Workplace Safety and Health
The Department of Labor & Industries developed Wildfire Smoke Rules, effective January 15, 2024, to protect the health of outdoor workers exposed to the small particles contained in wildfire smoke.
Some ways to protect workers from wildfire smoke include:
- Providing enclosed buildings, structures, or vehicles where the air is adequately filtered.
- Providing portable HEPA filters in enclosed areas.
- Relocating work to a location with a lower smoke level.
- Changing work schedules to a time with a lower smoke level.
- Avoiding or reducing work that creates additional dust, fumes,
or smoke (for example limiting welding, sanding, sawing, spray painting, etc.).
- Reducing work intensity.
- Provide access to clean air.
- Providing additional rest periods.
Respirators filter the
air to protect worker’s lungs.
Bandanas, scarves, facemasks, KN95s, or
t-shirts worn over the nose and mouth will not provide protection against
wildfire smoke. A NIOSH approved N95 respirator is the minimum protection from
wildfire smoke.
Working in wildfire smoke can make people sick.
Workers need to alert their employer if they experience any
health effects from wildfire smoke exposure. This is so they can be monitored
in case their symptoms worsen, and because employers must limit further
exposures to other employees. In severe cases, workers may need emergency
medical attention.
Employers are not allowed to retaliate against
an employee for reporting any symptoms that may potentially be
related to wildfire smoke exposure, for seeking medical attention, or for
following medical advice they have been given. Click here to see the anti-discrimination provisions of
the wildfire smoke rules.
Training and Resources
Employers
covered under the Wildfire Smoke Rules must provide workers with
training on wildfire smoke before exposing them to a PM2.5 concentration
of 20.5 µg/m3 (AQI 69) or more.
Training needs to be done before smoke exposure and repeated every year. Click here for
more specifics on training.
Topic-specific
information
Questions?