Taking steps to protect employees from air quality risks

Massachusetts is increasingly experiencing degraded air quality due to extreme heat, drought and wildfire smoke. These conditions pose serious risks not just outdoors but indoors as well, especially in buildings without effective HVAC systems.

The American Lung Association’s 26th annual “State of the Air” report, released in April, shows that air quality in the metropolitan area that includes Boston, Worcester and Providence has gotten worse, with wildfire smoke from Canada as a major contributing factor.

Wildfire smoke is rich in fine particulate matter, which penetrates deep into the lungs and bloodstream, heightening risks of asthma, cardiovascular problems, and even cognitive damage.

Even when smoke isn’t present, extreme summer heat boosts ground-level ozone, particulate matter levels, and aeroallergens, compounding respiratory and cardiovascular challenges.

Protecting employees
The following are strategies for protecting outdoor workers:
• Monitor air quality: Use tools like AirNow.gov or the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection’s MassAir Online to track the local Air Quality Index (AQI).
• Understand your employees’ health status: If the Air Quality Index is over 100 (orange category), sensitive groups may experience health effects. Be sure to limit the exposure of these individuals to outdoor air.
• Use respirators: Use NIOSH-approved respirators (N95 or P100) that seal properly; straps both above and below the ears are critical.
• Adjust work practices: Reduce exertion, schedule heavy tasks during times of cleaner air, and implement more breaks.
• Provide clean-air shelters: Set HVAC to “recirculate” to reduce outdoor air infiltration.

The following are strategies for protecting indoor workers:
• Keep HVAC filters clean and use closed-loop recirculation during air quality alert events.
• Add portable HEPA air cleaners and run them continuously in occupied zones.
• Seal gaps around doors and windows to limit outdoor air intrusion.

By tracking the daily AQI, educating workers, and equipping both indoor and outdoor environments with appropriate controls, municipal employers can keep their workforce healthier and safer during summer air quality challenges.

Written by Joyce McMahon