Supervisor guides for Oregon and Washington employers whose workers are exposed to wildfire smoke are now available. The guides summarizes the Oregon OSHA (OAR 437-002-1081) and Washington Department of Labor & Industries (WAC 296-820) permanent wildfire smoke rules. These requirements apply to most outdoor work when PM2.5 concentrations reach specific levels.
AQI Action Thresholds
Oregon and Washington standards are both triggered by PM2.5 concentrations. The table below outlines the specific triggers for mandatory supervisor actions in Oregon, based on current EPA AQI values.
| Current AQI | PM2.5 (μg/m³) | Required Action |
| 101 – 276 | 35.5 –150.4 | Baseline: Monitor air quality, implement two-way communication, provide training, and use engineering/admin controls. Voluntary Use: Provide N95s for voluntary use. |
| 277 – 848 | 200.9 – 500.3 | Mandatory Use (Level 1): Implement a Wildfire Smoke Respiratory Protection Program (Appendix A). N95 use is mandatory. |
| 849+ | 500.4+ | Mandatory Use (Level 2): Full Respiratory Protection Program required (29 CFR 1910.134). Requires medical evaluations and fit testing. |
The table below outlines the specific triggers for m andatory supervisor actions in Washington.
| Current AQI | PM2.5 (μg/m³) | Required Action |
| 72+ | 20.5+ | Baseline: Monitor AQI, provide annual training, and establish two-way communication. |
| 101+ | 35.5+ | Voluntary Use: Employers must make N95 respirators available to all outdoor workers at no cost. |
| 351+ | 500.4+ | Direct Distribution: Supervisors must physically hand N95s to every worker (cannot just be “available”). |
| 849+ | 500.4+ | Mandatory Use: Full respiratory program required, including fit-testing and medical evaluations. |
The employer guides include mandatory employer training topics, critical supervisor responsibilities, and supervisor checklists.
Review the Oregon OSHA fact sheet at:
osha.oregon.gov/OSHAPubs/factsheets/fs92.pdf
Review the full Washington legal standard at:
lni.wa.gov/safety-health/safety-rules/chapter-pdfs/WAC296-820.pdf
