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Wildfire smoke in Washington State is likely to remain a problem this week before conditions are expected to improve.
Employers have a responsibility to protect their workers from recognized hazards, including wildfire smoke. Employers may accomplish this by voluntarily following the safety measures outlined in the expired Wildfire Smoke emergency rule. For example, when smoke levels at the jobsite are above the PM2.5 of 35.5µg/m3 (equivalent to an AQI of 101):
- Provide N95 filtering facepiece respirators for voluntary use
- Utilize exposure controls such as:
- Staying indoors as much as possible
- Rescheduling work to a time when smoke is lower
- Moving work to a location with cleaner air
- Reducing physical activity
- Providing additional breaks in cleaner air
Everyone should watch for symptoms as a sign to reduce exposure. Symptoms include burning eyes, throat and nose irritation, headaches, coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath, fatigue, irregular heartbeat, and/or chest pain.
To learn more about PM2.5, the AQI, and training resources, visit L&I’s Wildfire Safety topic page.
To stay updated on wildfires and smoke, visit:
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