Red Lion Hotel Columbia Center
1101 North Columbia Center Blvd.
Kennewick, WA 99336

A pre-hearing overview will occur at 9:00 a.m., one hour prior to the start of the public hearing. The hearing will begin at 10:00 a.m. and continue until all oral comments are received.

L&I encourages the submittal of written comments, due by 5:00 p.m. on August 4, 2023.

The purpose of this rulemaking is to address the hazards associated with wildfire smoke. Wildfire smoke presents hazards that employers and workers in affected regions must understand. Smoke from wildfires contains chemicals, gases and fine particles that can harm health. Proper protective equipment, exposure controls, and training are needed for employees working in wildfire regions. This rulemaking created a new chapter, Chapter 296-820 WAC, Wildfire Smoke, and duplicated these new requirements into Chapter 296-307 WAC, Safety Standards for Agriculture. L&I issued emergency rules in the summer of 2021 and 2022, and began the permanent rulemaking process. A CR-101 (Preproposal) was filed on October 20, 2020. Prior to the issuance of the emergency rule in summer 2021, there were no regulations to address the hazard of wildfire smoke inhalation among outdoor workers in Washington State.