April 27, 2020 3:10 a.m.
The Office of the State Fire Marshal is extending a temporary rule change that allows Oregon gas stations to provide self-service on a voluntary basis, in order to address shortages of workers experienced by gas retailers statewide.
A release said the change was first announced on March 28th and then extended on April 11th to April 25th. State Fire Marshal Jim Walker has extended the deadline for another two weeks, through May 9th.
Walker thanked Oregonians and businesses for being flexible “during these challenging times”.
The extension will still allow station attendants to help customers while avoiding face-to-face and hand-to-hand contact. It also ensures that physical distancing measures are in place. Attendants will continue to sanitize station equipment and fuel nozzles and assist customers with their refueling as needed.
The release said self-service is not mandatory. The option allows some fueling stations to maintain their operations with fewer workers. Unattended self-service is permitted when a gas station owner exhausts all staffing options.
The extension of the self-service rules change has not affected areas of the state that were already authorized for self-service fueling under state law.