Wildfire Smoke Safety

wildfire in forest

Stay safe while working in smoky air

The Pacific Northwest farm and forestry workforce face the threat of co-exposures during the late harvest season. Essential work during the COVID-19 pandemic overlaps with extreme temperatures during summer heat waves and wildfire smoke.

Exposure to wildfire smoke is associated with respiratory conditions and can exacerbate underlying asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. A 2018 student-led PNASH research study found that nearly 75% of surveyed farmworkers near Mattawa, Washington reported being exposed to an unhealthy amount of wildfire smoke on the job, and 100% of respondents reported that they had little or no information about how to protect themselves from smoke.

Employer Checklists

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WA Employer Checklist

English Spanish

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OR Employer Checklist

English Spanish

Workplace Requirements

Recommended resources for wildfire smoke safety

Northwest regional resources

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Washington

WA Smoke Blog
WA Dept. of Health
WA Air Quality Monitoring Map
WA Air Quality Advisor (WAQA)
WA Dept. of Labor
WA Rulemaking

Oregon

OR Smoke Blog 
OR Health Authority
OR Air Quality Monitoring Map
OR Dept of Labor
OR Rulemaking

Idaho

ID Smoke Blog
ID Dept. of Health & Welfare
ID Air Quality Monitoring Map
ID Department of Environmental Quality

Alaska

AK Fire Info
AK Dept. of Health & Social Services
AK Air Quality Monitoring
AK Wildfire Smoke
AK Wildfire Smoke Particulate Matter Information

Cal/OSHA Worker Safety and Health in Wildfire Regions

Additional resources for wildfire smoke preparedness

PNASH Resources

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2018 Smoke Study

This student-led research study showed that farmworkers had little or no information about how to protect themselves from wildfire smoke.

training poster

Wildfire Smoke Posters, Guides, Checklists

Developed by the Western Center for Agricultural Health and Safety (WCAHS). Available in Spanish and English.

Fan Filter

DIY Low-Cost Fan Filter

A simple box fan filter will help keep your indoor air clean. Available in Spanish and English. Developed by the University of Washington EDGE Center.

PNASH Research

CLEAN AIR–I CARE: Stressors of Balancing Childcare, Work, and Concerns of Wildfire Smoke Exposures for Farmworker Parents

PNASH Pilot Project 2021-22 | Savannah D’Evelyn, PhD

Working outside amid heat and wildfire smoke makes summer farm work grueling. But for those who are also parents, these challenges are compounded by the pressure of balancing work and childcare, and concerns about their children’s health in the smoke. Farmworkers also have few wildfire and smoke information sources that are non-written or in Spanish. 

Learn more
Smoke Monitoring for Agricultural Safety and Health (SMASH)

PNASH Pilot Project 2019-2021 | Edward Kasner, MPH, PhD

The hazard of wildfire smoke exposure continues to increase in the Northwest and presents an important health risk to outdoor workers, including those in agriculture. This pilot seeks to develop wildfire decision aid tools driven by data from a high-density network of air quality monitoring sensors in Washington State.

Learn more
Wildfires and Human Health

Science for Nature and People Partnership 2020-2021 | June Spector, MD, MPH

A Wildfires and Human Health working group led by a team of researchers at the University of Washington and The Nature Conservancy. Our purpose is to develop a consensus-driven, evidence-based approach to identify and communicate the human health and health equity implications of wildfires versus ecological restoration-focused forest management, including managed and prescribed burns in the Western U.S.

Learn more