California wildfire smoke employer requirements
T8 5141.1 written plan, AQI 151 voluntary respirators, and AQI 500 required use for California employers.
California wildfire smoke rules expect a written plan you can find on a smoke day, not a PDF in last year job box. The plan has to say how you check AQI, how the crew hears the number and can talk back, what controls you apply, and what happens when respirators come out. Duties begin at AQI 151 for PM2.5 and respirator use becomes mandatory at AQI 500.
Takeaways
- Write a smoke plan that answers how you check AQI and how the crew reports back.
- Say what changes at AQI 151 and at AQI 500.
- Apply the exemptions correctly, and document when you rely on one.
- Keep the plan and the day reading in the same place.
The four questions the plan answers
The two AQI thresholds
The exemptions, and documenting them
Training before the smoke arrives
Frequently asked questions
- Does the smoke rule apply indoors? It applies wherever employees are exposed to a current AQI of 151 or greater from wildfire smoke, indoor or outdoor. An enclosed building with filtered air and closed openings is exempt, which is how most indoor work escapes it.
- Do I need fit testing for voluntary N95 use? No. Voluntary filtering facepiece use is carved out from most of the respiratory protection standard. You still supply the respirator at no cost and provide the voluntary use information.
- How current does the AQI have to be? The obligation runs to the current AQI, so a reading from the start of a shift does not cover an afternoon plume. Check again when conditions change.
- Can I use a low-cost sensor instead of AirNow? The rule allows you to measure PM2.5 directly and convert to AQI. If you use a sensor, know its limitations and note the source on the record, because sensor accuracy at high concentrations varies.