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Wildfire Smoke Safety: Protect Your Workforce When Air Quality Declines
Wildfire smoke can create serious health risks for employees working outdoors, while also affecting productivity, operations, and regulatory compliance. A proactive plan helps employers monitor changing conditions, reduce employee exposure, and respond quickly when air quality becomes unsafe.
Build a Wildfire Smoke Response Plan
Employers with outdoor workers should take the following steps to prepare:
- Identify employees, job classifications, and outdoor tasks that may be exposed
- Monitor local air quality and establish clear response thresholds
- Evaluate engineering, administrative, and respiratory protection controls
- Create an employee notification system about air quality and available protections
- Train employees and supervisors to recognize exposure symptoms and report concerns
- Establish procedures for modifying or stopping outdoor work as conditions require
Requirements Vary by State
| State | AQI Trigger | Employer Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| California | 151+ | Monitor air quality, train and notify employees, reduce exposure, and provide respirators. |
| Oregon | 101+ | Monitor exposure, provide training and communication, implement controls, and provide respirators. |
| Nevada | 150+ | Covered employers must provide training, employee communication, and exposure protections. Regulations are being finalized. |
| Arizona & New Mexico | N/A | Address wildfire smoke under general workplace safety requirements. |
Requirements and exemptions vary. Confirm the rules applicable to your workplace.
How LP Helps
Our Risk Management team can help your organization prepare for wildfire smoke season:
- Assess jobs and tasks that may be affected by wildfire smoke
- Develop a wildfire smoke response plan
- Establish air-quality monitoring and communication procedures
- Evaluate engineering, administrative, and respiratory protection controls
- Deliver employee and supervisor training
- Help update workplace safety programs as regulations are finalized
Download the Wildfire Smoke Safety Guide
Need Help Preparing?
Contact our Risk Management team at risk@lpins.net to get started.