Heat and Smoke Precautions for Outdoor Workers

The onset of summer brings with it the risk of excessive heat and wildfire smoke. The Washington Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) has several rules in place to protect farm and construction workers, roofers, road crews, and anyone else who works outside. Make sure that your workforce is ready by understanding the following rules:

Outdoor Heat Exposure Rules

Working in heat increases the risk for heat-related illness, such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Heat exposure can also make workers more susceptible to falls, equipment-related injuries, and other on-the-job safety hazards. Therefore, L&I has adopted year-round rules to prevent heat-related illness and reduce traumatic injuries associated with heat exposure.

Current outdoor heat exposure rules include the following requirements:

• Address outdoor heat exposure safety as part of your required Accident Prevention Program.
• Provide annual training to employees and supervisors on the symptoms of outdoor heat exposure and the policies established to prevent heat-related illnesses.
• Provide employees with a sufficient supply of cold drinking water along with opportunities to drink the water.
• Provide adequate shade (or alternative cooling methods) at all times, to allow access for preventing or responding to heat-related illnesses.
• Workers must be given paid breaks when they feel the need to cool down to prevent overheating. When temperatures are 90°F or higher, workers must be required to take additional paid cooling breaks of at least 10 minutes every two hours. Longer or more frequent breaks are recommended when temperatures continue to rise to 100°F. These breaks may be taken at the same time as any meal or rest period under wage and hour laws.
• Closely observe employees who are not acclimated to the heat, including new employees, those returning from absences, and all workers during a heat wave.
• Have emergency procedures in place to respond appropriately to any employee with symptoms of heat-related illness.
• Ensure that supervisors and employees always have a way to communicate with each other so they can immediately report heat-related illnesses and obtain medical assistance if needed.

L&I’s Be Heat Smart web page has more information about steps employers can take to prevent heat-related illnesses.

Wildfire Smoke Rules

Smoke from wildfires contains harmful chemicals and particles that can cause serious health effects to anyone, even healthy individuals. Wildfire smoke regulations apply to employers who have any employees working outdoors. These regulations may affect employers in industries such as agriculture, construction, forestry, utilities, transportation, and others.

Understanding Air Quality

Planning ahead and monitoring air quality can protect the health of your workers when they are working outdoors. Air quality is commonly measured by “PM2.5”, which refers to extremely small particles measured in micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m3). The United States Environmental Protection Agency produces an Air Quality Index (AQI) to communicate air quality based on PM2.5.

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

• Washington Air Monitoring Network from the Department of Ecology
• Washington Smoke Information Blog of government agencies and Tribes.
• Fire and smoke map from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Limit Outdoor Work When Wildfire Smoke Levels are High

Some ways employers can protect workers from wildfire smoke include:

• Provide enclosed buildings, structures, or vehicles where the air is properly filtered.
• Provide portable HEPA filters in enclosed areas.
• Relocate the work to a location with a lower smoke level.
• Change work schedules to a time with a lower smoke level.
• Avoid or reduce work that generates additional dust, fumes, or smoke (e.g., limit welding, sanding, sawing, spray painting, etc.)
• Reduce the intensity of work.
• Provide additional rest periods.

Use Respirators as Necessary

In addition, respirators may be used to filter the air to protect workers' lungs. Properly fitted respirators can significantly reduce a worker's exposure to wildfire smoke. At certain levels of wildfire smoke, employers are required to provide employees with an NIOSH-approved N95 respirator. More protective respirators may also be provided.

Bandanas, scarves, face masks, KN95 masks, or T-shirts worn over the nose and mouth will not provide effective protection against wildfire smoke. A NIOSH-approved N95 respirator is the minimum protection against wildfire smoke.

Review Key Requirements for Employers

L&I has published a table that summarizes the key requirements of the standard on wildfire smoke for covered employees, which can be found here, along with additional guidance and resources.

If you have any questions related to heat and smoke precautions for outdoor workers, please contact Member Care at 509-777-2727 or membercare@aiin.com and speak with one of our HR or Legal professionals.