Chapter 437-007

437-007-0004 Applicability of Rules (1) The rules in division 7 establish occupational safety and health practices for all forest activity operations including but not limited to: (a) Chemical application; (b) Chipping; (c) Clearing and slash disposal; (d) Forest road constructio…

437-007-0010 Worker Protection Standard Oregon OSHA administers and enforces the Worker Protection Standard (40 CFR 170) as adopted in OAR 437-004-6000 in Division 4/W. All parts apply without regard to the scope of Division 4 in addition to, and not instead of, any other part of…

437-007-0025 Definitions The following definitions apply to terms used in this Division: (1) A-frame — A structure made of two independent columns fastened together at the top and separated by a reasonable width at the bottom to stabilize the unit from tipping sideways. (2) Alter…

437-007-0100 Safety and Health Program Every employer must implement a written safety and health program that establishes management commitment, supervisory responsibilities, accident investigation, employee involvement, hazard identification, training, and annual evaluation of t…

437-007-0105 Management Commitment The employer must: (1) State the purpose of the safety and health program. (2) Identify the safety and health personnel and resources that will be used to implement the program. (3) Establish a labor and management policy that provides for ongoi…

437-007-0110 Supervisory Responsibilities The employer or their authorized representative must: (1) Supervise all employees at the site and enforce the company's safety and health program. (2) Verify that all current and new employees: (a) Can safely perform assigned work tasks. …

437-007-0125 Accident Investigation The employer or their authorized representative must: (1) Investigate every employee fatal and recordable injury/illness to determine the cause(s). (2) Discuss "near misses" with employees. (3) Identify the measures to prevent recurrence of the…

437-007-0130 Employee Involvement The employer or their authorized representative must: (1) Encourage employees to participate in site planning and the pre-work safety meeting to discuss site conditions and known hazards. (2) Require employees to report safety and health hazards.…

437-007-0135 Hazard Identification and Control The employer or their authorized representative must: (1) Implement a procedure for monthly safety inspections of all worksites, vehicles, machines, equipment, and work practices. (2) Identify who will complete monthly safety inspect…

437-007-0140 Training The employer or their authorized representative must: (1) Provide job safety and health instruction and training to current and new employees, including supervisors, that is adequate for the work task. They must receive training before: (a) Starting their in…

437-007-0145 Annual Program Evaluation (1) Each employer must review and evaluate their safety and health program annually. (2) The program evaluation must include the methods and procedures used to identify and revise program deficiencies. (3) Written findings of the annual eval…

437-007-0200 Site Planning and Implementation (1) Before the start of any forest activities of more than one day duration, the employer must: (a) Conduct an onsite safety survey. (b) Hold a pre-work safety meeting with employees to discuss: (A) The emergency medical evacuation pl…

437-007-0205 Hazard Identification (1) The employer must ensure that identified hazards are marked with hazard identification ribbon. The hazard identification ribbon must be bright orange, at least 1 1/2 inches wide, and marked in black with "skull and crossbones" and/or the wor…

437-007-0210 Checking System (1) The employer must implement a checking system to account for all employees at the end of each work shift. Employees must be knowledgeable about the checking system. (2) The employer must implement a system to check the well-being of those workers …

437-007-0215 Working Alone (1) The employer must not assign workers to a task or location so isolated as to be without visual, audible, or radio contact with another person who can summon or provide aid in an emergency. (2) Unless otherwise specified in division 7, in any operati…

437-007-0220 Medical Services and First Aid (1) The employer must develop and implement an emergency medical plan to ensure emergency medical service to employees with major illnesses and injuries. (2) All employees must be knowledgeable concerning the emergency care and emergenc…

437-007-0225 Working Near Unstable Objects and Danger Trees (1) Each day in the course of forest activities, a general inspection must be conducted of the areas to be worked that day to identify trees, logs, rootwads, rocks, chunks or other objects that may roll, slide or fall to…

437-007-0230 Power Line Safeguards (1) Forest activities operations near overhead electric lines must be done in accordance with the requirements of OAR 437, Division 2/S, Electrical, §1910.333(c)(3), Selection and Use of Work Practices. (2) When any machinery is being moved or o…

437-007-0235 Working Conditions Working Conditions. A competent person must determine if work activities can be safely conducted during inclement weather conditions or darkness. When weather conditions or darkness pose a hazard to workers, the activity must be discontinued until …

437-007-0240 Night Logging (1) Where work is conducted during the hours of darkness, the work area must be provided with illumination which will allow employees to safely perform their duties. The sources of illumination must be located and directed so as to create a minimum of s…

437-007-0245 Field Sanitation For Reforestation Activities (1) Toilet and hand washing facilities must be provided by the employer when it is feasible for employees to use them. (2) Where it is not feasible to use toilet and hand washing facilities, the employer must provide, at …

437-007-0300 General Requirements (1) Personal protective equipment, including any personal protective equipment provided by an employee, must be maintained in a safe and effective condition, or removed from service or use. (2) Personal protective equipment must be inspected befo…

437-007-0305 Head Protection (1) Where there is potential for head injury from falling or flying objects, the employer must provide and require the use of head protection (hard hats) that comply with any of the following consensus standards: (a) ANSI Z89.1-2003, “American Nationa…

437-007-0310 High-Visibility Color All employees exposed to the potential hazard of moving lines, falling timber, logs, vehicles, machines and other moving equipment or materials must wear upper body cover and/or hard hats of a high-visibility color, that contrasts with the backg…

437-007-0315 Eye and Face Protection Where chips, sawdust or flying particles present a hazard, the employer must provide and require personnel to wear eye and face protection meeting the requirement of Division 2/I. NOTE: Logger-type mesh screen may be used for chain saw operato…

437-007-0320 Hand Protection The employer must provide and require employees to use hand protection: (1) Such as cotton gloves or other suitable hand protection whenever employees handle lines, rough material or when the nature of the work requires protection for the hands. (2) W…

437-007-0325 Leg Protection The employer must provide and require each employee who operates a chain saw to wear flexible ballistic nylon pads, chaps or other equivalent protection in a manner that protects their legs from the top of the thigh to the top of the boot from contact …

437-007-0330 Foot Protection (1) All personnel must wear foot protection, such as heavy-duty boots, that: (a) Are waterproof or water-repellant where wet conditions exist. (b) Cover and support the ankle. NOTE: The employer is not required to provide logging boots for employees. …

437-007-0335 Hearing Protection (1) Personnel must be protected from the effects of noise exposures in accordance with OAR chapter 437, division 2/G, Occupational Health and Environmental Control. (2) Personnel must wear hearing protection unless monitored under typical work cond…

437-007-0340 Personal Floatation Devices When working on or over water, personnel must be provided with and must wear approved buoyant protective equipment as required by Division 2/I, OAR 437-002-0139. Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 654.025(2) & 656.726(4) Statutes/Other Impleme…

437-007-0345 Respiratory Protection (1) When employees are exposed to air contaminants that exceed applicable permissible exposure limits (PEL) as required by Division 2/Z, OAR 437-002-0382, Oregon Rules for Air Contaminants, the employer must provide and enforce the use of respi…

437-007-0350 Respiratory Protection When Machines Are Operated (1) When the operation of machines expose any employee to dusty conditions and an air-purifying respirator or filtering facepiece is used for personal protection, the respirator must have a N-95 filter rating unless e…

437-007-0400 Hand and Portable Power-Driven Tools (1) The employer is responsible for the safe condition of hand and portable power tools used in forest activities regardless of tool ownership. (2) All safety devices and controls must be in place and function properly. (3) The em…

437-007-0405 Chain Saws (1) Chain saws must be inspected before use. (2) Chain saws must not be used if they have cracked or loose handle bars or defective vital parts. (3) Chain saws must be operated and adjusted in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. (4) Chain saws…

437-007-0410 Fire Extinguishers (1) Portable fire extinguisher use, training and maintenance must be in accordance with OAR chapter 437, division 2, subdivision L, Fire Protection. (2) Fire extinguishers or protection systems must be of a type approved by a nationally recognized …

437-007-0415 Explosives and Blasting Agents (1) The storage, transportation, handling, and use of explosives and blasting agents must be in accordance with OAR chapter 437, division 3, subdivision U, Blasting and The Use of Explosives. (2) Explosives and blasting agents must be h…

437-007-0500 Roads (1) Haul roads must be of sufficient width and evenness for safe operation of vehicles and machines. (2) Haul roads and bridges must be constructed and maintained to accommodate the safe movement of vehicles and machines. (3) Vehicles and machines must not be m…

437-007-0505 Bridges (1) All bridge structures and surfaces must be: (a) Adequate to support the maximum imposed loads. (b) Maintained in good repair. (2) All bridges must have rub rails constructed of wood, concrete or equivalent materials that: (a) Have a minimum height of 9 in…

437-007-0510 Flagging (1) Warning signs and a flagger(s) must be placed in advance of active operations, or other equivalent protection must be used on roads to control traffic where hazardous conditions are created from forest activities, such as, but not limited to: (a) Skyline…

437-007-0515 Signs (1) Warning signs must be prominently displayed a minimum of 300 feet in advance of forest activities which create hazardous conditions for road traffic. (2) Warning signs must be removed or covered when forest activity operations are interrupted for an extende…

437-007-0520 Vehicle General Requirements (1) A positive engine shut-off must be provided within reach of the operator when in normal operating position. (2) Vehicles must be equipped with adequate steps, ladders, handholds, or grab bars to provide safe access and egress. (3) Ste…

437-007-0525 Vehicle Warning Devices All vehicles must be equipped with a horn or audible warning device which can be clearly heard above the surrounding noise in the vicinity of the vehicle. Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 654.025(2) & 656.726(4) Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 6…

437-007-0530 Vehicle Windshields, Windows and Mirrors (1) Vehicle windshields must be equipped with powered wipers. (2) Vehicles must be equipped with operable windshield defogging or defrosting equipment. (3) Defective or broken glass in a vehicle which impairs the vision of the…

437-007-0535 Vehicle Passenger Compartments (1) Floors and decks must be suitable for safe footing. (2) All openings between enclosed passenger compartments and engine or exhaust from which fumes or gases may enter must be effectively sealed. (3) Enclosed passenger compartments m…

437-007-0540 Vehicle Brakes (1) All vehicles must have brakes which are capable of stopping the vehicle while fully loaded on any grade over which they are to be operated. (2) All vehicles must have a parking brake that will hold the loaded vehicle on any grade which it is operat…

437-007-0545 Vehicle Exhaust Systems (1) Vehicles must have an exhaust system that is maintained in good repair. (2) Vehicles must be equipped with a muffler of the type recommended by the vehicle manufacturer. (3) Exhaust pipes must be located to direct the exhaust gases away fr…

437-007-0550 Vehicle Guards and Controls (1) Vehicles with dump bodies must be equipped with a permanently attached, positive means of support that is capable of being secured in position to prevent the accidental lowering of the dump body. (2) Devices for supporting dump bodies …