UPDATED: Wildfire Smoke Employee Protection & Regulations

Cal/OSHA Wildfire Smoke Regulation, August 2019:

• Text of Regulation (GISO Section 5141.1, Protection from Wildfire Smoke)
• “Wildfire Smoke Regulation Now in Effect”, FELS Newsletter, August 2019 (FELS Newsletter subscriber-exclusive)
• FELS Tailgate Training Sheet: Wildfire Smoke Safety (updated) (a FELS Newsletter subscriber exclusive resource)
• Compliance Resources from the UC Davis Western Center for Agricultural Safety & Health:
  • Employer Discussion Guide (English/Spanish)
  • Employer Checklist (English/Spanish)
  • 13″x20″ Tailgate Training Poster (English/Spanish)
  • 8.5″x11″ Tailgate Training Poster (English/Spanish)

(Note: non-FELS Newsletter subscribers will not be able to access subscriber materials; subscribers should log-in before access subscriber materials; non-subscribers can subscribe to the FELS Newsletter here.)

Oregon OSHA Wildfire Smoke Regulation, July 2019

• Summary of regulation
• Regulatory language  

Cal/OSHA Wildfire Smoke Regulation Compliance Summary:

• Employers must protect workers from exposure to wildfire smoke under these conditions:
  • An Air Quality Index (AQI) greater than 150 (Hazardous for Sensitive Groups) resulting from the presence of particulate matter of 2.5 microns or smaller (the regulation is not triggered by the presence of other pollutants that may result in an AQI of 150 or greater (ozone, for example); and,
  • The employer should “reasonably anticipate” that employees may be exposed to wildfire smoke. 

(Note: You can obtain information about current air quality conditions at US EPA AirNow, US Forest Service Wildland Air Quality Response Program, and California Air Resources Board.)

• Exemptions
  • Employees in workplaces in enclosed buildings or vehicles with filtered air supplies are exempted.
  • Employees who are exposed for a total of one hour or less during a shift are exempted.
• Employee Communication and Training
  • Communicate information in a manner readily understandable by all affected employees.
  • Encourage employees to communicate to you about possible wildfire smoke hazards without fear of reprisal.
  • Inform employees about the current PM 2.5 AQI and protective measures available to them to reduce wildfire smoke exposures.
  • Encourage employees to inform you about worsening air quality and any adverse symptoms experienced due to wildfire smoke exposure, including asthma, breathing difficulty and chest pain.
  • Provide effective training and instruction using the regulation’s Appendix B (regulatory text linked above in English and Spanish includes Appendix B); this can take the form of workplace training similar to other types of safety trainings you provide employees.
• Control of Wildfire Smoke Exposure:
  • Check air quality at the location where employees will be working, both before and periodically during each shift, particularly if you have reason to believe the air quality may be such that it would trigger the regulation.
  • Use engineering controls (where feasible): providing enclosed buildings, structures, or vehicles with filtered air; 
  • Use administrative controls (if practicable) where engineering controls are infeasible or cannot reduce PM 2.5 exposure to an AQI 150 or less: relocating work to a location where AQI is 150 or less for PM 2.5, change work schedules to allow work when air quality is not hazardous, reduce work intensity, or provide additional rest periods;
  • Use respiratory protection equipment (respirators) where engineering controls are infeasible and administrative controls are not practicable to reduce exposures to below AQI 150 for PM 2.5.
  • Use NIOSH-approved respirators such as N-95 respirators (see N95 Mask Commonly Asked Questions, California Office of Emergency Services).
  • Provide respirators for voluntary use and encourage employees to use them. 
  • Respirator use requirements such as fit-testing and medical evaluation are not required for respirators provided for voluntary use under GISO 5141.1, Protection from Wildfire Smoke. 
  • Train employees using Appendix B and make it available to them in their preferred language.  Information in Appendix B and in instructions provided with respirators themselves like fit-testing, medical evaluation, and shaving of facial hair do not apply under this regulation.
  • N95 respirators are generally readily available, but supplies might be short during a wildfire, so be prepared.  You can order from: Uline   Amazon   Gempler’s   Grainger.
  • When AQI exceeds 500 from PM 2.5 during a wildfire smoke event, you must comply with respirator use regulations as specified in GISO 5141, Control of Harmful Exposure to Employees.  Generally, GISO 5141 imposes requirements for feasible engineering controls, practicable administrative controls where engineering controls are infeasible or insufficiently effective, requires use of respirators when engineering controls and administrative controls prove inadequate, requires medical evaluation and fit-testing, imposes respirator selection criteria and requires implementation of a respirator program.  AQI exceeding 500 for PM 2.5 has been seen for relatively short periods of time in past wildfires; given the probably short duration of such conditions and the time-consuming administrative burdens of GISO 5141, you might want to elect to cease operations until the AQI for PM 2.5 drops below 500 at which time you may resume operations under GISO 5141.1