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News Release

Oregon Division Of Financial Regulation Issues Cease-and-desist Order Against Money Transmitter (Photo) -04/18/25

Salem – The Oregon Division of Financial Regulation (DFR) has issued a cease-and-desist order against a money transmitter and its owner. With the holiday weekend upon us, DFR is making consumers aware of the need to work with a licensed money transmitter when sending money domestically or internationally.

 

Brenda Lili Barrera Orantes, the owner and operator of La Popular, was arraigned in federal court in Portland on Thursday after being charged for laundering drug proceeds. More information on the arraignment is available on the U.S. Attorney’s Office website.

 

The division is ordering the business and Barrera Orantes to cease and desist all criminal and regulatory violations related to money transmission.

 

La Popular has several locations in Oregon, including Hillsboro, Canby, Odell, Woodburn, and Beaverton.

 

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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.

City Of Keizer Graduates From Oregon OSHA Program, Exemplifying Excellence In Safety, Health (Photo) -04/18/25

Keizer, the 16th-largest city in Oregon, has achieved a milestone in its ongoing work to bolster workplace safety and health: graduation from Oregon OSHA’s Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP).

 

SHARP, primarily set up to help small- and mid-sized employers, coaches employers on how to effectively manage workplace safety and health. The program encourages Oregon employers to work with their employees to identify and correct hazards and to continuously improve. In turn, companies are recognized for their success in reaching specific benchmarks during the five-year program. An employer may graduate from SHARP after five years of participation.

 

Keizer has completed its SHARP journey, graduating in April 2025. During Keizer’s SHARP process, the city – with guidance and assessments provided by Oregon OSHA safety and health consultants – engaged in numerous project and process improvements designed to strengthen on-the-job protections for its workers. Examples include everything from installation of eyewash stations at key locations and the completion of training for all new safety committee members to updates of the city’s respiratory protection program and implementation of safety protocols addressing the use of ATVs.

 

The positive impact of the city’s participation in SHARP includes a days away, restricted, or transferred (DART) rate of 2.21 in 2023 for the city’s police department, public works field staff, and City Hall staff. The rate was well below the national average of 3.1 and Oregon’s average of 2.7.

 

In assessing the city’s efforts as a SHARP participant and approving it as a SHARP graduate, Oregon OSHA consultants recently concluded that the city “has consistently followed through with all evaluations, training, programs, and procedures for the safety and health for all employees.”

 

“Graduating from the SHARP program is a reflection of the city of Keizer’s commitment to creating a culture where safety is at the heart of everything we do,” said Jeff Heyen, chairperson of the city’s safety committee. “It’s been a true team effort – staff across every department have worked hard to build and sustain safer workplaces, and this recognition reinforces that those efforts matter.”

 

The benefits of the SHARP program, which is part of Oregon OSHA’s free consultation services, include lower injury and illness rates, decreased workers’ compensation costs, increased employee morale, lower product losses, and community recognition.

Learn more about SHARP and Oregon OSHA’s free consultation services, which include hazard assessments, recommendations to control and eliminate hazards, written program evaluation, and hands-on training. Consultations involve no fault, no citations, and no penalties. Oregon OSHA consultants in workplace safety, industrial hygiene, and ergonomics can help employers reduce accidents and related costs and develop comprehensive programs to manage safety and health.
 

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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.

 

 


 

Safety And Health Event Coming To Pendleton, Offering Education And Training Opportunities Across Industries (Photo) -04/16/25

A two-day event in eastern Oregon will put a spotlight on the importance of workplace safety and health, addressing everything from farm and electrical safety to safety committees and personal protective equipment.

 

The 17th annual Blue Mountain Occupational Safety and Health Conference, which will be held June 2-3 at the Pendleton Convention Center in Pendleton, will also feature preconference workshops on key topics and learning sessions in Spanish. Employers are encouraged to take advantage of those Spanish-language sessions by sending staff members who would prefer to gain safety and health knowledge in Spanish.

 

The conference is a collaborative effort by Oregon Occupational Safety and Health (Oregon OSHA) – a division of the Department of Consumer and Business Services – SHARP (Safety and Health Advocates Recommending Progress) Alliance, and employers and employees in northeast Oregon.

 

On Tuesday, June 3, Jennifer Serne will deliver the keynote presentation: “What Was I Thinking?! Cognitive Biases in Human Error and Decision-Making.” Serne is associate professor and program director of safety and health management programs at Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Washington. She will delve into common cognitive biases that contribute to poor decision-making and accidents, and how organizations can use proven mitigation methods to reduce human error and accidents.

 

The workshops on Monday, June 2, include such topics as traffic control and first aid certifications, implementation of Process Safety Management, and how to respond to serious injury or illness at work. Monday’s schedule also offers sessions in Spanish, including building an effective safety culture, identifying hazards, and conducting best practices for safety committees.

 

Conference topics include:

  • Effective Accountability Systems
  • Electrical Safety for the Non-Electrician
  • PTSD Impacts on the Workforce
  • Farm Safety Blueprint: Machine Guarding and Energy Control Essentials
  • I Have My Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), Now What?
  • Effective Safety Committees
  • Safety Leadership on the Front Lines
  • Is That Confined Space Permit Required? Yes or No?
  • Workplace Stress/Burnout: What Health and Safety Professionals Can Do
  • The Worker Protection Standard and Chemical Safety and How it Relates to Your Vineyard and Winery

 

Registration for the preconference workshops on Monday, June 2, is $50. Registration for the conference on Tuesday, June 3, is $125, which includes lunch. To register, go to safetyseries.cventevents.com/blue25.

 

For more information, contact the Oregon OSHA Conference Section, 503-947-7411, or email Oregon.Conferences@dcbs.oregon.gov.

 

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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.

Workplace Safety, Health Event Coming To Portland, Offering Training Opportunities Across Industries (Photo) -04/04/25

A three-day workplace safety and health conference in Portland in May will offer employers and workers across industries multiple education and training opportunities, including how to improve safety leadership, build a culture of safety and health, and how to achieve effective communication.

 

Those learning opportunities – and more – will be available during the 29th annual Northwest Safety & Health Summit, to be held May 13-15 at the Holiday Inn Portland – Columbia Riverfront in Portland.

 

The workplace safety and health event is offered by the Region X Voluntary Protection Programs Participants’ Association. The nonprofit group aims to reduce workplace injury and illness by pursuing safety, health, and environmental excellence through cooperative efforts among labor, management, and government. The event is designed for all industries and worksites, even if they are not part of the Voluntary Protection Program (VPP), which encourages companies to protect workers by going well beyond minimum safety and health requirements.

 

The event’s keynote speakers are safety advocates Russ and Laurel Youngstrom. They will emphasize the importance of personal accountability in workplace safety and of the long-term consequences of ignoring safety precautions. They will share ideas for leaders on how to move safety from their team members’ heads to their hearts.

 

They will deliver their keynote presentation – “It Won’t Happen to Me” – on Wednesday, May 14.

 

The Northwest Safety & Health Summit offers everyone from operations personnel and project managers to safety managers and safety committee members opportunities to receive exceptional workplace safety training and to develop relationships with others in their line of work. It includes a full-day workshop on how to complete a successful VPP application and how to achieve safety excellence at worksites.

 

Event topics include:

  • Dust Happens: Silica Hazards and Prevention Strategies
  • How to Build a Hand Safety Program: Reduce Hand Injuries and Improve Worker Safety
  • Next Generation in Safety: What Is New and On the Horizon in PPE
  • Improving Driver Safety Through Engagement
  • To Lift or Not To Lift? One Question to Prevent Sprains and Strains at Work
  • Heat Stress and Wildfire Smoke: Protecting Workers in a Changing Climate
  • Combustible Dust Hazards
  • Unique Role of a Union Safety Representative and Employee Health Advocate
  • Our Journey to Achieve VPP Recognition
  • Nutrition and Wellness in the Workplace

 

Fees for full-day workshops (Tuesday) range from $200 to $250. Registration for the conference (Wednesday and Thursday) is $375 for VPP members and $400 for nonmembers. The fee for one day (Wednesday or Thursday) is $200.

 

To register, go to https://safetyseries.cventevents.com/vpp25. For more information, contact the Oregon OSHA Conference Section, 503-947-7411, or email Oregon.Conferences@dcbs.oregon.gov.

 

 

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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.

State Releases Free Permit-ready Building Plans For Decks (Photo) -04/03/25

Salem – The Oregon Building Codes Division (BCD) has published its first permit-ready plan under the state’s updated Permit-Ready Plans Program. The building plans, available free to the public, are for a code-compliant residential deck.

 

The Permit-Ready Plans Program creates an efficient pathway for the state to develop and make publicly accessible building plans under Oregon Revised Statute 455.062 that meet the requirements of the state building code. Plans are published to the BCD website. BCD is a division of the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services.

 

The first plan published is a single-level, wood-framed, exterior deck attached to a building regulated by the Oregon Residential Specialty Code. BCD anticipates publishing more permit-ready plans for other residential accessory structures such as pole buildings, detached garages, patio covers, and carports later this year. The division will start developing plans for smaller detached dwelling units by the end of 2025.

 

Once a permit-ready plan has been published, it will be available for use by the public. To use a permit-ready plan, download the plan, supply any project-specific details required by the plans (dimensions used, site-specific design criteria, selected options, etc.), and then contact the local building department for details about how to submit the plan for its review.

 

“The Permit-Ready Plans Program is one part of the state’s broad approach to foster increased housing production in Oregon,” said Alana Cox, administrator of the Building Codes Division. “Permit-ready plans are able to be processed by building departments more efficiently, which streamlines the specific project using the provided plans. Also, this streamlined process frees up building department resources to process other permit applications more efficiently.”

 

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About Oregon BCD: The Building Codes Division administers the statewide building code, which provides uniform standards that ensure newly constructed residential and commercial buildings are safe for people to occupy. The division is part of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, Oregon’s largest consumer protection and business regulatory agency. Visit oregon.gov/bcd and dcbs.oregon.gov

Fraud Fighter Summit And Resource Fair Set For April 12 In Medford (Photo) -03/31/25

Salem – The Oregon Division of Financial Regulation (DFR) and Oregon AARP are hosting the Fraud Fighter Summit and Resource Fair on Saturday, April 12, in Medford.

 

The free event, which runs from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., will be at the Smullin Health Education Center, 2825 E. Barnett Road, in Medford. Doors open at 9 a.m. Parking is available on site and a light lunch will be provided.

 

Joining DFR and AARP will be representatives from the Federal Trade Commission and the Construction Contractors Board, who will provide insights on current scams. Attendees will learn tips on how to protect themselves against fraud.

 

They will hear from DFR Administrator TK Keen; Oregon AARP State Director Bandana Shrestha; Oregon AARP Director of Advocacy and Outreach Carmel Snyder; Construction Contractors Board Communications and Outreach Coordinator Tori Garcia; Federal Trade Commission Regional Director Chuck Harwood; and Doug Shadel, a national expert, author, and columnist on fraud prevention.

 

Keen will be speaking about spotting and recovering from scams and steps to follow while working with your insurance company. This information, which will accompany Garcia’s presentation, will provide consumers with tips and resources for scam and fraud avoidance, resources for recovery, and how to report.

 

“It is important for people to do their due diligence so that they do not become a victim of scams and fraud,” Keen said. “This is especially true when they are in a vulnerable position, including after a natural disaster. Unfortunately, not everyone who rushes in after a flood or fire is there to help.”

 

If you believe you may have been scammed related to an insurance or financial product or claim, DFR has resources to help you. Consumer advocates are available by calling 1-888-877-4894 (toll-free) or emailing dfr.financialserviceshelp@dcbs.oregon.gov or dfr.insurancehelp@dcbs.oregon.gov. More information is also available at dfr.oregon.gov/help.

 

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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.

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