654.020 Interference with safety devices or methods prohibited

(1) No person shall remove, displace, damage, destroy or carry off any safety device or safeguard furnished and provided for use in any employment or place of employment, or interfere in any way with the use thereof by any other person, or interfere with the use of any method or process adopted for the protection of any employee in such employment or place of employment.

(2) If an employee is injured as a result of an employer’s violation of the provisions of subsection (1) of this section, the employer shall be assessed a civil penalty under ORS 654.086 (Civil penalty for violations) (1)(c).

(3) If removal or the rendering inoperative of a safety device or safeguard is necessary for repair or maintenance work, injuries sustained while the repair or maintenance work is being performed are exempted from this section. [Amended by 1973 c.833 §7; 1977 c.869 §1]

Source: Section 654.020 — Interference with safety devices or methods prohibited; civil penalty , https://www.­oregonlegislature.­gov/bills_laws/ors/ors654.­html (accessed May 26, 2025).