Oregon fruit growers have a few extra weeks to prepare for the emergency pandemic rules governing agriculture and labor housing.

The Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Administration has announced that staff will delay enforcement of the strict new regulations specific to the coronavirus until June 1.

In late April, the agency passed emergency agricultural rules that banned the use of bunk beds in worker housing for those who are unrelated, increased the number of portable toilets and handwashing stations on farms and mandated “social distancing officers,” among other measures. They were scheduled to take effect May 11.

After grower requests for more time, the agency will push enforcement of the rules back until June 1, Oregon OSHA Administrator Michael Wood said in a memo late last week to enforcement and consultation staff. Here’s the memo: https://oregonstate.app.box.com/s/jxz9gwulted5hiws0g6f2lkv93cv14oe

—by Ross Courtney

Related:
—Oregon issues pandemic farming rules