Oregon OSHA reports higher contested cases after SB 592 rule changes; rulemaking for workplace violence due in 2027

Renee Stapleton, administrator of Oregon OSHA, told the committee that the agency remains focused on prevention and workplace inspections while managing a recent surge in contested cases tied to rule changes implementing Senate Bill 592. She explained that SB 592 required new inspection timing and penalty alignment with federal OSHA, and that temporary rulemaking was needed in 2025 to handle an unavailable October CPI after the federal government shutdown. Stapleton said Oregon OSHA began seeing increased contested cases in mid‑2024 and that average appeals rose substantially in fiscal 2025 compared with pre‑implementation levels.