# ORS § 654.020: 654.020 Interference with safety devices or methods prohibited

> Oregon · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_OR_T51_C654_S654.020

## Section

- **Citation:** ORS § 654.020
- **Heading:** 654.020 Interference with safety devices or methods prohibited
- **Jurisdiction:** Oregon
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** OR Code / Title 51 / Chapter 654 / Section 654.020

## Text

(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).

## Nearby sections

- [ORS § 654.001 654.001 Short title](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_OR_T51_C654_S654.001.md)
- [ORS § 654.003 654.003 Purpose](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_OR_T51_C654_S654.003.md)
- [ORS § 654.005 654.005 Definitions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_OR_T51_C654_S654.005.md)
- [ORS § 654.010 654.010 Employers to furnish safe place of employment](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_OR_T51_C654_S654.010.md)
- [ORS § 654.015 654.015 Unsafe or unhealthy place of employment prohibited](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_OR_T51_C654_S654.015.md)
- [ORS § 654.020 654.020 Interference with safety devices or methods prohibited](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_OR_T51_C654_S654.020.md)
- [ORS § 654.022 654.022 Duty to comply with safety and health orders, decisions and rules](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_OR_T51_C654_S654.022.md)
- [ORS § 654.025 654.025 Jurisdiction and supervision of Workers’ Compensation Board, director and other state agencies over employment and places of employment](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_OR_T51_C654_S654.025.md)
- [ORS § 654.031 654.031 Citation and order to correct unsafe or unhealthy conditions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_OR_T51_C654_S654.031.md)
- [ORS § 654.035 654.035 Scope of rules and orders](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_OR_T51_C654_S654.035.md)
- [ORS § 654.056 654.056 Variance from safety or health standards](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_OR_T51_C654_S654.056.md)
- [ORS § 654.062 654.062 Notice of violation to employer by worker](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_OR_T51_C654_S654.062.md)
- [ORS § 654.067 654.067 Inspection of places of employment](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_OR_T51_C654_S654.067.md)
- [ORS § 654.071 654.071 Citation for safety or health standard violations](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_OR_T51_C654_S654.071.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_OR_T51_C654_S654.020. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.