Mitigation Strategies for Wildfire Smoke and Other Respiratory Hazards in Wildland Firefighting

On May 1, 2024, Drew Lichty, an Occupational Hygienist at Canada Wildfire, and Steve Lemon, Superintendent of Safety & Wellbeing at BC Wildfire Service, conducted a free webinar titled “Mitigation Strategies for Wildfire Smoke and Other Respiratory Hazards in Wildland Firefighting.”
The webinar aimed to address the challenges posed by wildfire smoke exposure in the context of wildland firefighting. Here are some key points from the webinar:
Research Efforts: Drew Lichty and Steve Lemon discussed past, present, and future research efforts conducted within the BC Wildfire Service. These efforts specifically focused on assessing exposure to wildfire smoke, ash, dust and engine exhaust.
Unique Workplace Conditions: The webinar highlighted the unique workplace conditions faced by wildland firefighters. Factors such as the fireline environment, objectives and operational challenges impact exposure levels.
Control Strategies: The speakers emphasized the importance of effective control strategies. This included discussions on the implementation of respiratory protection and air quality monitoring. By understanding exposure risks, employers can make informed decisions to protect their employees.
Appropriate Exposure Limits: Lichty and Lemon explored appropriate exposure limits for wildfire smoke. They drew from best practices and experiences in other jurisdictions to guide risk assessment and decision-making processes.