Oregon Safety Committee Program
The safety committee structure required of every Oregon employer with 11+ permanent employees. Includes charter, bylaws, member designations, quarterly meeting format, workplace inspection schedule, and the accident investigation procedure Oregon OSHA expects.
When this template is required
Required of every Oregon employer with 11 or more permanent employees. (Employers with 10 or fewer have lighter alternative requirements.) Safety committee must include both management and worker representatives (worker reps selected by workers, not appointed by management), meet at least quarterly, conduct quarterly workplace inspections, and document accident investigations. Smaller employers (≤10) can use a safety meeting instead.
Why this template
Universal 11+ employee mandate
ORS 654.176 applies to every Oregon employer with 11 or more permanent employees. Not industry-specific, not voluntary. Oregon OSHA inspects for safety committee compliance during routine and complaint-based inspections.
Worker-selected representatives
Worker representatives must be SELECTED BY WORKERS, not appointed by management. The plan documents the selection process — typically election by secret ballot, or appointment by union representatives for unionized employers.
Quarterly meetings + quarterly inspections
ORS 654.176 requires quarterly meetings and quarterly workplace inspections. The plan includes the agenda template and inspection format that work for the quarterly cadence.
Smaller employer alternative
Employers with 10 or fewer permanent employees can use a Safety Meeting instead of a full Safety Committee. The plan includes the smaller-employer safety meeting alternative.
What you receive
- Oregon Safety Committee Program (Word .docx)
- Safety Committee Charter (postable)
- Bylaws template (election method, terms, voting)
- Worker representative selection procedure (worker-selected, not appointed)
- Quarterly meeting agenda template
- Quarterly workplace inspection format
- Accident investigation procedure
- Annual safety committee training outline
- Smaller employer (≤10) safety meeting alternative
- Meeting records template
How you get it
This document is written and reviewed against the standard it cites, and it is ready now. The download link is emailed as soon as your payment clears.
Revisions included — if something about your operation changes what the document should say, reply to the delivery email and we will amend it.
Who buys this
- Oregon employers with 11+ permanent employees (universal mandate)
- Oregon manufacturing, construction, healthcare, retail
- Oregon agriculture (with OAR 437-004 overlay)
- Oregon hospitality and food service
- Oregon multi-employer sites (each contractor needs own committee)
- Oregon nonprofit organizations
Frequently asked
Who's required to have a safety committee?
Every Oregon employer with 11 or more permanent employees. 'Permanent' means employed on a regular, ongoing basis (not seasonal or temporary). Once the 11-employee threshold is reached, safety committee is required regardless of industry. Employers with 10 or fewer can use a Safety Meeting instead — less formal but still required to address safety on a recurring basis.
Who selects worker representatives?
ORS 654.176 requires worker representatives to be SELECTED BY WORKERS, not appointed by management. Typical selection methods: secret ballot election among non-management employees; appointment by union representatives (unionized employers); rotation through eligible employees. The plan documents the selection method.
How often must the committee meet?
At least quarterly (every 3 months). Many employers meet monthly as best practice. The meeting must address: review of accidents/incidents since last meeting; workplace inspection findings; corrective action follow-up; new safety concerns from employees; training needs. The agenda template covers these standing items.
Are quarterly inspections separate from meetings?
Quarterly inspections can occur within the quarterly meeting time (committee inspects the workplace as a group), or separately (committee member or team inspects between meetings, reports findings at the next meeting). Either approach satisfies OAR 437-001-0765. The plan supports both.
Does this satisfy ORS 654.176 if we're smaller than 11 employees?
Smaller employers (10 or fewer permanent employees) use a Safety Meeting instead of a full Safety Committee. The Safety Meeting requirements are lighter — periodic meetings to discuss safety, employee involvement opportunities, accident review. The plan includes the smaller-employer alternative.