Subject
Wildfire Smoke (Rev 08/22)
Purpose
To prevent smoke injuries for UW Facilities employees exposed to wildfire smoke during the months of May through September.
Practice
This plan is required when employees are "exposed" to wildfire smoke at certain thresholds. This primarily covers employees working outdoors and that may be reasonably expected to be exposed to wildfire smoke. EH&S defines exposed as:
- Being outdoors when the Air Quality Index (AQI) is within the range of 69 to 300 for a total of more than one hour during a 24-hour period
- Being outdoors when the Air Quality Index (AQI) is 301 or more for a total of more than 15 minutes during a 24-hour period
Action Levels
At AQI 69, employers must assure employees are trained and encouraged to implement controls. Employees exposed to wildfire smoke shall take Wildfire Smoke training annually. In this training, employees will learn health effects of wildfire smoke, their rights to obtain medical treatment without fear of reprisal, how to obtain current PM2.5, and requirements of WAC 296-62-085 Wildfire Smoke.
At AQI 101, employers must implement protective measures, if feasible. Each supervisor is responsible to determine what protective measures are feasible for their staff. The protective measures are listed on the shop’s Wildfire Smoke Response Plan (docx).
At PM2.5 levels of 555 ug/m3, employees must be registered in Respiratory Protection Program (note this cannot be done in the moment, it must be done in anticipation of employees having to work outside at PM2.5 levels of 555 ug/m3)
Reference
- WAC 296-62-085 - Wildfire Smoke - WA L&I
Resources
Responsibility : Action
Role | Responsibility |
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Employee |
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Supervisor |
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