Category: Fire Safety

Oregon Issues Temporary Rules on Wildfire Smoke Protection

Following up on new excessive heat regulations, Oregon has issued temporary rules to protect employees from wildfire smoke. The rules have training and notification requirements and, notably, respirator specifications.  Who’s Covered, Not Covered  The new temporary rules apply whenever employees will be exposed to wildfire smoke producing an ambient air concentration for fine particulate matter with […]

Machinery robots

Ask the Expert: Running Equipment Without Employees On Site

In our latest installment of Ask the Expert, brought to you by the team of industry experts at EHS Hero®, we look at a recent question from a subscriber asking about running equipment without employees on site. See what the experts had to say. Q: What are the requirements for running equipment without employees in […]

OSHA Urges Businesses to Have Wildfire Evacuation Plan Ready

Once again, wildfires are a huge problem in the U.S. According to the National Interagency Fire Center, seven new large fires were reported on Sunday, which brings the national total to 91 large fires that have burned 1.8 million acres. Businesses shouldn’t wait for a wildfire to occur before putting in place an evacuation plan, […]

California wildfire

Cal/OSHA Warns Employers of Wildfire Smoke Hazards

The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) on July 13 reminded employers of their obligation to comply with the state’s protection from wildfire smoke standard, which requires employers to take steps such as moving work operations, modifying work schedules, or providing proper respiratory protection such as N95 respirators in the event of wildfires. There […]

Ask the Expert: Fire Safety and Training

Today we’re getting answers from EHS Hero® experts on two questions related to fire safety and training, specifically in the use of hose stations, standpipes, and fire extinguishers. Read on to see what the experts had to say. Q: What are OSHA standards regarding hose stations and standpipes in facilities? Are employers required to train workers on […]

COVID-19, Wildfire Smoke, and Ventilation

Are you prepared to fully reopen your facilities during an ongoing, if waning, pandemic and the threat of wildfires this summer? States and localities are rolling back pandemic precautions as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccinations roll out across the United States–President Biden pledged May 4 that 70 percent of American adults would receive at least […]

Wildfire smoke in Washington state

Wildfire Smoke Rule in Development in Washington State

The Washington Department of Labor and Industries is developing a wildfire smoke standard. The department acknowledged receiving a petition to initiate a rulemaking for wildfire smoke exposures.

COVID-19 coronavirus

When Is COVID-19 Recordable, and How Do You Comply with Hands-On Training Requirements During the Pandemic?

Our experts at Safety.BLR.com® have been busy answering subscribers’ questions related to EHS management during the COVID-19 pandemic. Read on for their answers regarding recordable cases of COVID-19, plus information on how the pandemic has affected hands-on safety training, specifically as it relates to compliance requirements for fire extinguisher training.

House kitchen fire

NIOSH Issues Guidance on Row House Firefighting

On September 10, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) issued a fact sheet and poster outlining tactics to ensure the safety of firefighters responding to row house fires. The institute recently completed a firefighter fatality investigation of a career lieutenant killed while fighting a row house fire.

EHS on Tap: E50 An Expert Answers Your Burning Questions on Flame Resistant (FR) Garments

For those performing tasks in high-risk industries, personal protective equipment, or PPE, is their last line of defense. It’s important to be as informed as possible about all of the PPE necessary to performing a job safely, but you may have some questions about the proper uses of flame resistant (or FR) garments within your […]