Fire & Smoke Testing Services

Huntington Beach, CA, Novmeber 13, 2023

Last month, a wildfire smoke alert was issued as parts of Northern California were impacted by heavy smoke. Cal/OSHA reminded employers to follow California’s Protection from Wildfire Smoke standard, which requires them to take steps to protect their workers from unhealthy air due to wildfire smoke.

According to Cal/OSHA:

The Protection from Wildfire Smoke standard applies to most worksites where the air cannot be filtered and the Air Quality Index (AQI) for PM2.5 is 151 or more due to wildfire smoke. An AQI over 150 is considered unhealthy for the general population. AQI over 101 can be unhealthy for sensitive groups and some workers with asthma and other conditions may feel unhealthy when the AQI is below 150.

Wildfire smoke is a complex mixture of gases and particles from burning vegetation and other materials. As a wildfire burns, many different compounds are released in the smoke. These may include carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrocarbons, particulate matter (PM), benzene, acrolein and aldehydes. Exposure can cause many symptoms, such as eye and throat irritation, wheezing and coughing. It can also worsen other illnesses, such as asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, and heart and blood vessel diseases. During pregnancy, exposure to wildfire smoke can even affect fetal development according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).

“It’s important to note that wildfire smoke can also react with urban air pollution to create extremely unhealthy conditions,” said Michael Chapman, Laboratory Manager at LA Testing’s Huntington Beach facility. “Wildfire smoke can even make its way indoors, so it’s not just outdoor workers at risk.”

With multiple laboratories in California, LA Testing provides environmental and industrial hygiene testing services, sampling supplies, air monitoring instruments and personal protective equipment (PPE) to help in these situations. These resources can protect workers from respiratory hazards and assist companies and institutions in their regulatory compliance efforts. LA Testing has even sponsored an educational video about wildfire smoke and protecting outdoor workers that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/DCCc5ZuMDf4

To learn more about air testing and monitoring resources, please visit www.LATesting.com, email info@LATesting.com or call (800) 755-1794.

About LA Testing

LA Testing is California’s leading laboratory for environmental and indoor air quality testing of asbestos, mold, bacteria, lead, VOCs, formaldehyde, soot, char, ash and smoke damage, particulates and other chemicals. In addition, LA Testing offers a full range of air sampling and investigative equipment to professionals and the general public. LA Testing maintains an extensive list of accreditations including: AIHA LAP LLC., AIHA ELLAP, AIHA EMLAP and AIHA IHLAP, CDC ELITE, NVLAP, State of California, State of Hawaii Department of Health and other states. LA Testing, along with the EMSL Analytical, Inc. network, has multiple laboratories throughout California including South Pasadena, Huntington Beach, San Leandro and San Diego.