Oregon Hikes Penalty Maximums for Worker Death Safety Violations

Oregon employers now face some of the highest safety fines in the nation—up to $250,000 if a fatality is linked to a violation of state OSHA rules.

The new law raising fine maximums far above federal limits was signed by Gov. Tina Kotek (D) Thursday and took effect immediately because the Democrat-majority Legislature passed the bill earlier in the month as an emergency measure.

Oregon can now propose up to a $250,000 fine when a repeat or willful violation “caused or contributed to the death of an employee,” according to the law. The minimum fine for a fatal willful or ...