Wash. Admin. Code § 296-820-850
Particulate matter is a health risk whether you are exposed over a short period of time or a long period of time. The EPA has determined that particulate matter does cause, or likely causes cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, cancer, and harm to the nervous system. In addition, particulate matter can irritate the eyes and lungs, causing eye irritation, phlegm, and persistent coughing. It can also cause difficulty breathing, reduced lung function, wheezing, bronchitis, worsening of asthma, heart failure, and early death.
This appendix reviews many wildfire smoke symptoms, but not every possible symptom may be mentioned, and it is a good idea to talk to your doctor or other health care provider before being exposed to wildfire smoke to have a plan for protecting yourself, including what symptoms to watch out for and how to reduce your exposure. This is especially important if you have any medical conditions; are pregnant; or have questions about the health effects or symptoms of wildfire smoke exposure.
* Symptoms concerning for a heart attack, such as:
- Chest pain or discomfort;
- Feeling weak, light-headed, faint, or dizzy;
- Pain or discomfort in the jaw, neck, or back;
- Pain or discomfort in one or both arms or shoulders;
- Shortness of breath, especially if accompanied by chest discomfort;
* Symptoms concerning for a stroke, such as:
- Sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body;
- Sudden confusion, trouble speaking, or difficulty understanding speech;
- Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes;
- Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance, or lack of coordination;
- Sudden severe headache with no known cause;
* Wheezing, difficulty breathing, or shortness of breath, particularly when accompanied by greater use of accessory muscles;
* Asthma attacks; or
* Nausea or vomiting.
* Respiratory: - Cough;
- Runny or irritated nose;
- Sore throat;
- Sinus pain or pressure;
- Phlegm.
* Fast or irregular heartbeat;
* Headache;
* Scratchy or irritated eyes; or
* Fatigue or tiredness.
L&I and the Washington state department of health consider all outdoor workers as a sensitive group at higher risk of experiencing adverse health effects from wildfire smoke exposure1.
Sensitive groups include people who are at higher risk of experiencing adverse health effects as a result of exposure to wildfire smoke, including those with preexisting health conditions; those with increased duration of exposure; and those whose work results in an increased breathing rate, including outdoor workers1. Although everyone is impacted by wildfire smoke exposure, sensitive groups are among those most likely to experience health problems from exposure to wildfire smoke.
Examples of sensitive groups include:
* Outdoor workers;
* People with lung diseases such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including bronchitis and emphysema, and those who smoke;
* People with respiratory infections, such as pneumonia, acute bronchitis, bronchiolitis, colds, or flu; or those with, or recovering from COVID-19;
* People with existing heart or circulatory problems, such as irregular heartbeat, congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, angina, and those who have had a heart attack or stroke;
* Children under 18 years old, and adults over age 65;
* People who are pregnant;
* People with diabetes;
* People with other medical or health conditions that can be worsened by exposure to wildfire smoke as determined by a physician;
* Tribal and indigenous people;
* People with low income.
1 Washington Department of Health. April 2022, accessed April 2023. Washington Air Quality Guide for Particle Pollution: https://doh.wa.gov/sites/default/files/legacy/Documents/4300//waqa%20infographic_English.pdf?uid=64384c71c8715
Watch for symptoms of wildfire smoke exposure as a sign to reduce exposure. The particulate matter in wildfire smoke can harm your health, even at lower levels of exposure.
It is important to notify your employer when you are experiencing symptoms of wildfire smoke exposure so your employer can respond appropriately.
Your employer will have provisions made in advance for prompt medical attention for employees who are experiencing symptoms of wildfire smoke exposure.
Do not ignore your symptoms. Wildfire smoke can be hazardous even when you cannot see it or smell it. Your employer cannot retaliate against you for reporting symptoms, for seeking medical attention, or for following medical advice you have been given. This is true whenever the wildfire smoke rule's protections are in effect.
Wildfire smoke is a serious work-related hazard for outdoor workers, and you have the right to file a workers' compensation claim to have your symptoms evaluated. You may file a workers' compensation claim whether or not you have personal health insurance. Your employer cannot prevent you from or retaliate against you for filing a workers' compensation claim.
In most cases, L&I will pay for your initial medical evaluation, even if your claim is denied. If your claim is allowed, the workers'compensation system will cover medical bills directly related to your condition and partial wage replacement benefits if you cannot work.
When the current PM2.5 is 250.5 µg/m3 or more, your employer must ensure workers experiencing symptoms requiring immediate medical attention be moved to a location that ensures sufficient clean air as described in WAC 296-820-830(3) .
Employers must allow employees who show signs of injury or illness due to wildfire smoke exposure to seek medical attention or follow medical advice they have been given, and must not retaliate against affected employees for seeking such medical attention or following medical advice.
Employers must also have effective provisions made in advance for prompt medical attention of employees in the event of serious injury or illness caused by wildfire smoke exposure.
Additionally, when the current PM2.5 is 250.5 µg/m3 or more, employers must ensure workers experiencing symptoms requiring immediate medical attention be moved to a location that ensures sufficient clean air as described in WAC 296-820-830(3) .
For more information on your workplace safety and health rights, discrimination protections, and filing a discrimination complaint, visit www.Lni.wa.gov/WorkplaceDiscrimination.
This is not an exhaustive list, and additional details are found in WAC 296-820-805 through 296-820-860.
CURRENT PM2.5 | AQI | REQUIREMENTS AT CURRENT PM2.5 LEVEL |
0.0-20.4 µg/m3 | 0-68 | * Prepare a written wildfire smoke response plan. * Provide wildfire smoke training to employees. * Watch the PM2.5 conditions and forecasts. * Prepare a two-way communication system. * Make provisions for prompt medical attention, and permit such medical attention without retaliation. |
20.5-35.4 µg/m3 | 69-100 | All of the above and: * Notify employees of PM2.5 conditions. * Ensure only trained employees work outdoors. * Consider implementing exposure controls. * Consider providing voluntary use respirators. |
35.5-250.4 µg/m3 | 101-300 | All of the above and: * Implement exposure controls. * Make N95 respirators available for voluntary use. |
250.5-500.3 µg/m3 | 301-499 | All of the above and: * Ensure workers experiencing symptoms requiring immediate medical attention be moved to a location that ensures sufficient clean air. * Directly distribute N95 respirators to employees for voluntary use. |
500.4-554.9 µg/m3 | 500-beyond the AQI | All of the above and: * Implement a complete required use respiratory protection program, including fit-testing, medical evaluations, requiring employees to be clean-shaven, and requiring the use of particulate respirators. |
555 µg/m3 | Beyond the AQI | All of the above and: * Require respirators with an assigned protection factor (APF) of 25 or more. |
* Require respirators with an assigned protection factor (APF) of 25 or more.
The employer's methods of determining the current PM2.5:
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Various government agencies monitor the air quality at locations throughout Washington and provide information to the public on the current air quality. These monitoring sites measure several harmful pollutants, but the pollutant of particular concern for wildfire smoke is the current PM2.5 which is reported as the hourly average of PM2.5 in µg/m3. Some of these sites also report the NowCast Air Quality Index (AQI). The NowCast AQI uses the air quality data of all the pollutants from these regulatory monitors and the NowCast averaging time to attempt to provide a general index of the overall air quality.
Although these monitoring stations may measure several pollutants, this chapter only uses the hourly average of PM2.5. The NowCast AQI for PM2.5 may also be used as an alternative.
One way to find the current and forecasted PM2.5 is to go to enviwa.ecology.wa.gov and find the nearest monitor on the map, or fire.airnow.gov and enter the zip code of the location where you will be working. The current PM2.5 is also available from the Air Quality WA mobile app, or the AirNow mobile app.
Employees who do not have access to the internet can contact their employer for the current PM2.5. The U.S. EPA website www.enviroflash.info can transmit daily and forecasted air quality by email for your city or zip code.
While the requirements in this rule are based on the current PM2.5, employers may choose to use the NowCast Air Quality Index (AQI) for PM2.5 to comply with this rule. Because the current PM2.5 is based on a one-hour average, and the NowCast AQI averages data over a longer time, it is normal for the two values to differ over short periods of time. Your employer will tell you whether they use the current one-hour average PM2.5, or the NowCast AQI for PM2.5. The following table indicates the NowCast AQI values that may be used from the Washington state department of ecology, local clean air agency, or EPA to approximate the current PM2.5.
CURRENT PM2.5 | NOWCAST AIR QUALITY INDEX FOR PM2.5 (AQI) |
20.5 µg/m3 | 69 |
35.5 µg/m3 | 101 |
250.5 µg/m3 | 301 |
500.4 µg/m3 | 500 |
555 µg/m3 | Beyond the AQI |
Your employer will establish a two-way communication system to communicate changing wildfire smoke conditions to you, and allowing you to communicate information to your employer such as: Worsening air quality; availability issues of exposure control measures and respirators; and any symptoms of wildfire smoke exposure. Your employer cannot retaliate or discriminate against you for raising safety concerns, or reporting symptoms.
The employer's communication system is: _______________________
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Your employer will provide training on the specific methods they will implement to protect you as part of their wildfire smoke response plan, and their procedures to respond when employees experience symptoms of wildfire smoke exposure.
The employer's methods to protect employees are: _______________________
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The employer's exposure symptom response procedures are: _______________________
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Respirators can be an effective way to protect employee health by reducing exposure to wildfire smoke, when they are properly selected and worn. Respirator use can be beneficial even when the current PM2.5 is less than 35.5 µg/m3.
Respirator use is not voluntary, and a complete respiratory protection program in accordance with chapter 296-842 WAC, Respirators, is required in any of the following situations:
* The employer chooses to require respirator use;
* A respiratory hazard, such as exposure to a substance over the permissible exposure limit (PEL) or hazardous exposure to an airborne biological hazard, is present.
* Work under the scope of this rule where the current PM2.5 is 500.4 µg/m3 (AQI 500) or higher.
If respirator use is required, you will be enrolled in a complete respiratory protection program which includes additional training, fit-testing, and medical evaluations.
To evaluate respiratory hazards in your workplace, see chapter 296-841 WAC, Airborne contaminants.
Take the following precautions to ensure the best possible protection when using N95 respirators voluntarily for protection from wildfire smoke:
KN95 masks, surgical masks, or other items worn over the nose and mouth such as scarves, t-shirts, and bandannas will not provide protection against wildfire smoke. A NIOSH-approved N95 filtering-face-piece respirator, shown in the image below, is the minimum level of protection for wildfire smoke.
For the best protection, follow the manufacturer's instructions for medical evaluations, fit-testing, and shaving. Fit-testing is done to ensure that you have the correct size respirator, and that it seals properly. Without fit-testing, wildfire smoke can leak around the seal of the respirator and increase your risk of experiencing adverse health effects. Because of this, you should not rely on voluntary use respirators alone to protect you from wildfire smoke. Take action to reduce your exposure to wildfire smoke in the other ways described in the wildfire smoke rule and in subsection (10) of this appendix, ask your employer to voluntarily arrange for respirator fit-testing, or both.
Respirators such as N95s must form a tight seal to the face to work properly. This is especially important for people at increased risk for severe disease, as exposure to wildfire smoke can worsen symptoms. A fit-test is conducted to verify that a respirator properly seals to your face so smoke does not leak around the seal.
It also ensures that the respirator be comfortable so you can wear it as long as you need. Your employer is not required to provide a fit-test for voluntary use of N95 respirators for wildfire smoke below a current PM2.5 of 500.4 µg/m3 (AQI 500) unless your employer chooses to require respirator use. Even without a fit-test, you can take steps to improve the respirator seal, and to reduce your exposure to wildfire smoke by following the steps in subsection (10) of this appendix.
While wearing a respirator provides protection from wildfire smoke, it increases breathing resistance, causing you to work harder to breathe. If you have heart or lung problems, talk to your doctor or other medical provider before using a respirator. A medical evaluation is conducted as part of evaluating respirator selection and use to ensure that the wearer is healthy enough to perform work while wearing a respirator. Your employer is not required to provide a medical evaluation for voluntary use of N95 respirators for wildfire smoke below a current PM2.5 of 500.4 µg/m3 (AQI 500) unless your employer chooses to require respirator use. If you have questions about whether it is safe for you to wear a respirator, you should talk to your doctor or other medical provider. This is particularly important if you have a heart or lung condition (including asthma), or if you have other medical conditions of concern. Follow your health care provider's advice if you have medical conditions that can be worsened by wildfire smoke exposure.
If, while wearing a respirator, you experience:
* Any symptoms your doctor, other health care provider, or employer has told you may limit or prevent the effective use of respirators; or
* Any respiratory (lung, breathing), cardiac (heart, circulation), or other symptoms (including, but not limited to, those listed under subsection (1) of this appendix) that may limit or prevent the effective use of respirators;
Then go to an area with clean air as described in WAC 296-820-830(3), take off the respirator, and get help. You should also do this if you are unsure whether a symptom you are experiencing may limit or prevent the effective use of respirators.
A tight-fitting respirator such as an N95 will not be able to seal to your face if facial hair interferes with the seal. Make sure you are clean-shaven to allow a better seal and more reliable protection. Loose-fitting powered air-purifying respirators do not rely on a tight seal to provide protection, so they may be worn by people with facial hair.
Always inspect your respirator for damage or defects before use, and follow the manufacturer's instructions. Replace respirators that are damaged, dirty, or wet.
The proper way to put on a respirator depends on the type and model of the respirator. For those who use a filtering-facepiece respirator such as an N95 follow these steps to put on the respirator:
Filtering-facepiece respirators are disposable respirators that cannot be cleaned or disinfected. Best practice is to replace filter-ing-facepiece respirators at the beginning of each shift.
Respirator filters need to be replaced if they get damaged, deformed, dirty, or difficult to breathe through. If, while wearing a respirator, you experience:
* Any symptoms your doctor, other health care provider, or employer has told you may limit or prevent the effective use of respirators; or
* Any respiratory (lung, breathing), cardiac (heart, circulation), or other symptoms (including, but not limited to, those listed under subsection (1) of this appendix) that may limit or prevent the effective use of respirators;
Then go to an area with clean air as described in WAC 296-820-830(3), take off the respirator, and get help. You should also do this if you are unsure whether a symptom you are experiencing may limit or prevent the effective use of respirators.
Wash. Admin. Code § 296-820-850