In 1999, 5,714 health and safety inspections took place in Oregon. These inspections were conducted out of the five OR-OSHA field offices, Salem, Portland, Eugene, Medford and Bend, and the OR-OSHA central office. Safety inspections accounted for 5,056, or 88.5 percent of all inspections. Safety officers look for compliance with occupational safety standards, such as those covering machinery and machine guarding, construction, personal protective equipment, and fire protection. The remaining 658 inspections focused on health standards, such as those for asbestos, water and sanitation, and hazard communication. Employees covered by these inspections totaled 169,279. This is an increase of 11.1 percent from the 152,355 employees covered in 1998.

Inspections are conducted for different reasons. The majority of inspections are scheduled on prioritized lists created through the use of the most current injury and employment data available. An inspection may also be done in response to a valid compliant about an existing hazardous condition or in response to a referral from another agency. When an inspection is completed in which hazards have been cited and the employer is given a specific period in which to comply, a follow-up inspection may be conducted to assure that the hazards have been abated. An inspection may also be done when there is a job fatality or catastrophe. Finally an unprogrammed related inspection of an employer at a multi-employer worksite may be done if the employer is not identified in the complaint, referral, etc., which initiated the inspection. A construction site inspected due to a complaint and the second employer is inspected as a result is an example of an unprogrammed related inspection.

The 5,056 safety inspections represent a 12.2 percent increase of the 4,507 done in 1998. Inspections in general industries (all industries except logging and construction), went up by 21.3 percent to 2,616. Inspections conducted in construction were up 8.3 percent to 2,224, and logging industry inspections were down 27.3 percent to 216. The 216 logging inspections made up 22.6 percent of the 955 manufacturing inspections, and 4.3 percent of the total safety inspections for 1999.

In 1999, the Oregon OSHA Division conducted a total of 658 health inspections. This is a 1.2 percent decrease under the 666 conducted in 1998. The number of employees covered in 1999 fell 8.8 percent to 38,108. In 1998, 41,769 employees were covered. Agriculture, forestry and fishing health inspection fell 17.4 percent from 69 in 1998 to 57 in 1999. Manufacturing inspections fell 8.5 percent to 183 in 1999.

When a compliance officer conducts an inspection and no violations of occupational standards are found, the employer is said to be “in compliance.” When violations are found, a citation is issued to the employer which lists all the violations discovered during the inspection, and any resulting penalties.

Violations of the occupational safety and health standards are categorized on the basis of the probability of an accident and the likely severity of the resulting injury or illness. Serious violations occur when there is a substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result. Repeat violations are an employer’s second or subsequent violation of the same standard. Willful violations are committed by an employer or supervisory employee who intentionally or knowingly disobeys the requirements of a standards. Other violations are cited for hazardous conditions that would probably not cause death or serious physical harm but would have a direct and immediate relationship to the safety and health of the employees. Administrative and mandatory penalty violations are included in the “other” category.

In 1999, OR-OSHA issued 4,033 citations for 11,432 violations. This is a 8.5 percent increase in the number of citations issued, and a 0.6 percent increase in the number of violations from 1998. The top 10 standards cited by compliance officers are listed in Table 2.

In 1999, 24.8 percent of the 5,056 safety inspections found the employers to be in compliance. Out of the total 9,833 safety violations found, 6,151, 62.6 percent, were in the other category. Serious violations made up another 34.8 percent. Repeat violations were 2.4 percent, and willful violations made up 0.2 percent. The table above gives the historical trend for safety violations.

The logging industry had 222 violations, 7.9 percent of all manufacturing safety violations, and 2.3 percent of the total safety violations found. The construction industry had the second highest total violations, behind manufacturing, at 2,644 or 26.9 percent of the total. Together the construction and manufacturing industries accounted for over half of all safety violations found.

Table 4 shows the proposed penalties assessed against employers for violations found during safety inspections. These are not the actual penalties paid, but the penalties assessed before any informal conference hearing is held which could reduce the proposed penalties. In 1999, proposed penalties totaled $2,732,360, a 28.5 percent increase over 1998.

In 1999, 31.5 percent of the 658 health inspections found the employers to be in compliance. Out of the total 1,599 health violations found, 895, 56.0 percent, were in the other category. Serious violations made up another 40.8 percent, repeat violations were 3.2 percent, and there was one willful violation. The following table gives the historical trend for health violations.

The agriculture industry had 165 violations, 10.3 percent of all violations. The manufacturing industry had the highest total violations at 574, or 35.9 percent of the total. Together the construction and manufacturing industries accounted for half of all violations found.

Table 6 shows the proposed penalties assessed against employers for violations found during health inspections. These are not the actual penalties paid, but the penalties assessed before any informal conference hearing is held, which could reduce the proposed penalties. In 1999, proposed penalties totaled $306,850, a 14.3 increase over 1998.

Portland (503) 229-5910
Salem (503) 378-3274
Eugene (541) 686-7562
Bend (541) 388-6066
Medford (541) 776-6030
(All numbers are voice/TTY))

Appendices

Appendix A. Safety and health inspections, violations, and proposed penalties, FFY 1990-1999

Appendix B. Inspections by industry FFY 1999

Appendix C. Inspections by type of inspection, FFY 1990-1999

Appendix D. Division and rank of safety and health standards cited by type of violation, FFY 1999

Appendix E. Inspections, violations and citations by field office, FFY 1999

Appendix F. Penalties FFY 1990 - 1999

Appendix G. Inspections by county and industry group, FFY 1999

If you have questions about the information contained in this document please contact by e-mail or phone:
Michael Elliott Research Analyst, Research & Analysis Section, Information Management Division (503) 947-7364. This document was originally published in August 2000. [Printed form: 440-2107(08/00/imd)]

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), this publication is available in alternative formats by calling (503) 378-4100 (V/TTY). The information in IMD publications is in the public domain and may be reprinted without permission.