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News Release

Oregon Workers’ Compensation Division To Host 22nd Educational Conference May 7-8 In Wilsonville (Photo) - 03/23/26

Salem – The Oregon Workers’ Compensation Division (WCD) is hosting an educational conference May 7-8 for employers, insurers, attorneys, medical providers, union representatives, safety and human resource managers, and vocational assistance providers. People with a professional interest in the workers’ compensation system will benefit from this opportunity to learn, engage in professional networking, and refresh their skills.

 

The 22nd Workers’ Compensation Educational Conference will be held at the Holiday Inn Portland – I-5 South (Wilsonville), 25425 SW 95th Ave., Wilsonville, Oregon. Conference topics include a state‑of‑the‑industry update, return‑to‑work program trends, and first payment of time‑loss.

 

WCD, a division of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, is hosting the conference with the International Workers’ Compensation Foundation.

 

On Friday, May 8, the conference’s keynote is a session titled “A Guide to Claim Filing,” a collaboration by three members of WCD’s Audit, Employer Compliance, and Sanctions and Medical Resolution units. Auditor Sara Kessler, Senior Field Investigator Sarah Jones, and Medical Reviewer Sophie Serlin will cover the claims process – from the moment a worker becomes injured to the employer’s response and what medical providers must do.

 

The conference, which includes breakfast, lunch, and exhibits, offers many workplace safety and health topics. They include:

  • Case law updates from the Oregon Workers’ Compensation Board
  • A session covering workers’ compensation basics
  • An overview of Oregon’s nationally recognized return-to-work programs and the benefits to employers, insurers, and injured workers
  • Oregon legislative update
  • Progress report on the WCD Modernization Program
  • Workplace recordkeeping and reporting
  • Worksite modification
  • “Effective solutions to prevent workplace stress and burnout,” presented by Oregon Health and Science University
  • A deep dive into the first payment of temporary disability
  • Oregon OSHA Consultation: Hazard identification and risk reduction

 

Conference attendees will have the unique opportunity to attend the Management-Labor Advisory Committee (MLAC) meeting at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, May 7, at the host hotel. This meeting is also open to the public. MLAC reviews issues in the workers’ compensation system and makes recommendations to the Oregon Legislature. To learn more, go to https://www.oregon.gov/dcbs/mlac/Pages/index.aspx.

 

Immediately following the MLAC meeting at 5 p.m., conference attendees are invited to attend a special networking event, also at the Holiday Inn, where they can meet workers’ compensation professionals in the region. Light refreshments will be served.

 

Registration for the two-day event is $350 until April 1, when the cost increases to $425. Register at https://workcompevent.com/oregon/oregon-workers-compensation-conference/. For more information about WCD conferences, go online, email chris.p.sutter@dcbs.oregon.gov, or call 971-286-0162.

 

###

 

#OregonWCD

 

About Oregon WCD: The Workers’ Compensation Division administers and regulates workers’ compensation laws and rules in Oregon. The division is part of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, Oregon’s largest consumer protection and business regulatory agency. Visit wcd.oregon.gov and dcbs.oregon.gov.

Attached Media Files: Oregon Workers' Compensation Division logo,

Oregon Workers’ Compensation Division To Host 22nd Educational Conference May 7-8 In Wilsonville (Photo) - 03/23/26

Salem – The Oregon Workers’ Compensation Division (WCD) is hosting an educational conference May 7-8 for employers, insurers, attorneys, medical providers, union representatives, safety and human resource managers, and vocational assistance providers. People with a professional interest in the workers’ compensation system will benefit from this opportunity to learn, engage in professional networking, and refresh their skills.

 

The 22nd Workers’ Compensation Educational Conference will be held at the Holiday Inn Portland – I-5 South (Wilsonville), 25425 SW 95th Ave., Wilsonville, Oregon. Conference topics include a state‑of‑the‑industry update, return‑to‑work program trends, and first payment of time‑loss.

 

WCD, a division of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, is hosting the conference with the International Workers’ Compensation Foundation.

 

On Friday, May 8, the conference’s keynote is a session titled “A Guide to Claim Filing,” a collaboration by three members of WCD’s Audit, Employer Compliance, and Sanctions and Medical Resolution units. Auditor Sara Kessler, Senior Field Investigator Sarah Jones, and Medical Reviewer Sophie Serlin will cover the claims process – from the moment a worker becomes injured to the employer’s response and what medical providers must do.

 

The conference, which includes breakfast, lunch, and exhibits, offers many workplace safety and health topics. They include:

  • Case law updates from the Oregon Workers’ Compensation Board
  • A session covering workers’ compensation basics
  • An overview of Oregon’s nationally recognized return-to-work programs and the benefits to employers, insurers, and injured workers
  • Oregon legislative update
  • Progress report on the WCD Modernization Program
  • Workplace recordkeeping and reporting
  • Worksite modification
  • “Effective solutions to prevent workplace stress and burnout,” presented by Oregon Health and Science University
  • A deep dive into the first payment of temporary disability
  • Oregon OSHA Consultation: Hazard identification and risk reduction

 

Conference attendees will have the unique opportunity to attend the Management-Labor Advisory Committee (MLAC) meeting at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, May 7, at the host hotel. This meeting is also open to the public. MLAC reviews issues in the workers’ compensation system and makes recommendations to the Oregon Legislature. To learn more, go to https://www.oregon.gov/dcbs/mlac/Pages/index.aspx.

 

Immediately following the MLAC meeting at 5 p.m., conference attendees are invited to attend a special networking event, also at the Holiday Inn, where they can meet workers’ compensation professionals in the region. Light refreshments will be served.

 

Registration for the two-day event is $350 until April 1, when the cost increases to $425. Register at https://workcompevent.com/oregon/oregon-workers-compensation-conference/. For more information about WCD conferences, go online, email chris.p.sutter@dcbs.oregon.gov, or call 971-286-0162.

 

###

 

#OregonWCD

 

About Oregon WCD: The Workers’ Compensation Division administers and regulates workers’ compensation laws and rules in Oregon. The division is part of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, Oregon’s largest consumer protection and business regulatory agency. Visit wcd.oregon.gov and dcbs.oregon.gov.

Attached Media Files: Oregon Workers' Compensation Division logo,

Oregon Insurance Commissioner To Participate In Tele Town Hall With AARP On Fighting Fraud (Photo) - 03/18/26

Salem – Oregon Insurance Commissioner TK Keen will take part in an AARP-sponsored Tele Town Hall on Thursday, March 19, at 11 a.m.

 

The Oregon Division of Financial Regulation has partnered with AARP the past several years on Scam Jam events throughout the state to inform consumers on the most common scams taking place in Oregon and nationwide. This year, the focus is on Fraud Fighter events and several such events are planned throughout Oregon. The Tele Town Hall is a different format, however, as people can attend from anywhere by calling 855-408-1333 (toll-free).

 

This comes on the heels of National Consumer Protection Week earlier this month, as well as numerous educational outreach events and press releases DFR has done on everything from romance scams to health insurance-related scams

 

“We hear about people every day who are hit by scammers and have hard-earned money taken from them,” said Keen, who is also DFR’s administrator. “We want to continue to get the word out, to get in front of as many people as possible about all the ways scammers are trying to reach people.”

 

According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Oregonians lost more than $133 million to fraud in 2025. Along with this Tele Town Hall, DFR and AARP are coordinating several in-person Fraud Fighter events in April on the following dates:

  • April 11 in Springfield at the Riverbend Hospital
  • April 17 in Medford at Rogue Community College
  • April 28 in Portland at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI)

Each of those events will begin at 8:30 a.m. with check-in, followed by a 9 a.m. to noon town hall with presentations, question and answer time, and panel discussions.

 

If you ever believe you are or have been a victim of fraud, you can call one of DFR’s consumer advocates at 888-877-4894 (toll-free) or email dfr.financialeserviceshelp@dcbs.oregon.gov.

 

###

 

About Oregon DFR: The Division of Financial Regulation protects consumers and regulates insurance, depository institutions, trust companies, securities, and consumer financial products and services. The division is part of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, Oregon’s largest consumer protection and business regulatory agency. Visit dfr.oregon.gov and dcbs.oregon.gov.

Attached Media Files: DFR-logo-blue.jpg,

Oregon Insurance Commissioner To Participate In Tele Town Hall With AARP On Fighting Fraud (Photo) - 03/18/26

Salem – Oregon Insurance Commissioner TK Keen will take part in an AARP-sponsored Tele Town Hall on Thursday, March 19, at 11 a.m.

 

The Oregon Division of Financial Regulation has partnered with AARP the past several years on Scam Jam events throughout the state to inform consumers on the most common scams taking place in Oregon and nationwide. This year, the focus is on Fraud Fighter events and several such events are planned throughout Oregon. The Tele Town Hall is a different format, however, as people can attend from anywhere by calling 855-408-1333 (toll-free).

 

This comes on the heels of National Consumer Protection Week earlier this month, as well as numerous educational outreach events and press releases DFR has done on everything from romance scams to health insurance-related scams

 

“We hear about people every day who are hit by scammers and have hard-earned money taken from them,” said Keen, who is also DFR’s administrator. “We want to continue to get the word out, to get in front of as many people as possible about all the ways scammers are trying to reach people.”

 

According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Oregonians lost more than $133 million to fraud in 2025. Along with this Tele Town Hall, DFR and AARP are coordinating several in-person Fraud Fighter events in April on the following dates:

  • April 11 in Springfield at the Riverbend Hospital
  • April 17 in Medford at Rogue Community College
  • April 28 in Portland at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI)

Each of those events will begin at 8:30 a.m. with check-in, followed by a 9 a.m. to noon town hall with presentations, question and answer time, and panel discussions.

 

If you ever believe you are or have been a victim of fraud, you can call one of DFR’s consumer advocates at 888-877-4894 (toll-free) or email dfr.financialeserviceshelp@dcbs.oregon.gov.

 

###

 

About Oregon DFR: The Division of Financial Regulation protects consumers and regulates insurance, depository institutions, trust companies, securities, and consumer financial products and services. The division is part of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, Oregon’s largest consumer protection and business regulatory agency. Visit dfr.oregon.gov and dcbs.oregon.gov.

Attached Media Files: DFR-logo-blue.jpg,

Gresham Contractor Fined $113,852 For Repeatedly Violating Fall Protection Standard (Photo) - 03/06/26

The Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division (Oregon OSHA) has fined a Gresham roofing contractor $113,852 for repeatedly failing to protect workers from fall hazards that could seriously injure or kill them.

 

The division cited New Exteriors LLC after an inspection of a jobsite in Lake Oswego where work was being done on the roof of a multistory house.

 

The company did not ensure that an employee – who was installing composite shingles – was protected against a potential fall, according to Oregon OSHA’s findings. The company failed to provide a fall protection system, exposing the employee to falling as much as 12 feet to the ground. New Exteriors violated an Oregon OSHA rule requiring employers to provide, install, and implement fall protection systems where employees are exposed to a hazard of falling 6 feet or more to a lower level.

 

This was the fourth time since May 2023 that New Exteriors violated fall protection requirements. Oregon OSHA rated the severity of the fourth-repeat violation as “death,” because the typical result of the hazard would be the death of an employee. The division issued a penalty of $113,852 for the fourth-repeat violation. Under Oregon OSHA’s rules, penalties multiply when employers commit repeat offenses. Oregon OSHA also issued an “other-than-serious” citation to the company for not documenting that an employee received training in fall protection systems.

 

Under the Oregon Safe Employment Act, workers have a right to safe and healthy working conditions, and to raise concerns free of retaliation. The law requires employers to create and maintain safe and healthy workplaces. In the construction industry, falls are one of the leading causes of death.

 

“Working at heights is dangerous. That is why there are clear and effective safety standards in place to address the very real risk of a worker falling,” said Renée Stapleton, administrator for Oregon OSHA. “Any employer who directs employees to work at heights must account for fall hazards from the standpoint of prevention.”

 

Oregon OSHA’s enforcement program is rooted in prevention and requiring employers to correct violations. New Exteriors corrected the violations during the inspection.

 

Employers have 30 calendar days after receiving a citation to file an appeal. New Exteriors has filed an appeal of the citation.

 

Employers are encouraged to use free resources – available now from Oregon OSHA and involving no fault, no citations, and no penalties – for help protecting their employees:

 

Consultation services – Provides free help with safety and health programs, including how to control and eliminate hazards, and hands-on training

Technical staff – Helps employers understand requirements and how to apply them to their worksites

Oregon OSHA also offers free fall protection video training in English and Spanish, and key information for employers and workers.

 

###

 

About Oregon OSHA: Oregon OSHA enforces the state's workplace safety and health rules and works to improve workplace safety and health for all Oregon workers. The division is part of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, Oregon’s largest consumer protection and business regulatory agency. Visit osha.oregon.gov and dcbs.oregon.gov.

Attached Media Files: Oregon OSHA logo, DCBS logo,

Gresham Contractor Fined $113,852 For Repeatedly Violating Fall Protection Standard (Photo) - 03/06/26

The Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division (Oregon OSHA) has fined a Gresham roofing contractor $113,852 for repeatedly failing to protect workers from fall hazards that could seriously injure or kill them.

 

The division cited New Exteriors LLC after an inspection of a jobsite in Lake Oswego where work was being done on the roof of a multistory house.

 

The company did not ensure that an employee – who was installing composite shingles – was protected against a potential fall, according to Oregon OSHA’s findings. The company failed to provide a fall protection system, exposing the employee to falling as much as 12 feet to the ground. New Exteriors violated an Oregon OSHA rule requiring employers to provide, install, and implement fall protection systems where employees are exposed to a hazard of falling 6 feet or more to a lower level.

 

This was the fourth time since May 2023 that New Exteriors violated fall protection requirements. Oregon OSHA rated the severity of the fourth-repeat violation as “death,” because the typical result of the hazard would be the death of an employee. The division issued a penalty of $113,852 for the fourth-repeat violation. Under Oregon OSHA’s rules, penalties multiply when employers commit repeat offenses. Oregon OSHA also issued an “other-than-serious” citation to the company for not documenting that an employee received training in fall protection systems.

 

Under the Oregon Safe Employment Act, workers have a right to safe and healthy working conditions, and to raise concerns free of retaliation. The law requires employers to create and maintain safe and healthy workplaces. In the construction industry, falls are one of the leading causes of death.

 

“Working at heights is dangerous. That is why there are clear and effective safety standards in place to address the very real risk of a worker falling,” said Renée Stapleton, administrator for Oregon OSHA. “Any employer who directs employees to work at heights must account for fall hazards from the standpoint of prevention.”

 

Oregon OSHA’s enforcement program is rooted in prevention and requiring employers to correct violations. New Exteriors corrected the violations during the inspection.

 

Employers have 30 calendar days after receiving a citation to file an appeal. New Exteriors has filed an appeal of the citation.

 

Employers are encouraged to use free resources – available now from Oregon OSHA and involving no fault, no citations, and no penalties – for help protecting their employees:

 

Consultation services – Provides free help with safety and health programs, including how to control and eliminate hazards, and hands-on training

Technical staff – Helps employers understand requirements and how to apply them to their worksites

Oregon OSHA also offers free fall protection video training in English and Spanish, and key information for employers and workers.

 

###

 

About Oregon OSHA: Oregon OSHA enforces the state's workplace safety and health rules and works to improve workplace safety and health for all Oregon workers. The division is part of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, Oregon’s largest consumer protection and business regulatory agency. Visit osha.oregon.gov and dcbs.oregon.gov.

Attached Media Files: Oregon OSHA logo, DCBS logo,