August is Fire Safety Month

James Moulsdale, Communications Chair
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Fire safety is a key focus in August especially here in southern Oregon where we will be in the peak of our wildfire season. The below information is from www.saif.com, California Department of Public Health Emergency and Evacuation Planning Guide for Employers and Oregon OSHA Oregon Occupational Safety and Health : Wildfires: Addressing worker concerns : Notices : State of Oregon
 
Wildfires are getting bigger, lasting longer, and happening more often in Oregon and across the western United States. In addition to the immediate harm from the fire itself, hazardous smoke travels well beyond the fire lines, putting people and businesses at risk.
Employees who work outdoors, have respiratory conditions or cardiovascular disease, smoke, or are pregnant have a higher risk of health impacts.
 
Follow these tips to be better prepared.
 
Before wildfire season:

• Include wildfire smoke events in your emergency response and business continuity plans. Find resources to create your plan.
• Communicate with employees about the potential effects of wildfire smoke and how your business is preparing.
• Designate essential personnel and duties.
• Plan for how to get employees to safer locations, or when to release them before situations worsen.
• Set aside adequate supplies of water, food, and personal protective equipment. Consider providing filtering facepiece respirators, such as  such as N-95 or N-100, for voluntary short-term use. Do not rely on paper or dust masks.

 
During a wildfire event:

• Monitor fire and smoke risk in your area. One resource is DEQ’s Air Quality Index.
• Keep indoor air as clean as possible. Shut down outside air intakes and allow air-conditioned buildings to operate on recirculated air. Change filters on HVAC units. Keep windows and doors closed. Reduce or eliminate other sources of indoor air pollutants, such as smoking or cooking.
• Relocate or reassign outdoor work activities out of the smoke zone.
• Cease work when air quality and/or visibility presents health and safety hazards.

 
In the unlikely event you must evacuate the workplace:

• Be familiar with the work site's emergency evacuation plan
• Know the pathway to at least two alternative exits from every room/area at the workplace
• Recognize the sound/signaling method of the fire/evacuation alarms
• Know who to contact in an emergency and how to contact them
• Know how many desks or cubicles are between your workstation and two of the nearest exits so you can escape in the dark if necessary
• Know where the fire/evacuation alarms are located and how to use them
• Report damaged or malfunction safety systems and back-up systems

 
Indoor air quality concerns

• Employers and workers who are concerned about indoor air quality during wildfire season should check a building’s ventilation system to make sure it has received routine maintenance, such as filter changes
• Workers who are experiencing problems breathing indoors need a way to report their concerns to management so those concerns may be addressed. A safety committee serves such a purpose. Oregon OSHA maintains standards for safety committees and safety meetings.
• Oregon OSHA offers consultation services, technical expertise, and other resources to employers who may need help in light of the potential workplace hazards brought on by wildfire season. Oregon OSHA encourages employers to take advantage of our no-cost, confidential consultation services, as well as our brochures and pamphlets, and video library.
• If employees are worried or believe their concerns have not been addressed, they may file a complaint with Oregon OSHA, which will evaluate it. Complaints may be filed online or by calling the nearest field office.