Oregon OSHA’s 2024 Annual Performance Plan: A Roadmap for Reducing Workplace Safety Risks and Ensuring Compliance
Oregon OSHA’s 2024 Annual Performance Plan outlines strategic priorities for improving occupational safety and health across the state. Take a look at this year’s top key challenges and opportunities.
1. Confront High Injury and Illness Rates
One of the top challenges is the persistently high DART (Days Away, Restricted, or Transferred) and TCIR (Total Case Incident Rate) in certain high-hazard industries. These metrics represent significant issues that affect the workforce’s overall well-being and productivity. Consequently, Oregon OSHA aims to reduce the statewide DART rate to 2.0 per 100 workers and the TCIR to 3.5 per 100 workers by the end of 2025 through targeted enforcement and consultation efforts. This goal provides a clear opportunity for subcontractors to implement more effective safety protocols and training programs to meet these targets.
2. Strengthen Chemical Exposure Controls to Protect Worker Health
Improving protection against chemical hazards is another critical focus area in safety and compliance. Chemical exposures can lead to severe health issues. Therefore, it is essential for employers to maintain rigorous safety standards. Oregon OSHA has set a goal to increase the number of severe chemical hazards identified and corrected to at least 869 by the end of 2025. This represents a significant opportunity to prevent serious illnesses by ensuring employers have robust exposure control measures in place. Subcontractors can leverage this initiative by conducting thorough risk assessments and updating their chemical safety protocols to comply with regulations.
3. Prevent Tragic Workplace Fatalities Through Comprehensive Safety and Compliance Interventions
Despite progress, workplace fatalities remain a persistent issue that requires comprehensive prevention strategies. Subcontractors must be vigilant in adopting and reinforcing safety measures to protect their workforce. Consequently, Oregon OSHA will strive to reduce the most recent 3-year average fatality rate from 1.74 to 1.6 per 100,000 workers by 2025 through a combination of enforcement, consultation, training, and outreach interventions. This challenge offers an opportunity for subcontractors to engage in robust safety training and emergency preparedness programs to ensure compliance and safety.
4. Engage Vulnerable and Hard-to-Reach Worker Populations in Safety and Compliance Efforts
Ensuring the safety and health of all Oregon workers, including those in vulnerable and hard-to-reach populations, is a top priority in safety and compliance. Workers in small businesses, high-hazard industries, and underserved communities often face unique challenges that require targeted interventions. Oregon OSHA will expand its outreach to educate employers and employees regarding available resources and best practices for injury and illness prevention. Subcontractors can seize this opportunity by participating in educational programs and ensuring that their diverse workforce is well-informed about safety protocols and compliance requirements.
5. Partner to Identify and Eliminate Serious Hazards
Finally, Oregon OSHA sees significant opportunity in providing comprehensive consultation services to help employers proactively identify and correct serious hazards to enhance safety and compliance. A new initiative will allow for voluntary abatement of hazards found during consultations in exchange for a one-year enforcement inspection deferral, encouraging more businesses to take advantage of this valuable collaboration. Subcontractors can benefit from these services by proactively engaging with Oregon OSHA consultants to enhance their safety measures and reduce risks, ensuring compliance.
Assess Your Operations and Safety & Compliance Programs
Subcontractors operating in Oregon can prepare to meet these safety and compliance challenges head-on and capitalize on opportunities for positive change. Now is an ideal time to critically review operations alongside your safety and health programs and identify areas for improvement.
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