Former Fire Chief: Wildfire Smoke and Ash Pose Workplace Hazards

Michael Karl McNeil, a former Fire Battalion Chief and principal of McNeil Safety Consulting, is urging employers to recognize wildfire smoke and the residual ash as significant workplace hazards that persist well after fires are extinguished. With 25 years of experience in emergency services and extensive involvement in wildfire incident command, McNeil emphasizes that the risks of exposure continue long after containment.

California has established a specific standard for wildfire smoke, requiring employers to monitor air quality and protect employees when fine particulate matter (PM2.5) levels reach or exceed designated thresholds. This standard mandates employers to check the Air Quality Index, communicate conditions to workers, provide training, and implement engineering or administrative controls to reduce exposure where feasible.

McNeil highlights a critical oversight: the dangers posed by ash and debris after the smoke clears. Materials from burned structures can contain hazardous substances like lead, arsenic, and asbestos. Cleanup, demolition, and restoration work in burn areas fall under specific regulations for lead and asbestos, requiring thorough exposure assessments, appropriate respiratory protection, and decontamination procedures.

McNeil Safety Consulting provides expertise in occupational safety, industrial hygiene, and post-fire exposure assessments. The firm aims to ensure employers comply with California's safety regulations and safeguard worker health in hazardous post-fire environments.