Oregon Farm Housing Rule Raises Industry Ire

Dairy industry representatives are pushing Oregon’s OSHA to abandon a proposal requiring a minimum distance of 500 feet between livestock barns and farmworker housing.
They argue that imposing the restriction would disqualify a wide range of the existing housing on dairy farms from meeting broader regulatory standards proposed by OSHA, said Tami Kerr, executive director of the Oregon Dairy Farmers Association.
The rule has also drawn opposition from the state’s equine industry, which issued a statement that “It is unclear how broadly this rule could apply but as written and what it means for anyone who lives near livestock operations, but would certainly prohibit the homes that many ranching employees currently live in.“
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The federal Mine Safety and Health Administration completed impact inspections in September 2024 at eight mines with histories of repeated health, safety violations in Indiana, Kentucky, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin and issued 112 violations.
Of the 112 violations MSHA identified in September 2024, 24 were evaluated by inspectors as significant and substantial.
North Indianapolis Quarry & Mill, operated by Martin Marietta Materials was found to have 42 violations of mandatory safety and health standards, 14 of which were designated “significant & substantial” and one an imminent danger order at the mine.
Inspectors issue imminent danger orders to remove miners immediately when hazards present the imminent likelihood of a serious accident.
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An OSHA inspection and violation has prompted Ohio’s Farm & Home Hardware to the development a comprehensive safety program for the business and a “safety first” culture among his 130 employees.
The chain was cited for what Todd Jensen, director of OSHA’s Toledo Area Office, says are the top infraction he sees in the business classification that includes hardware stores, home centers, lumberyards and paint stores — forklift violations.
That prompted the chain to implement a forklift training protocol, obtain proper OSHA certifications and contract for preventative forklift maintenance through his manufacturer, which includes regular battery checks, preventing his employees from performing this maintenance themselves.
As well, the chain’s staff began using an app called Safety Culture, which helps keep all records current.
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Twiceme, a Swedish safety company, has developed a system that instantly provides medical and other important information about an injured worker.
The system has been integrated into hard hats and vests and can be scanned by an emergency responder’s smartphone to see the individual’s important information.
A small chip is inserted in PPE. A smartphone can scan a logo on the PPE to retrieve the information instantly.
Twiceme was founded by ex-military personnel who witnessed injured soldiers who had no identification or information about them. They expanded the idea to other areas, including construction.
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