BUSINESS & AG LIFE
B2 — THE OBSERVER & BAKER CITY HERALD
THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 2022
Oregon OSHA to revise COVID-19 workplace guidelines
With limited exceptions, all remaining
industry-specific and activity-specific
workplace guidance will be repealed
By MIKE ROGOWAY
The Oregonian
SALEM — Oregon’s
workplace safety agency
said this week it is relaxing
standards for COVID-19
safety precautions,
adjusting rules to con-
form with new state health
guidance. That means
the end to formal mask
requirements and other
precautions.
The state Occupational
Safety and Health Divi-
sion, known as Oregon
OSHA, established emer-
gency safety rules in 2020,
early in the pandemic.
Six months later, in April
2021, the agency moved to
extend those protections.
Because Oregon law
allows emergency rules to
remain in place for just 180
days, though, OSHA said it
needed to make those rules
nominally “permanent” to
keep them in place.
Vaccines were prolif-
erating at the time, and
many states were repealing
mask mandates alto-
gether, so Oregon’s deci-
sion to use the “perma-
nent rulemaking” process
ignited a furor. OSHA said
at the time that it intended
to remove the workplace
rules whenever COVID
case levels allowed it, but
it faced criticism for not
setting specifi c metrics for
when that would be.
The pandemic surged
and waned intermit-
tently over the next 11
months, but Oregon is now
enjoying a sharp decline
in infection rates, and the
state repealed most indoor
mask requirements earlier
this month.
So OSHA said this
week that it’s relaxing its
rules, following guidance
from the Oregon Health
Authority. OSHA said this
week it won’t enforce last
year’s rules while it begins
the regulatory process to
repeal the “permanent”
changes enacted last April.
While the rulemaking
process is underway,
OSHA said it will enforce
a few standards:
• Employers must
allow workers to volun-
tarily wear masks, and
employers must provide
them free to workers who
want them.
• Employers conducting
COVID-19 testing must
cover the costs of those
tests, including employees’
time and travel.
OSHA said employers
should also “opti-
mize” indoor ventila-
tion to reduce the risk
of COVID-19 transmis-
sion and notify employees
of potential exposure to
COVID-19 at work.
The old, higher safety
standards remain in place
for what OSHA calls
“exceptional risk work-
places.” In general, that
refers to health care set-
tings with direct patient
care. The state still
requires masks in those
settings.
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Certified Arborist
SPRING
Pruning
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Certified Tree Care
Planting • Pruning • Removal
M. Curtiss PN-7077A
541-786-8463
CCB# 200613
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C lassifieds
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by Stella Wilder
THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 2022
YOUR BIRTHDAY by Stella Wilder
Born today, you want to be the best -- peri-
od. At what, you may ask -- and that can prove
a difficult question for anyone to answer who
isn’t close to you and doesn’t know the deep,
dark secrets that you harbor within your soul.
For the truth is that you look like you could do
just about anything, and you have been
endowed with a great many talents to explore
in your lifetime.
FRIDAY, MARCH 25
ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- The prom-
ise of a handsome reward is likely enough to
get you to step out of your comfort zone today
and try something very unusual.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- You may be
expecting something from someone today for
which there has been no evidence or advance
notice whatsoever. Why is that?
GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -- It’s a good
THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 2022
time to revisit something that, in the past,
gave you a great deal of pleasure. You know
someone who will share this with you.
CANCER (June 21-July 22) -- You must
resist feeling competitive toward someone
who is only trying to help you. Instead of
being defensive, why not invite cooperation?
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- A misconception
of some sort has you preparing for something
that is not likely to happen. This is a “no harm,
no foul” situation, however.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Someone
may be expecting too much of you today, and
you must say so before you find yourself in a
situation that is too much to handle alone.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) -- You know
very well who is responsible for the mess that
you are left with at this time, so why not insist
on getting the help you need?
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) -- You can
take full advantage today of a situation you
were not even aware of yesterday. Progress is
made very swiftly at this time.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) -- You
may wonder at the treatment you receive at
the hands of someone who thinks they’re in
charge. It’s surely time to speak up.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- You
may have gotten along so far by pretending to
be this, that or the other thing -- but today you
must be genuine in all interactions.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) -- A per-
sonal sacrifice may be necessary today before
you are able to make any more measurable
progress, but this shouldn’t be too difficult.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) -- The time for
exploration and experimentation may be
coming to a close; today, you will want to nar-
row down your choices significantly.
110 Announcements
110 Announcements
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110 Announcements
114 Self-Help
Group Meetings
CELEBRATE RECOVERY
COPYRIGHT 2022 UNITED FEATURE SYNDICATE, INC.
DISTRIBUTED BY ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION FOR UFS
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PULL TABS
ACCEPTED
AT THE FOLLOWING
BAKER CITY LOCATIONS
∙ Baker City Herald
∙ Dollar Tree
∙ Black’s Distributing
∙ Ryder Bros
∙ VFW
∙ Baker Elk’s Lodge
∙ Main Event
∙ Lefty’s Tap House
∙ Baker City Fire Dept.
∙ Haines Sell-Rite
∙ Idle Hour
∙ Salvation Army
Calvary Baptist Church
Third & Broadway
Baker City, OR
EVERY THURSDAY
6:15 - 8:00 PM
AL-ANON Attitude of Gratitude.
Wednesdays, 12:15-1:30pm.
Faith Lutheran Church.
12th & Gekeler, La Grande
Please wear a mask & practice
social distancing
541-786-2051
NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS
Goin’ Straight Group
Meetings:
Mon., Tues. Thurs. & Fri.
Start at 8 PM
Episcopal Church Basement
2177 1st Street, Baker City
Check out our classified ads.
OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS
Would you like to
stop compulsive eating?
For Information Call
541-523-5128
Leave a Message
Email: ecapoa@live.com
114 Self-Help
Group Meetings
BAKER COUNTY
AA MEETINGS
BAKER CITY
AA MEETINGS
Wednesday Nights, 7-8:15pm.
Fort Union Grange Hall, corner
of McAlister & Gekeler Lanes.
For more info, call 541-786-1222
MONDAYS
Survivor’s Group
12 -1:00 pm
Baker Presbyterian Church
1995 4th St.
(4th & Court, Side Door)
AL-ANON
Keep Coming Back Family Group
Mondays, 7 pm
at NKWest, 1208 Adams,
La Grande, OR
NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS
Monday, Thursday, & Friday
at 8pm. Episcopal Church
2177 First St.
Baker City
DO YOU HAVE....HURTS,
HABITS and/or HANG UPS?
12 Step Biblical Support
Harvest Church
3720 Birch St. Baker City
Thurs., 6:30 - 8:30 PM
LA GRANDE
GAMBLERS ANONYMOUS
Every Friday Night @ 5pm, 2107
Gekeler Ln, LG, Church of Christ
basement. For more info please
call 971-219-8411
Someone’s
drinking a problem?
AL-ANON Meetings
are available by phone
Info for Baker City Meetings
Call: 541-239-7323
WEDNESDAYS
Survivor’s Group
12:05 pm
Baker Presbyterian Church
1995 4th St.
(4th & Court, Side Door)
THURSDAYS
Survivor’s Group
12:00 pm
Baker Presbyterian Church
1995 4th St.
(4th & Court, Side Door)
FRIDAYS
Been There Done That
5:30 pm
Grove Apartments
Community Room
2970 Walnut Street
SATURDAYS
As Bill Sees It Group
10:00 am 2970 Walnut
(Corner of “D” & Grove St.)
Grove Apts. Community Rm
Questions call AA Hotline:
541-624-5117
www.oregonaadistrict29.org
DEADLINES:
LINE ADS:
Tuesday: 8:30am Monday
Thursday: 8:30 am Wednesday
Saturday: 8:30 am Friday
DISPLAY ADS:
2 Days Prior to
Publication Date
114 Self-Help
Group Meetings
Drug Problem?
We can help!
Narcotics Anonymous
Phone: 541-805-2229
www.neo-na.org
PEOPLE with PARKINSON’S
Caregivers, Family, Friends
SUPPORT GROUP
Contact Judith at
208-855-9199
Meetings resume @GRH
when restrictions ease.
OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS
Tues., Noon - 1 PM
P HONE M EETING
C ALL : (605) 475-4120
U SE C ODE : 8655565
Or for more information call:
541-540-5326 -or- 541-523-5128
Please Leave a Message
AL-ANON FAMILY GROUP
Support for family & friends
of Alcoholics
Tuesday evenings; 6-7pm
Joseph Methodist Church
(basement on northside)
Joseph, OR
Contact 541-398-1398
WALLOWA COUNTY
AA MEETINGS
Enterprise
MONDAYS
∙ Enterprise Group
7:00 pm
Closed Meeting
113.5 E Main St.
TUESDAYS
∙ Enterprise Group
7 - 8:00 pm
(Big Bk Study)
113.5 E Main St.
WEDNESDAYS
∙ Enterprise Group
7:00 pm
Closed Meeting
113.5 E Main St.
THURSDAYS
∙ Enterprise Group
7:00 pm
113.5 E Main St.
FRIDAYS
∙ Enterprise Group
7:00 pm
Closed Meeting
113.5 E Main St.
SATURDAYS
∙ Enterprise Group
7:00 pm
113.5 E Main St.
City of Joseph
WEDNESDAYS
∙ Buck Stops Here
Joseph United
Methodist Church, 12 pm
301 S. Lake St., Joseph
(Church Basement)
THURSDAYS
∙ Grace and Dignity *(WM)
Joseph United
Methodist Church, 12 pm
301 S Lake St., Joseph
(Church Basement)
SATURDAYS
∙ Buck Stops Here
Joseph United
Methodist Church, 12 pm
301 S. Lake St., Joseph
(Church Basement)
Questions call
AA Hotline:
541-624-5117
www.oregonaadistrict29.org