201 Wildfire Smoke Safety

Wildfires are becoming more frequent in the United States and pose a significant health hazard, especially for outdoor workers. Beyond emergency responders such as wildland firefighters, many other workers-both outdoor and indoor-may be exposed to wildfire smoke. These include, but are not limited to:

• Workers supporting fire response efforts or stationed at base camps or evacuation centers
• Drive-through food or beverage workers without mechanical ventilation
• Cleanup and demolition crews
• Workers performing routine outdoor jobs unrelated to the fire (e.g., agriculture, landscaping, utilities, construction, and park services)

Although these workers are typically not exposed to direct fire hazards, they may still be exposed to harmful wildfire smoke in or near their work areas.

This course explains when the wildfire smoke rule applies, how exposure is determined, what protections are required at different air quality levels, the basic types of exposure controls used to protect workers, including engineering controls, work practice changes, and the use of respirators at higher smoke levels.

By the end of this course, you should understand how wildfire smoke can affect your health, when workplace protections are required, and what steps should be taken to reduce exposure. This knowledge helps employees recognize hazardous conditions, communicate concerns, and better protect themselves during periods of wildfire smoke.

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