregon Safe Employment Act), 654.412 (Definitions for ORS 654.412 to 654.423) to 654.423 (Use of physical force by health care employee in self-defense against assault) and 654.750 (Definitions for ORS 654.750 to 654.780) to 654.780 (Providing basic information to employees). The director’s authority under this section shall include but is not limited to:

(a)

Designating by order or rule any named state employee or category of state employees who shall have authority to exercise any of the duties and powers imposed upon the director by law and whose act as authorized by the order or rule shall be considered to be an official act of the director. The director may designate local government employees with public health administration or enforcement duties to exercise duties and powers imposed upon the director with respect to ORS 654.174 (Sanitation facilities for workers harvesting food crops) (1) and (2).

(b)

Instituting any legal or equitable proceeding which would assist in the enforcement of any state occupational safety or health law or any regulation, rule, standard or order promulgated thereunder, including but not limited to seeking injunctive relief to enjoin an employer from operating the place of employment until the employer has complied with the provisions of such law, regulation, rule, standard or order. Upon the filing of a suit for an injunction by the director, the court shall set a day for hearing and shall cause notice thereof to be served upon the employer. The hearing shall be not less than five nor more than 15 days from the service of such notice. [Amended by 1973 c.833 §9; 1977 c.804 §36; 1979 c.839 §23; 1985 c.423 §6]

Source: Section 654.025 — Jurisdiction and supervision of Workers’ Compensation Board, director and other state agencies over employment and places of employment; rules, https://www.­oregonlegislature.­gov/bills_laws/ors/ors654.­html.

See also annotations under ORS 654.410 and 654.415 in permanent edition.

Notes of Decisions

Violation of Workers’ Compensation Department rule resulting in injury to nonemployee is not negligence per se, but it does not follow that rule is irrelevant to determination of due care in case grounded in common law negligence. Shahtout v. Emco Garbage Co., 298 Or 598, 695 P2d 897 (1985)

654.001
Short title
654.003
Purpose
654.005
Definitions
654.010
Employers to furnish safe place of employment
654.015
Unsafe or unhealthy place of employment prohibited
654.020
Interference with safety devices or methods prohibited
654.022
Duty to comply with safety and health orders, decisions and rules
654.025
Jurisdiction and supervision of Workers’ Compensation Board, director and other state agencies over employment and places of employment
654.031
Citation and order to correct unsafe or unhealthy conditions
654.035
Scope of rules and orders
654.056
Variance from safety or health standards
654.062
Notice of violation to employer by worker
654.067
Inspection of places of employment
654.071
Citation for safety or health standard violations
654.078
Contesting violations
654.082
Prohibiting use of equipment involved in violation
654.086
Civil penalty for violations
654.090
Occupational safety and health activities
654.097
Consultative services required
654.101
Voluntary safety and health consultation
654.120
Records of proceedings
654.130
Proceedings against unwilling witnesses
654.150
Sanitary facilities at construction projects
654.160
Applicability of ORS 654.150 to be included in construction contracts
654.165
Employees not required to work bare-handed or rubber-gloved on high voltage lines
654.170
Stairway railings and guards not required for certain public and historic buildings
654.172
Exemption from inspection or investigation for certain agricultural activities
654.174
Sanitation facilities for workers harvesting food crops
654.176
Safety committee or safety meeting required
654.182
Rules for ORS 654.176
654.189
Safe Employment Education and Training Advisory Committee
654.191
Occupational Safety and Health Grant program
654.192
Labor organization not liable for injury resulting from absence of safety or health provision
654.196
Rules on contents of piping systems
654.200
Scholarship account
654.202
Issuance of warrants for safety and health inspections
654.206
Grounds for issuance of inspection warrants
654.212
Procedure for issuance of inspection warrant by magistrate
654.216
Execution of inspection warrants
654.251
Assistance to director from other state agencies
654.285
Admissibility of rules and orders of department in evidence in proceedings under ORS 654.001 to 654.295, 654.412 to 654.423 and 654.750 to 654.780
654.290
Applicability of Administrative Procedures Act
654.293
Representation of employer by attorney permitted
654.295
Application of Oregon Safe Employment Act
654.305
Protection and safety of persons in hazardous employment generally
654.310
Places of employment
654.315
Persons in charge of work to see that ORS 654.305 to 654.336 are complied with
654.320
Who considered agent of owner
654.325
Who may prosecute damage action for death
654.330
Fellow servant negligence as defense
654.336
Comparative negligence
654.345
Safety standards for utility vehicle rentals
654.400
Use of title of industrial hygienist, occupational health and safety technologist, construction health and safety technician or safety professional
654.402
Activities permitted under other designation, certification or license
654.412
Definitions for ORS 654.412 to 654.423
654.413
Required policies regarding surgical smoke
654.414
Duties of health care employer
654.416
Required records of assaults against employees
654.418
Protection of employee of health care employer after assault by patient
654.421
Refusal to treat certain patients by home health care employee
654.423
Use of physical force by health care employee in self-defense against assault
654.715
Report of accidents to Public Utility Commission
654.720
Public inspection or use of reports as evidence prohibited
654.750
Definitions for ORS 654.750 to 654.780
654.760
Rules on hazardous chemicals, safety equipment and training
654.770
Basic information available to agricultural employers for employees
654.780
Providing basic information to employees
654.991
Penalties
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