With every passing Summer, the prevalence and severity of wildfires increases. In California, massive flames engulf entire forests while the Pacific Northwest as a whole faces mass evacuations, air quality warnings, and safety alerts. While these fires pose major safety risks for all residents, the question on every boots-on-the-ground driller and outdoor worker’s mind right now is what this means for workplace safety and the projects already very much underway during these Summer months.

For this, it’s time we take an in-depth look into the wildfires of America, how to stay safe and keep your team healthy, and when to call it quits for the well-being of all parties involved.

The Growing Wildfire Problem in the U.S.

In the last decade alone, wildfires have become a major crisis, especially in the Summer season. A significant uptick in human-caused fires has also been a cause for concern as everything from campfires and arson to gender parties and 4th of July have set off these massive wildfires in the PNW.

By the end of July 2023, Oregon had already experienced 819 human-caused or undetermined fires, burning approximately 65,000 acres—compared to 86 such fires during the same period in 2022. Now, Oregon is on track to set a new record for the amount of land burned in a wildfire season. The state has already seen 1.3 million acres burn this year and now has 34 large fires, with five over 100,000 acres each. In Washington state, the average number of wildfires per year increased from around 500 in the 1970s to over 1,500 in the 2010s. The 2020 wildfire season was particularly devastating, with over 800,000 acres burned in Washington alone. 

The surge in forest fires across the Pacific Northwest as a whole is even more unsettling. Between 1980 and 2020, the number of large wildfires in the western U.S., including the Pacific Northwest, increased by over 200%. The average area burned annually has more than tripled during this period, with the Pacific Northwest experiencing some of the most significant increases. The 2021 wildfire season was one of the most destructive on record in the Pacific Northwest, with over 1.5 million acres burned across Washington and Oregon. This trend continued into 2022 and 2023, with wildfires becoming more frequent and intense due to ongoing drought conditions and heatwaves. Now, in 2024 thus far, more than 265,000 acres have burned in Washington state due to wildfires, which is more than the 165,000 acres that burned in 2023 and the 10-year average of 470,000 acres.

This increase, coupled with ongoing drought conditions, rising temperatures, and heat domes, exacerbates fire risks and challenges firefighting efforts across the region. “Our planners are taking a realistic look at current wildfires, expected new fires, and the resources we have to help us safeguard human lives and property while enhancing our ability to respond to wildfires in high-risk areas,” Jacque Buchanan, Pacific Northwest regional forester at the Forest Service, said in a statement. 

As these fires continue to take over these states, beyond the safety concerns of being trapped in an active fire, the risks of air quality being hazardous persists. According to AirNow.gov, “AQI values at or below 100 are generally thought of as satisfactory. When AQI values are above 100, air quality is considered to be unhealthy—at first for certain sensitive groups of people, then for everyone as AQI values increase.” 

Given this concern, it’s no wonder why many construction workers, outdoor laborers, and of course, drillers, are worried about the impact that these fires will have on daily operations and the safety of their teams. To dive into this concern further, it’s important to understand how air quality can impact the drilling and construction industries in the long-term if not taken seriously by those in command. 

Air Quality Index (AQI) and Its Importance

When it comes to measuring the quality of the air we breathe, especially in regions affected by wildfire smoke, the Air Quality Index (AQI) is a crucial tool. 

The AQI is essentially a scale that runs from 0 to 500, with higher values indicating worse air quality and greater health risks. This index is calculated based on the concentrations of four major air pollutants regulated by the Clean Air Act: ground-level ozone, particle pollution (such as PM2.5, which is particularly concerning in wildfire smoke), carbon monoxide, and sulfur dioxide.

Wildfire smoke primarily affects the AQI through particle pollution, specifically PM2.5. These fine particles, which are 2.5 micrometers in diameter or smaller, can penetrate deep into the lungs and even enter the bloodstream, causing significant health issues. 

The AQI uses data on these pollutants to generate a score that reflects the overall air quality, providing a clear picture of the potential health impacts on those who spend time outdoors, including drillers and construction workers.

The AQI is divided into six categories, each representing a different level of health concern. These categories are color-coded to make it easy for everyone to understand the severity of the situation at a glance:

• Good (0-50, Green): Air quality is considered satisfactory, and air pollution poses little or no risk to health.
• Moderate (51-100, Yellow): Air quality is acceptable; however, there may be some health concern for a small number of individuals who are unusually sensitive to air pollution.
• Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (101-150, Orange): Members of sensitive groups, such as those with respiratory or heart conditions, children, and older adults, may experience health effects. The general public is less likely to be affected at this level.
• Unhealthy (151-200, Red): Everyone may begin to experience health effects, and members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects.
• Very Unhealthy (201-300, Purple): This level triggers a health alert, indicating that everyone may experience more serious health effects.
• Hazardous (301-500, Maroon): Health warnings of emergency conditions are issued. The entire population is more likely to be affected.

For drilling or construction workers, understanding these categories is vital. When AQI levels enter the "Unhealthy" range (151-200), it's essential to limit strenuous outdoor activities and take frequent breaks in areas with cleaner air. In "Very Unhealthy" or "Hazardous" conditions, outdoor work should be minimized or even halted to protect workers from serious health risks. 

Ultimately, employers are responsible for monitoring these conditions and adjusting work schedules or providing protective equipment as necessary. With smoke inhalation in particular, wildfires can increase PM2.5 emissions by up to 38 times compared to an average day. In these instances, it is crucial that both employers and team leads pay close attention to AQI levels throughout the day and respond in a timely fashion. To better understand how timely decision-making can keep your time happy and healthy, let’s take a closer look at the significant health implications of smoke inhalation below. 

The Health Impact of Wildfire Smoke on Workers

Although it’s rather unsurprising, it’s important to recognize that smoke inhalation affects the lungs and overall respiratory health of all that experience it even for short periods of time. This especially holds true for immunocompromised adults. 

According to the AirNow pamphlet, the effects of poor air quality include respiratory system irritation, reduced lung function, permanent lung tissue scarring, weakened lung defenses leading to infections, aggravated asthma, chronic lung disease, and permanent lung damage. Furthermore, with wildfire smoke inhalation in particular, one study found that respiratory hospitalizations increased by 1.3–10% for every 10 μg m−3 increase in wildfire-specific PM2.5. 

Meanwhile, a risk assessment found that wildland firefighters may have an increased risk of lung cancer mortality (8–43%) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) (16–30%) due to smoke exposure. While this may not directly apply to outdoor workers separate from direct smoke inhalation instances, it shows how this smoke can have dramatic effects on your system over time. 

Lastly, NIOSH and the CDC claim that prolonged smoke exposure can cause bronchitis, pneumonia, and adverse birth outcomes as well. 

With these wildfires only continuing to increase every year, it is also important to note that prolonged smoke exposure can have long-term effects far beyond lung irritation, such as chronic respiratory conditions, cardiovascular disease, and reduced lung function. So, where do we go from here? This is where guidelines, PPE, and worker’s rights come into play more than ever. 

A Real-Life Example: Maria Salinas

Maria Salinas, a dedicated farmworker in Sonoma County, vividly recalls the harrowing experience of working amidst the wildfires that swept through the region in 2020. As flames devoured large swaths of land, Salinas found herself in the vineyards, harvesting grapes while inhaling the thick, toxic smoke that filled the air. "What forces us to work is necessity," Salinas explained, highlighting the harsh reality faced by many farmworkers who, despite severe health risks, feel compelled to continue working to support themselves and their families.

The situation escalated to the point where Salinas’s saliva turned black from the smoke, and she eventually had to be rushed to the emergency room due to breathing difficulties. Yet, driven by the pressing need to earn a living, she returned to the fields as soon as she could. Unfortunately, Salinas’s story is far from unique. 

A recent study underscores the severe impact of wildfire smoke on farmworkers, particularly in regions like Sonoma County. The study reveals that farmworkers are subjected to dangerously high levels of air pollution, often working in conditions that are deemed unsafe for the general public. 

This prolonged exposure to wildfire smoke, which contains fine particulate matter (PM2.5) capable of penetrating deep into the lungs and bloodstream, is the exact same wildfire smoke that drillers and other outdoor laborers in the construction field too are facing. 

Salinas’s story, along with the findings of this study, serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of climate change and the pressing need for stronger protections for those most vulnerable to its effects. They also highlight how important safety strategies are when faced with wildfire smoke inhalation crises and other air quality issues on the job site. 

Strategies for Drillers and Construction Workers to Stay Safe

For starters, it is important recognize that workers in the U.S. have the right to safe working conditions, a principle enshrined in various federal and state laws. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) plays a critical role in ensuring that employers protect their workers from health hazards. This obligation for employers extends to protecting workers from air pollutants, such as those caused by wildfire smoke, which can lead to severe respiratory issues and other health complications.

To help define these expectations for drilling industry company owners and leaders, it’s best to start with OSHA’s safety guidelines. OSHA mandates that employers monitor air quality and provide personal protective equipment (PPE), such as N95 respirators, when the air quality index (AQI) reaches levels that are considered hazardous to health. OSHA also requires employers to adjust work schedules or reduce work intensity to minimize exposure during periods of poor air quality.

In the Pacific Northwest, where wildfires are increasingly common, states like Washington and Oregon have additional regulations that bolster worker protections. For example, Washington’s Department of Labor & Industries has developed specific guidelines that require employers to assess air quality and take necessary actions to protect workers from wildfire smoke. 

Similarly, Oregon’s Occupational Safety and Health Division (Oregon OSHA) provides resources and guidelines to ensure that workers are not exposed to dangerous levels of smoke. 

Here are just a few of the OSHA smoke inhalation guidelines to follow when preparing a safety strategy for your team:

• Monitor Air Quality: Regularly check the Air Quality Index (AQI) to assess the level of smoke in the air. OSHA recommends using local air quality resources or apps like AirNow to stay updated.
• Provide Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Supply workers with appropriate PPE, such as N95 respirators, especially when the AQI indicates unhealthy levels of particulate matter (PM2.5) from wildfire smoke.
• Modify Work Schedules: Adjust work hours to avoid peak smoke periods, usually early morning and late afternoon. Consider reducing the physical intensity of tasks or rescheduling them to days with better air quality.
• Ensure Access to Clean Air: Provide indoor rest areas with clean, filtered air. If indoor areas are not available, consider using portable air purifiers or creating designated clean air shelters on-site.
• Allow Frequent Breaks: Encourage workers to take breaks in clean air environments more frequently, especially if they begin to feel the effects of smoke inhalation.
• Educate Workers: Train employees on the risks of smoke inhalation, how to use PPE correctly, and the importance of monitoring their health during periods of poor air quality.
• Encourage Self-Monitoring: Workers should be aware of symptoms of smoke inhalation, such as coughing, shortness of breath, and irritation of the eyes and throat. They should be instructed to report these symptoms immediately and take protective measures, such as taking breaks or using PPE.
• Have an Emergency Plan: Develop and communicate an emergency response plan that includes steps for protecting workers if air quality suddenly worsens.

To summarize, as a leader, your responsibilities include regularly monitoring the AQI, providing necessary PPE, and implementing work adjustments to minimize exposure. Additionally, employers must educate their workers on the risks associated with poor air quality and the importance of using PPE correctly. Employers are also required to allow workers to take breaks or reschedule work during AQI levels that are unsafe or hazardous in nature. 

All in all, by prioritizing the health and safety of your team, you can not only comply with legal requirements but also foster a culture of safety and trust within your organization. Encouraging feedback from workers and being responsive to their concerns are also key components of a successful safety strategy.

Ensuring Safety Amidst the Smoke

As we end this article, I want you to take a moment and think about how important your team is to your success and how important they are to your culture as well. No matter what projects need to be completed, no one’s safety is worth the risk. Instead, as the wildfires persist in the Pacific Northwest and beyond, it’s time we analyze how to stay safe and prevent air quality-related injuries once and for all. 

Let’s put out the fires, both literally and figuratively, on our job sites and get back to hard work with hardworking people.