Oregon OSHA Safety Break Event Encouragement

Oregon OSHA News

Published January 29th, 2026

Detected March 17th, 2026

Summary

Oregon OSHA is encouraging employers and workers to participate in the annual 'Safety Break' event on May 13, 2026. The event aims to promote discussions and actions for maintaining safe and healthy working conditions. Employers signing up by May 8, 2026, are eligible for prize drawings.

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What changed

Oregon OSHA has issued a notice encouraging participation in its 23rd annual 'Safety Break' event scheduled for May 13, 2026. This event serves as a voluntary stand-down for employers and workers across all industries to pause operations and focus on workplace safety and health. The division provides resources and encourages open conversations about hazard identification, risk mitigation, and safety successes. Participation is voluntary, and employers can choose how they engage, such as conducting safety training or assessing worksite improvements.

Employers are encouraged to sign up online by May 8, 2026, to be entered into a prize drawing for a luncheon. The notice also highlights available resources from Oregon OSHA, including consultation services, technical specialists, and educational materials. While the event is a call to action for prioritizing safety, it does not impose new regulatory requirements or deadlines beyond the voluntary participation and sign-up date for the prize drawing. The primary goal is to foster a culture of safety awareness and continuous improvement.

What to do next

Review Oregon OSHA's Safety Break resources and participation options.
Consider organizing a safety stand-down or related activity on May 13, 2026.
Sign up online by May 8, 2026, to be eligible for prize drawings.

Source document (simplified)

‘Safety Break’ encourages Oregon employers, workers to stand down May 13

Site Navigation For immediate release
Jan. 29, 2026

Contact information
Aaron Corvin, Public Information Officer
971-718-6973, aaron.corvin@dcbs.oregon.gov
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Salem – The Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division (Oregon OSHA) urges employers and workers across industries to join Oregon's annual Safety Break event for a celebration of the importance of creating and maintaining safe and healthy working conditions.

Safety Break for Oregon – the Wednesday, May 13, stand-down for worker safety and health – offers an opportunity for employers, supervisors, workers, safety committee members, and safety and health professionals to pause their operations and demonstrate the high value they place on protecting people from harm while on the job.

Safety Break for Oregon

Sign up now. The event includes a prize drawing for participants. Get Safety Break ideas, logos, sample awards, and other free resources by visiting the Safety Break for Oregon website.

“Safety Break brings people together to have open and productive conversations about safety and health," said Renée Stapleton, administrator for Oregon OSHA. “It is not merely a symbolic event. It is a time to step back and reflect on what's working, discuss what we can do better, and to prioritize, plan, and take action."

Coordinated by Oregon OSHA, Safety Break for Oregon is now in its 23rd year of putting a spotlight on the need to minimize or eliminate hazards that can cause serious injury or illness to workers. Employers and workers choose how they want to participate. Activities may include providing a special safety or health training, assessing where safety and health can be improved at your jobsite, or celebrating your successes by recognizing safety committee members and emerging safety leaders.

Oregon OSHA encourages employers and workers to share their Safety Break activities on social media on Facebook and LinkedIn with #SafetyBreak. Participants are welcome to use free Oregon OSHA resources as part of their Safety Break activities. Resources include:

Consultation services – help with safety and health programs, and hands-on training
Technical specialists – guidance on applying rules to workplaces
Education and training services – multimedia training and in-person workshops
Resource Center – borrow videos and books, stream videos, and order publications Employers that sign up online by Friday, May 8, and participate in Safety Break for Oregon will be entered to win one of three $100 checks to be used for a luncheon of their choice.

The prizes will go to participating companies as part of a random drawing. The SHARP Alliance sponsors the contest. The nonprofit group promotes safety and health management by encouraging teamwork and cooperation among people, employers, and organizations to improve workplace health and safety for Oregon workers.

About Oregon OSHA:

Oregon OSHA, a division of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, enforces the state's workplace safety and health rules and works to improve workplace safety and health for all Oregon workers. For more information, go to osha.oregon.gov.

The Department of Consumer and Business Services is Oregon's largest business regulatory and consumer protection agency. For more information, go to www.oregon.gov/dcbs/.