WASHINGTON —  The Division of Occupational Safety & Health (DOSH) of the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) today issued emergency rules to address hazards associated with wildfire smoke. In the wake of the 2020 wildfire season, the UFW Foundation formally requested Washington state enact emergency wildfire standards.

UFW Foundation Executive Director Diana Tellefson Torres said: 

“Protecting farm workers from the dangers of wildfire smoke is vital to our food security. Wildfire activity in 2021 has already surpassed the record-breaking season from last year.  As workers on the frontlines of climate change, farm workers need permanent and strong protections from the dangers of deadly heat and toxic, smoke-filled air. We look forward to ongoing participation in permanent rulemaking and we expect to see medical and scientific research guiding this process.”

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