Air quality warnings continue to impact employers as wildfires rage in Canada and the US. Indeed, firefighters are currently battling 74 large fires across the country, including five that started Sunday, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. Whether you’re in a location that typically experiences wildfires or in a region where this is an unusual occurrence, you’ll want to have a plan to address employee safety and workplace compliance. Here are six quick tips to help guide your practices.
1. Monitor Air Quality and Reduce Risks
An unusually large portion of the US has been dealing with wildfire smoke over the last week, and while some states have workplace regulations specifically addressing wildfire smoke, many do not. Regardless of the law in your state, employers still have an obligation under the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Act’s General Duty Clause, or equivalent state laws, to keep their workplaces free from known hazards – including when air quality reaches harmful levels due to wildfire smoke or other pollutants.
You should consider taking the following actions when wildfire smoke impacts your worksite:
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