As wildfires become more and more common in California, the
CalOSHA Standards Board voted and approved emergency protections for outdoor
workers exposed to wildfire smoke.
When Will This Take Place?
The Division of Occupational Safety and Health is convening the Advisory
Committee on the permanent regulation. The regulation will most likely become
effective late July to mid-August 2019.
What Businesses Will Be
Affected?
Workplaces when the Air Quality Index (AQI) reaches 151 or greater, considered
unhealthy, or when employers “should reasonably anticipate,” that employees
will be exposed to wildfire smoke. Workplaces in
enclosed buildings or structures with filtered air, employees in vehicles,
employees that are exposed to unhealthy air for no more than one hour and
wildland firefighters are exempt.
What Will Employers Need
to Do?
Reduce exposure by moving employees to a new location where the AQI is lower
than 151 or provide workers with buildings, structures or vehicles from which
to work in order to avoid harmful wildfire smoke. Employers will also need to
update their Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP) in order to establish
and implement a system to communicate wildfire smoke hazards to those affected
employees.
How Can I Obtain The
Current Air Quality Index (AQI) For PM2.5?
The easiest way to find the current and forecasted AQI for PM2.5 is
to go to www.AirNow.gov and enter the zip
code of the location where you will be working. The current AQI is also available
from the U.S. Forest Service at https://tools.airfire.org
or a local air district, which can be located at www.arb.ca.gov/capcoa/dismap.htm.
The EPA website www.enviroflash.info
can transmit daily and forecasted AQIs by text or email for particular cities
or zip codes.
***Employers will be required to provide NIOSH-Approved N-95 respirators for employees’ voluntary use where the AQI is equal to or greater than 151. If the AQI exceeds 500, respirator use is mandatory with all the requirements that come with it, such as fit-testing.***
Note: This information was provided by InterWest Insurance Services, LLC.
Last Updated: August 27, 2019 by CFCA
Outdoor Workers Exposed to Wildfire Smoke
As wildfires become more and more common in California, the CalOSHA Standards Board voted and approved emergency protections for outdoor workers exposed to wildfire smoke.
When Will This Take Place?
The Division of Occupational Safety and Health is convening the Advisory Committee on the permanent regulation. The regulation will most likely become effective late July to mid-August 2019.
What Businesses Will Be Affected?
Workplaces when the Air Quality Index (AQI) reaches 151 or greater, considered unhealthy, or when employers “should reasonably anticipate,” that employees will be exposed to wildfire smoke. Workplaces in enclosed buildings or structures with filtered air, employees in vehicles, employees that are exposed to unhealthy air for no more than one hour and wildland firefighters are exempt.
What Will Employers Need to Do?
Reduce exposure by moving employees to a new location where the AQI is lower than 151 or provide workers with buildings, structures or vehicles from which to work in order to avoid harmful wildfire smoke. Employers will also need to update their Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP) in order to establish and implement a system to communicate wildfire smoke hazards to those affected employees.
How Can I Obtain The Current Air Quality Index (AQI) For PM2.5?
The easiest way to find the current and forecasted AQI for PM2.5 is to go to www.AirNow.gov and enter the zip code of the location where you will be working. The current AQI is also available from the U.S. Forest Service at https://tools.airfire.org or a local air district, which can be located at www.arb.ca.gov/capcoa/dismap.htm. The EPA website www.enviroflash.info can transmit daily and forecasted AQIs by text or email for particular cities or zip codes.
***Employers will be required to provide NIOSH-Approved N-95 respirators for employees’ voluntary use where the AQI is equal to or greater than 151. If the AQI exceeds 500, respirator use is mandatory with all the requirements that come with it, such as fit-testing.***
Note: This information was provided by InterWest Insurance Services, LLC.
Last Updated: August 27, 2019 by CFCA
Fall Protection Safety in Residential Framing
Click on the image below to download the
Fall Protection Safety in Residential Framing
Amendments to Title 8, Chapter 4
CSO Article 29 (Erection and construction), Section 1716.2
(effective August 6, 2004)
Last Updated: August 27, 2019 by CFCA
Voluntary Respirator Document
Attached is the document that the CFCA members may want to consider using if their employees want to wear the dust masks or other respirators when they are not required. If a company requires a respirator to be worn for any task, they will need to have a full respirator program along with medical testing and fit testing for each employee required to wear a respirator. See Title 8 Section 5144 for detail. For voluntary use, the employee must be given Appendix D. The attached document will help document that the use is voluntary and the company has provided Appendix D to the employee as required. I would recommend having it translated to Spanish as well.
Thanks,
Kevin D. Bland | Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.
Park Tower, 695 Town Center Drive, Fifteenth Floor | Costa Mesa, CA 92626 | Telephone: 714-800-7935 | Fax: 714-754-1298
kevin.bland@ogletree.com | www.ogletree.com | Bio
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