An irrigation system waters a field with barely-visible mountains in the background and the sky filled with wildfire smoke.

Wildfire Smoke & Workplace Safety and Health

Wildfire smoke contains a mixture of harmful chemicals and particles. This smoke can make anyone sick, even healthy individuals.

Exposure to the small particles in wildfire smoke can cause mild to serious symptoms, including:

  • Respiratory: Cough, difficulty breathing, wheezing, shortness of breath; asthma attack, runny nose, sore throat, sinus pain or pressure; phlegm.
  • Cardiovascular: Chest pain or discomfort, fast or irregular heartbeat, feeling weak, light-headed, faint, or dizzy; or pain or discomfort in the jaw, neck or back.
  • Symptoms concerning for a stroke: Sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm or leg – especially on one side of the body; sudden confusion; trouble speaking or difficulty understanding speech; sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes; sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance, or lack of coordination; sudden severe headache with no known cause.
  • Headache, scratchy or irritated eyes, fatigue or tiredness.
Overview

Getting Started

Smoke levels can change frequently during the wildfire season. Planning ahead and keeping track of the air quality can protect the health of your outdoor workers.

Wildfire smoke is measured in two ways:

  • As PM2.5 which is extremely small particles measured in micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m3). PM2.5 essentially means fine particulate matter.
  • NowCast AQI PM2.5 which is an index produced by the EPA to communicate general air quality based on PM2.5. AQI stands for “air quality index”.

Common online tools you can use to check the current air quality include:

Limit outdoor work at high levels of 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.
  • Providing additional rest periods.

Respirators filter the air to protect worker’s lungs.

Demonstration of respirator fit - Check face seal, tighten nose clip; Place straps against head; shave facial hair; The mask should feel snug all around your face.Properly fitted respirators can significantly reduce a worker’s exposure to wildfire smoke. At certain levels of wildfire smoke, employers are required to provide a NIOSH approved N95 respirator to employees. More protective respirators can be provided as well.

Bandanas, scarves, facemasks, KN95’s, 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. In severe cases, workers may need emergency medical attention, or may need to follow the medical advice they have been given.

Employers are not allowed to retaliate against an employee for reporting an air quality hazard, a  health effect, or for seeking medical treatment due to a work-related illness or injury.

Review the Wildfire Smoke Standard linked in the Requirements & Policies section of this webpage to see how employees must be protected from wildfire smoke.

Requirements & Policies
The following table summarizes the key requirements of the wildfire smoke rule for covered employers.
Current PM2.5 (μg/m3) NowCast Air Quality Index (AQI) Required Protections
0.0 - 20.4 0 - 68
  • Prepare a written wildfire smoke response plan.
  • Provide wildfire smoke training to employees.
  • Watch the PM2.5 conditions and forecasts.
  • Prepare a two-way communication system.
  • Make provisions for prompt medical attention, and permit that medical attention without retaliation.
20.5 - 35.4 69 - 100 All of the above and:
  • Notify employees of PM2.5 conditions.
  • Ensure only trained employees work outdoors.
  • Consider implementing exposure controls
  • Consider providing voluntary use respirators.
  • 35.5 - 250.4 101 - 300 All of the above and:
  • Implement exposure controls.​
  • Make N95 respirators available for voluntary use.​
  • 250.5 - 500.3 301 - 499 All of the above and:
  • Ensure workers experiencing symptoms requiring immediate medical attention be moved to a location that ensures sufficient clean air.
  • Directly distribute N95 respirators to employees for voluntary use.
  • 500.4 - 554.9 500 - beyond the AQI All of the above and:
  • Implement a complete required use respiratory protection program, including fit-testing, medical evaluations, requiring employees to be clean-shaven, and requiring the use of particulate respirators.​
  •  555 or more Beyond the AQI All of the above and:
  • Require respirators with an assigned protection factor (APF) of 25 or more.​ 
  • Additional requirements and details are found in the Wildfire Smoke Rules linked below.

    Need Help?  L&I's safety and health consultants can help you understand and comply with the wildfire smoke regulations.

    Rules

    Other L&I Rules

    Training & 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.

    The information and training section of the wildfire smoke rules (WAC 296-820-825) provides more information about employee wildfire smoke training requirements.

    Training Templates and Sample Plan

    Appendix A in the rules have training and written program templates.  Materials for the permanent wildfire smoke rule are currently in final development and will be available in early 2024. 

    Air Quality Information

    General Wildfire Smoke Safety

    Indoor Air Quality

    Workers Compensation


    For topic-specific information, see also:


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