‘Safety Break’: Oregon OSHA’s annual stand-down set for May 13

Salem, OR — Oregon OSHA is inviting all employers and workers in the state to help raise awareness and promote “the value of workplace safety and health” by taking part in the agency’s 17th annual Safety Break for Oregon.

Scheduled for May 13, the event is an opportunity to pause activities and focus on workplace hazards, refresh knowledge and training, examine potential new hazards and look for ways to mitigate them, and celebrate past successes and recognize safety leaders.

This year, an added focus will be on sharing best practices to stay safe and healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic. While abiding by the stay-at-home order issued by Gov. Kate Brown (D), the agency will ramp up efforts to share resources via social media, email campaigns and other communication tools, Oregon OSHA public information officer Aaron Corvin told Safety+Health.

“Safety Break for Oregon could be taken as a time to pause and reemphasize the need to follow best practices and rules as we all endeavor to participate in flattening the curve,” he said.

Added Oregon OSHA Administrator Michael Wood in a press release: “This stand-down provides an opportunity for employers and workers to remember the high value they should place on preventing injury and illness in the workplace. At its best, it is not merely symbolic, but also an opportunity for a focused discussion about the best ways to make safety a reality in the workplace by identifying and eliminating hazards.”

Organizations can share photos of previous safety-related activities on social media using @OregonOSHA on Facebook and #SafetyBreak on Twitter. Employers who sign up online before May 8 will be entered to win one of three $100 checks to be used for an employee luncheon.