With a new fire season approaching, has Cal/OSHA developed additional regulations to address the hazards and mitigation of employee exposure to wildfire smoke?
The emergency wildfire smoke regulations promulgated by the Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) and adopted by the Standards Board (OSHSB) on July 18, 2019 have been revised, adopted and approved by the Office of Administrative Law (OAL) as new Section 5141.1 of Title 8, the California Code of Regulations.
The new section, “Protection from Wildfire Smoke,” went into effect on February 1, 2021.
As the result of the catastrophic fire season of 2018, the DOSH promulgated the emergency wildfire smoke regulation. This emergency regulation was not to be the final source for guidance and DOSH regulatory mandates.
Subsequently, the Cal/OSHA Standards Board presented the proposed revision of Title 8, Section 5141.1 emergency wildfire regulation. The purpose is to preserve worker safety and health and to clarify employers’ existing obligations, with the intent of making compliance easier, simpler and more straightforward.
Although the adopted regulation is substantially unchanged, there were areas within the emergency version that were not wholly clear. The adopted rule contains editorial revisions, tables are now clearly delineated, and some references to the air quality index (AQI) are deleted.
Clarifying Revisions
The following is a listing of some of the areas of revision and modifications. Some revisions are:
- Clarifying that doors of structures or vehicles may be opened for access or egress.
- Identifying reference tables.
- Employee exposure is to be determined at the start of the shift, as noted in subsection (c).
- Subsection (c) does not apply if the employer assumes the AQI is greater than 500 and complies with subsection (f), which outlines engineering, administrative and other controls.
- In an emergency, an AQI of 151 is assumed and the requirements of subsection (f)(4) are to be complied with.
- A new Appendix A has been added, applying to employer monitoring of PM 2.5 levels with a direct reading instrument.
- A new Appendix B has been added to address information to be provided to employees.
- Subsection (g) of Appendix B addresses the importance, limitations and benefits of respirators and the need for instruction on their use.
Visit Website
The adopted regulation contains other revisions from the emergency rule and for that reason I recommend that you refer to dir.ca.gov: Click on “Boards,” then “Occupational Safety & Health Standards Board (OSHSB),” “approved standards,” then scroll down to and click on “New Section 5141.1.” There you will find a proposed regulation “(showing changes from current emergency regulation – courtesy copy).” This relates to the first iteration of the amendment process, before the first comment period.
Although there may be differences in the final approved copy, the courtesy copy will give a clearer understanding of the final document and revisions that were made.
Column based on questions asked by callers on the Labor Law Helpline, a service to California Chamber of Commerce preferred and executive members. For expert explanations of labor laws and Cal/OSHA regulations, not legal counsel for specific situations, call (800) 348-2262 or submit your question at www.hrcalifornia.com.
