L&I Proposes Permanent Wildfire Smoke Rules

The Washington State Department of Labor and Industries proposed permanent rules intended to protect workers from asthma, heart failure and other adverse health conditions caused by exposure to wildfire smoke. The rules would require employers to have wildfire smoke response plans and safety training and to implement emergency response measures when the air quality index for small particles, known as PM 2.5, is 69 or higher.  When the index hits 101, employers would be required to provide respirators, although the use of the devices would be up to workers. Once the index hits 500, work...