Wildfire Smoke

When the AQI is 72 or higher (PM2.5 = 20.5 µg/m3) where outdoor work is occurring, the University is responsible for the following:

1. Communicating wildfire smoke hazards;
2. Providing wildfire smoke safety training initially (before potential exposure) and annually thereafter; and
3. Providing respiratory protection for voluntary use to personnel upon request.

When the AQI is 101 or higher (PM2.5 = 35.5 µg/m3) where outdoor work is occurring, University units are required to implement effective exposure controls whenever feasible. Such controls include, but are not limited to:

1. Providing work and/or rest areas in enclosed buildings, structures, or vehicles where the air is effectively filtered
2. Relocating work indoors, or to an outdoor location with a lower AQI
3. Changing work schedules so outdoor work can occur when the AQI is lower
4. Reducing the amount of work that involves physical exertion
5. Providing additional rest periods
6. Monitoring personnel for exposure symptoms (refer to the symptoms list in the frequently asked questions section below)
7. Make N95 respirators available for voluntary use (described below)

Respiratory protection

When the AQI is 101 or higher where work is occurring, the University unit is required to provide respirators at no cost to personnel exposed to wildfire smoke.

• Respirators are required to be NIOSH-approved devices that effectively protect the wearer from inhalation of particles at 2.5 micrometers (PM2.5) in size, such as N95 disposable filtering facepiece respirators (KN95 respirators not permitted).
• Respirators are required to be stored, maintained, and replaced (or cleaned, if reusable respirators are used), so that they do not present a health hazard to the user.
• UW personnel voluntarily wearing a respirator in the workplace when it is not required must be provided with Advisory Information for Employees who Voluntarily Use Respirators, regardless of whether the respirator is provided by the University or acquired by other means.

The following items do not provide adequate respiratory protection from wildfire smoke:

• Surgical masks
• Cloth face coverings
• Bandanas
• Scarves

When the AQI is 351 or higher (PM2.5 = 250.5 µg/m3) where outdoor work is occurring, University units are required to implement all of the requirements listed above, plus take these additional actions:

1. Ensure workers experiencing symptoms that require immediate medical attention are moved to a location with sufficient clean air.
2. Directly distribute N95 respirators to personnel for voluntary use.

When the outdoor AQI is 849 or higher (PM2.5 = 500.4 µg/m3) where work is occurring, UW personnel working outdoors are required to be enrolled in the UW Respiratory Protection Program. This does not apply if the duration of outdoor work is less than 15 minutes in a 24-hour period. Units are required to provide personnel provided with, and required to wear, one of the following respirators:

1. N95 filtering facepiece respirator; or
2. Half-facepiece air-purifying respirator equipped with P100 filters; or
3. Other respirator equipped with P100 filters, with an assigned protection factor of 10 or greater.

When the AQI is beyond the AQI scale and the airborne concentration of PM2.5 is 555 or more micrograms of particulate per cubic meter of ambient air (µg/m3) where outdoor work is occurring, University units are required to implement all of the requirements listed above, except personnel must be provided with, and required to wear, one of the following respirators equipped with P100 filters:

1. Loose-fitting powered air-purifying respirator; or
2. Full-facepiece air-purifying respirator; or
3. Full-facepiece powered air-purifying respirator; or
4. Other respirators with an assigned protection factor of 25 or more.

University units and departments are required to have two-way communication with personnel who are exposed to wildfire smoke.

When wildfire smoke is present, University units are required to:

• Identify personnel working outdoors and determine potential for exposure to wildfire smoke.
• Ensure personnel with anticipated exposure complete the Wildfire Smoke Safety Training before starting work that could expose them to wildfire smoke and annually thereafter.
• Encourage personnel to report worsening air quality and any health effects.
• Inform personnel of available protective measures and how to obtain them.
• Monitor the air quality using one of the methods outlined in the Air quality monitoring section of this page.
• When AQI is at or above 72, encourage use of exposure controls. (Refer to the list of controls in the Outdoor worker protections section of this page.)
• When the AQI is 101 or higher, require implementation of exposure controls. Refer to the list of controls in the Outdoor worker protections section of this page.
• Monitor personnel for any wildfire smoke exposure symptoms when they are exposed to wildfire smoke. Refer to the symptoms list in frequently asked questions section of this page.
• Allow personnel with symptoms of injury or illness due to wildfire smoke exposure to seek medical treatment.
• Provide adequate respiratory protection when required (cloth face coverings and surgical masks do not provide adequate protection).
• Encourage personnel to voluntarily wear respirators (when they are not required), and provide them with Advisory Information for Employees who Voluntarily Use Respirators.
• Develop building-specific indoor wildfire smoke procedures as part of your Business Continuity Plan. The plan is required to include the following at a minimum:
  • Confirm with the building coordinator or facility manager the specific measures that are taken during wildfire smoke events for your building(s). These can include closing all operable windows, bypassing HVAC system components, reducing outside air ventilation and/or relocating portable air cleaners. UW Facilities will reduce outside air intake to protect the system filters as feasible.
  • Determine if designated indoor clean-air areas will be established with portable air cleaners. Have N95 respirators available for personnel who request to voluntarily use them.
  • Designate which individuals (or roles) should continue to work at a University location indoors during wildfire smoke events.  If so, determine whether they will be relocated depending on individual building parameters and anticipated space availability.
• Report illnesses and injuries experienced by University personnel due to work-related exposure to wildfire smoke.

• Complete the Wildfire Smoke Safety Training before starting work that could expose you to wildfire smoke and annually thereafter.
• When using a respirator, follow the manufacturer’s instructions and know the limitations of your respirator.
• Before using a respirator voluntarily, review the Advisory Information for Employees who Voluntarily Use Respirators.
• Report to your supervisor if any of the following occur:
  • Air quality conditions worsen.
  • You experience any symptoms of smoke exposure, including asthma attack, difficulty breathing, and chest pain (read the full list of symptoms in the frequently asked questions section below).
  • You need to get medical treatment for smoke exposure.
  • You need immediate medical attention for a serious smoke-related illness or injury.

• Develop, communicate, and oversee University safety policies and guidance.
• Develop and implement safety training for University personnel.
• Provide consultation as requested from University units.
• Serve on the UW Weather Status Assessment Group (WSAG) to provide health and safety guidance and support University-level response and communications during periods of compromised air quality.

The University’s Office of Emergency Management facilities the Weather Status Advisory Group, which monitors smoke and provides University-level communications and guidance.

Check the Environmental Protection Agency AirNow website for a reliable report of the current and forecasted air quality in your area.

• AirNow provides the hourly AQI and a rating of how clean or polluted the outdoor air is, along with any potential health effects and recommended steps to reduce exposure. 
• Also check the Fire and Smoke Map to get the AQI closest to your location.

The University Office of Emergency Management will issue campus-wide alerts during periods of observed or forecasted hazardous outdoor quality at or above 150 AQI. Sign up for UW Alerts.

Check the EH&S website homepage, which will be updated when the AQI is at or above 72 (and again when the AQI is at or above 101) when worker protection requirements go into effect.

The best way to protect yourself against the potentially harmful effects of wildfire smoke is to reduce wildfire smoke exposure, for example, by seeking clean air shelters and cleaner air spaces. We recommend keeping windows and doors closed as much as possible to avoid worsening the indoor air quality.

University buildings that use heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems to filter indoor air typically remove up to 90% of particles in wildfire smoke. Indoor portable air cleaners can help supplement mechanical ventilation indoors and can be utilized in buildings without HVAC systems.

UW Facilities has a limited inventory of portable air cleaners that are prioritized for buildings on the Seattle campus without mechanical ventilation during wildfire smoke events. Units should reach out to the UW Facilities Care Team to determine availability.

• It should be noted that smoke odors would still be noticeable, even with additional filtration.
• If building occupants continue to experience symptoms from smoke indoors, an N95 respirator worn voluntarily can add another layer of protection.

In naturally ventilated buildings (buildings without mechanical HVAC systems), the indoor temperatures may rise due to windows being closed. If the room becomes unbearably hot, portable electric fans and air-conditioning units can be used to cool the space. Check with your unit leadership and the building coordinator or facility manager to ensure the facility electrical system can meet the energy demand.

Read more information on the health effects of wildfire smoke and tips for protecting yourself on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Wildfire Smoke webpage and in the frequently asked questions section below.

Wildfire smoke is a mix of gases and fine particles from burning vegetation, building materials, and other materials. Wildfire smoke can make anyone sick. Even someone who is healthy can get sick if there is enough smoke in the air. Breathing in smoke can have immediate health effects, including:

• Coughing
• Trouble breathing normally
• Stinging eyes
• A scratchy throat
• Runny nose
• Irritated sinuses
• Wheezing and shortness of breath
• Chest pain
• Headaches
• An asthma attack
• Tiredness
• Fast heartbeat

Older adults, pregnant women, children, and people with preexisting respiratory and heart conditions may be more likely to get sick if they breathe in wildfire smoke.

People with respiratory conditions should talk to their personal healthcare provider to develop a personal plan for dealing with smoke, having medications/inhalers on hand, having an active asthma action plan, and considering whether to include an N95 respirator mask in your personal emergency preparedness kit.

• Stay hydrated by drinking water during heavy smoke events.
• Stay inside, preferably in a room with HEPA filtered air and with the doors and windows closed. Seek shelter elsewhere if you do not have an air conditioner and it is too warm to stay inside with the windows closed.
• Do not add to indoor air pollution. Do not burn candles or use gas, propane, or aerosol sprays. Do not fry or broil meat, smoke tobacco products, or vacuum. All of these can increase air pollution indoors.
• Take it easier during smoky times to reduce how much smoke you inhale and avoid outdoor strenuous activities.
• Know your air quality. Stay tuned to local media for changes in smoke or weather conditions. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Air Now website is the preferred way to check your local air quality.
• Long-term smoke events usually have periods when the air is better. When air quality improves, even temporarily, air out your home to reduce indoor air pollution.

If you must be active outside in smoky areas, take steps to limit your time and level of activity outdoors. Follow the above requirements and protections when working outside during periods of wildfire smoke. Consider voluntarily wearing a particulate respirator such as an N95 to filter out some particles; however, these respirators do not filter out chemical vapors found in smoke. They can provide a higher level of protection when fitted by a trained technician. They may provide additional comfort for those sensitive to the smoke.  

UW strongly recommends that personnel or students in high-risk groups and anyone who is sensitive to smoke discuss the risks and benefits of N95 respirators with their healthcare provider and consider obtaining one for personal use before a wildfire smoke event occurs, as part of their emergency kit.

The method used by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to communicate air quality using color-coded categories; it shows the air quality for the most current hour available in a region by using a calculation that involves multiple hours of past data. 

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; which tests and approves respirators for use in the workplace

Solid particles and liquid droplets suspended in air, known as particulate matter, with an aerodynamic diameter of 2.5 micrometers or smaller. Measured in micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m3)

People with preexisting health conditions and those who are sensitive to air pollution who are among those most likely to experience health problems from exposure to wildfire smoke.

Examples of sensitive groups include:

• People with lung diseases such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including bronchitis and emphysema, and those who smoke
• People with respiratory infections, such as pneumonia, acute bronchitis, bronchiolitis, colds, flu, or those with, or recovering from COVID-19
• People with existing heart or circulatory problems, such as irregular heart beat, congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, angina, and those who have had a heart attack or stroke
• Children under eighteen years old, and adults over age sixty-five
• Pregnant women
• People with diabetes
• People with other medical or health conditions which can be exacerbated by exposure to wildfire smoke as determined by a physician

Airborne emissions from fires in wildlands or in adjacent developed areas. Wildfire smoke is a mixture of gases and fine particles from burning trees and plants, buildings, and other material. The primary concern with exposure to wildfire smoke is that it contains fine solid particles (also known as particulate matter) that are 2.5 micrometers (PM2.5) in size or smaller.