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Emergency Regulation to Protect Workers in California from Wildfire Smoke Exposure Risks is in Effect

Clark Seif Clark provides industrial hygiene testing, consulting and training services to identify, mitigate and prevent exposure risks to wildfire smoke and other hazards.


Chatsworth, CA – WEBWIRE

Earlier this year, the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) issued a proposed emergency regulation. Protection from Wildfire Smoke was specifically designed to safeguard both indoor and outdoor workers from exposure to elevated levels of particulate matter (PM) created by wildfires.

The frequency and severity of wildfires across California have increased in recent years. Tragically, a number of residents have been impacted, losing homes and businesses to these natural and manmade disasters. Many others have had to deal with exposure to wildfire smoke, ash and residues that can travel a tremendous distances from the actual fire.
 
Earlier this year, the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) issued a proposed emergency regulation. Protection from Wildfire Smoke was specifically designed to safeguard both indoor and outdoor workers from exposure to elevated levels of particulate matter (PM) created by wildfires. On July 30th, Cal/OSHA announced that the emergency regulation had become effective through January 28, 2020, with two possible 90 day extensions.
 
The emergency regulation is based on the Air Quality Index (AQI) and requires employers to check the current and future index for conditions where PM 2.5 is 151 or greater. PM 2.5 are ultrafine inhalable particles that can normally reach deep into the lungs. While there are exceptions, the regulation also requires employers to take action, under certain conditions, to measure PM 2.5 levels at the worksite. The current regulation of wildfire smoke is California Code of Regulations (CCR) Title 8 5141.1 https://www.dir.ca.gov/title8/5141_1.html
 
“There are hundreds of thousands of workers in California that are exposed to wildfire smoke each year,” said Zahid Iqbal, MPH, CIH and Technical Director at Clark Seif Clark (CSC). “Other requirements of the emergency regulation meant to protect them include controlling harmful worker exposures through training, education, engineering and administrative controls, and providing suitable respirators when PM 2.5 levels reach 151 or greater. Our industrial hygiene and air testing experts are available to provide air testing, monitoring, training, consulting and respirator fit testing. These services help businesses and institutions comply with the new emergency regulation and protect workers against exposure risks.”
 
To learn more about this or other occupational, air quality, environmental, health and safety testing, training and consulting services, please visit www.csceng.com, email csc@csceng.com or call (800) 807-1118. 
 
About Clark Seif Clark
CSC was established in 1989 to help clients in both public and private sectors address indoor air quality, occupational, environmental, and health and safety (EH&S) issues. CSC is a leading provider of these services with multiple offices along the western seaboard and southwest. The company believes in science-based protocols and has a strong background in engineering, making them the preferred environmental consultants to industrial clients, healthcare facilities, architects, schools, builders, contractors, developers and real estate professionals.
 


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 Wildfire Smoke
 Wildfires
 Cal/osha
 Air Testing
 Industrial Hygiene


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