Original Air Date: July 25, 2023
Webinar Summary
The United States is experiencing longer and more severe wildfire seasons brought on by drought, increased heat waves, and drier conditions as a result of Climate Change. Wildfire smoke once viewed as a California or Western States concern now impacts regions outside the immediate fire zone, traveling thousands of miles across the country on the jet stream affecting the Southeast, Midwest, and Canada. Wildfire smoke is a complex mixture of gases and fine particles and is considered a health hazard for outdoor workers in various industries – such as hospitality, landscaping, education, and construction. A lack of regulatory requirements and government enforcement leaves many outdoor workers at risk, who are often required to continue working despite the known health hazards from wildfire smoke.
This session will focus on several areas of concern including how Climate Change has altered the characteristics of wildfires over the past decade and the increased health hazards that wildfire smoke presents to outdoor workers; a summary of the Regulatory requirements for wildfire smoke and the similarities amongst state standards for California, Oregon, and Washington; recognizing when and how outdoor workers may be exposed; and lastly applying best practices and suggestions to reduce the health exposure outdoor workers face from wildfire smoke.
View all of the webinars in our 2023 Risk Engineering series here.
Note: This webinar is intended to provide a loss control perspective of the topic. Insurance coverage issues will not be covered during this webcast. If you have questions concerning coverage or insurability, please contact your insurance broker or underwriter.