Wildfire Smoke Regulation

"The Cal/OSHA Standard's Board unanimously approved an emergency regulation relative to protecting workers from the risks of wildfire smoke on 7/18/19.

The protocol for emergency rule making is significantly expedited and as such, this regulation will take effect within ten (10) days of being received by the Office of Administrative Law, which could be as early as today. If so, employers statewide would need to be prepared for compliance as early as July 29, 2019.

A new Cal/OSHA emergency regulation, effective July 29, 2019, requires that when the Air Quality Index* is 151 or higher due to wildfire smoke, employers must:

• Allow workers to work indoors in effectively filtered buildings when feasible, or
• Relocate workers to areas with better air quality, or
• Provide outdoor workers with approved respirators, such as N95 respirators.

Employers must also check air quality at outdoor work sites at the start of each shift when they anticipate workers may be exposed to smoke.

The resources listed below offer details on the new regulation as well as information that can be used for worker trainings on the harmful effects of wildfire smoke and safe and effective use of respirators.

• Fires and Health
• Protection from Wildfire Smoke
• AirNow.gov
• Worker Safety and Health in Wildfire Regions