From our friends at the Oregon Cattleman’s Association – but relevant to many equestrians!
OR-OSHA’s proposed ag labor housing rule would prohibit housing within 500 feet of stables, barns, pens, milking parlors, corrals, and more. This includes employee housing and potentially more. The rule would be economically devastating for ranchers and their families.
Please email OSHA.rulemaking@dcbs.oregon.gov by November 3rd and urge them to amend the proposed rule and preserve current livestock housing!
Background:
Oregon OSHA is updating its farmworker housing rule. In addition to many rules that would reduce housing capacity and impose expenses on orchards, nurseries and other farms, the proposed rule would remove the exemption that allows workers to live in housing within 500 feet of “livestock operations.” if adopted the rule eliminates exception that labor housing can be within 500-feet of livestock operations if that is part of their job” and would be effective January 1, 2026.
It is unclear how broadly this rule could apply but as written and what it means for anyone who lives near livestock operations, but would certainly prohibit the homes that many ranching employees currently live in. The economic consequences to ranchers and for those who could be forced out of their homes would be devastating. The rule has NO exemption for existing housing or provision that it would only apply to new housing going forward.
Rule Language: Under the rule, “Livestock operations” is defined as “any place, establishment or facility with pens or other enclosures in which livestock is kept for purposes including, but not limited to, feeding, milking, slaughter, watering, weighing, sorting, receiving, and shipping. Livestock operations include, among other things, dairy farms, corrals, slaughterhouses, feedlots, and stockyards…”
To clarify, the rule WILL NOT apply to herders: “Operations where livestock can roam on a pasture over a distance are outside this definition” So herders who are living or staying out with animals on the range or in pastures wouldn’t be subject to the restriction.
Submit Comments to OR-OSHA By November 3rd and tell them this rule is unnecessary and will risk families access to their current housing.