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The employer's control system at this worksite is: <br />None <br />(g) The importance, limitations, and benefits of using a respirator when exposed to wildfire <br />smoke. <br />Respirators can be an effective way to protect employee health by reducing exposure to wildfire <br />smoke, when they are properly selected and worn. Respirator use can be beneficial even when the <br /> AQI for PM2.5 is less than 151, to provide additional protection.· <br />When the current AQI for PM2.5 is151 or greater, employers shall provide their workers with proper <br />respirators for voluntary use. If the current AQI is greater than 500, respirator use is required. <br />A respirator should be used properly and kept clean. The following precautions shall be taken: <br />(1) Employers shall select respirators certified for protection against the specific air contaminants at <br />the workplace. NIOSH, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the U.S. Center for <br />Disease Control and Prevention, certifies respirators. A label or statement of certification should <br />appear on the respirator or respirator packaging. It will list what the respirator is designed for <br />(particulates, for example). Surgical masks or items worn over the nose and mouth such as scarves, <br />T-shirts, and · bandannas will not provide protection against wildfire smoke. An N95 filtering facepiece <br />respirator, shown in the image below, is the minimum level of protection for wildfire smoke. <br />(2) Read and follow the manufacturer's instructions on the respirator's use, maintenance, cleaning and <br />care, along with any warnings regarding the respirator's limitations. The manufacturer's instructions for <br />medical evaluations, fit testing, and shaving should also be followed, although doing so is not required <br />by Title 8, section 5141.1 for voluntary use of filtering facepiece respirators. <br />(3) Do not wear respirators in areas where the air contains contaminants for which the respirator is not <br />designed. A respirator designed to filter particles will not protect employees against gases or vapors, <br />and it will not supply oxygen. <br />(4) Employees should keep track of their respirator so that they do not mistakenly use someone else's <br />respirator. <br />(5) Employees who have a heart or lung problem should ask their doctor before using a respirator. <br />f) The employer's methods to protect employees from wildfire smoke. <br />Employers shall take action to protect employees from PM2.5 when the current AQI for PM2.5 is 151 <br />or greater. Examples of protective methods include: <br />(1) Locating work in enclosed structures or vehicles where the air is filtered. <br />(2) Changing procedures such as moving workers to a place with a lower current AQI for PM2.5. <br />(3) Reducing work time in areas with unfiltered air. <br />(4) Increasing rest time and frequency, and providing a rest area with filtered air. <br />(5) Reducing the physical intensity of the work to help lower the breathing and heart rates.