L&I recognizes the hazard of wildfire smoke exposure is increasing every year and is now potentially presenting important health risks to all outdoor workers including those in construction and agriculture. One other state has adopted temporary and permanent workplace safety and health rules regarding wildfire smoke.

L&I has received a petition for rulemaking on this topic as well. As suggested by a petitioner, in the midst of widespread wildfires and a global pandemic, workers continue to perform essential duties. It is imperative that significant steps be taken to ensure the protection of these workers, especially given the increasing intensity of wildfire outbreaks over the years and the likelihood that they will continue in years to come.

Wildfire smoke presents hazards that employers and workers in affected regions must understand. Smoke from wildfires contains chemicals, gases and fine particles that can harm health. Proper protective equipment, exposure controls, and training are needed for employees working in wildfire regions.

Some of the issues that may be addressed are:

• Identification of harmful exposures;
• Communication;
• Training and instruction;
• Control of harmful exposures

Upcoming Meetings

• To Be Determined

Previous Meetings 

Open the links to see notes from the meeting. 

• April 27, 2022 1:15 pm to 4:00 pm, virtual
  • Stakeholder Meeting Summary, April 2022

  • Stakeholder Meeting Presentation, April 2022
    

  • Reunión de organizaciones interesadas sobre el humo de incendios forestales

  • Собрание заинтересованных сторон по проблеме задымления от лесных пожаров
• January 27, 2022 1:15 pm to 4:00 pm, virtual
  • WA Dept of Ecology: Trends and Effects of Wildfire Smoke In Washington 
  • Wildfire Health Threats: Risk Factors for Outdoor Workers
  • Amenazas a la salud a causa de los incendios forestales: Factores de riesgo para personas que trabajan al aire libre (Spanish version)
• Background, Timeline, and Meeting Expectations
  
  • Tendencia y efectos del humo de incendios forestales en Washington (Spanish version)
  • Reunión de las partes interesadas sobre el humo de los incendios forestales:
• June 18, 2021 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. virtual 
• April 20, 2021, virtual
  
  • Stakeholder meeting Presentation, April 2021
  • Stakeholder meeting Presentation, April 2021 (Spanish)
  • April 2021 FAQ
  • April 2021 FAQ (Spanish)
• March 25, 2021, virtual
  • Stakeholder meeting Presentation, March 2021
  • Stakeholder meeting Presentation, March 2021 (Spanish)
• January 21 and February 11, 2021
  • Wildfire Smoke Emergency Rule January/February 2021 Stakeholder Meeting (English/Spanish)
  • Wildfire Smoke Emergency Rule January/February 2021 Stakeholder Meeting (Russian)
  • Wildfire Intro (English/Spanish)

Draft Emergency Rule for Wildfire Smoke - 2022

• Draft Emergency Rule
  • Draft Emergency Rule - Spanish
  • Draft Emergency Rule - Russian

Emergency Rule - 2021

• Emergency Rule Language filed July 16, 2021 and effective from July 16, 2021 through November 13, 2021
  • Emergency rule language, Spanish translation

Stakeholder Drafts

Wildfire Smoke Rule Draft June 15, 2021 (Written Comments are due by June 29, 2021)

Wildfire Smoke Rule Draft - Spanish (Written Comments are due by June 29, 2021)

The Preproposal (CR-101) was filed October 20, 2020. 

At this time, draft language is still being developed. Sign up for our email updates to receive notification when this draft language becomes available.

• Wildfire Smoke and Washington Workers - L&I Topic page.
• Wildfire smoke safety training kit (sample training program) in English & Spanish
• California’s Permanent Rule on Worker Safety and Health in Wildfire Regions
• Wildfire Smoke and Dust Masks during the COVID-19 Pandemic - September, 2020 Hazard Alert
  • El humo de incendios forestales y las máscaras contra polvo durante la pandemia de COVID-19 (Spanish version)
• Oregon’s Temporary Rule on Protection from Wildfire Smoke

Some of the key resources that were considered during the development of draft rule.

• Delfino et al. (2009). The relationship of respiratory and cardiovascular hospital admissions to the southern California wildfires of 2003. Occupational and Environmental Medicine 66(3), 189-197.
• Doubleday et al. (2020). Mortality associated with wildfire smoke exposure in Washington state, 2006-2017: a case-crossover study. Environmental Health 19(1).
• Gan et al. (2017). Comparison of wildfire smoke estimation methods and associations with cardiopulmonary related hospital admissions. GeoHealth 1(3), 122-136.
• Haikerwal et al. (2015). Impact of fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) exposure during wildfires on cardiovascular health outcomes. Journal of the American Heart Association 4(7).
• Liu et al. (2019). Ambient particulate air pollution and daily mortality in 652 cities. New England Journal of Medicine 381(8), 705-715.
• Orellano et al. (2020). Short-term exposure to particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and ozone (O3) and all-cause and cause-specific mortality: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Environment International. 142.
• United States Environmental Protection Agency (2019). Integrated Science Assessment for Particulate Matter. Office of Research and Development.
• United States Environmental Protection Agency (2020). Review of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter