Pub. 5 Issue 4

41 that reduces the PM 2.5 below 150. Cal/OSHA standard Title 8 CCR Section 5141.1 lists the enforcement based on the AQI as follows: • AQI at or below 150: Generally normal. Wildfire smoke regulation does not apply. • AQI of 151-500: N95 respirator use is voluntary. Employees with certainhealth conditions need to followmedical guidance. • AQI exceeds 500: Employees must use N95 respirator with training and management. Respirators: Respirators must be provided to employees when both engineering and administrative controls are not feasible. The N95 disposable particulate type respirator to protect em- ployees is available for about $5/mask through various distribu- tors. Safe use, maintenance and product limitations noted on the box of respirators must be reviewed. Cal/OSHA regulations https://www.dir.ca.gov/title8/5144d.html (Appendix D) have a specific memo on the usage of such respirators that must be reviewed as well. Training: The employees must be trained on the new regulation, including wildfire smoke's health effects. USE ATTACHED MEMO. Information at www.airnow.gov may be utilized to train employees and those at higher risk of health issues related to wildfire smoke. Training should include how employees can ob- tain air quality information and medical treatment, if necessary. Employers should establish a method for employees to inform them about worsening air quality and related adverse health ef- fects. The public address system at the dealership should suffice. Note: PM 2.5 refers to tiny particles or droplets in the air that are 2.5 microns or less in width. Like inches, meters and miles, a micron is a unit of measurement for distance. There are about 25,000 microns in an inch. The widths of the larger particles in the PM 2.5 size range would be about thirty times smaller than that of a human hair.  DISCLAIMER: Thecontents of this newsletter aremerely for informational purposes only andarenot tobeconsideredas professional advice. Employersmust consult their lawyer for legal matters and EPA/OSHA consultants for matters related to Environmental, Health & Safety. This article was authored by Sam Celly of Celly Services, Inc. who has been helping automobile dealers comply with EPA and OSHAregulationssince1987.SamreceivedhisBE(1984)andMS(1986) inChemical Engineering, followedby a J.D. fromSouthwesternUniversity School of Law (1997). Our newsletters can be accessed at www.epaoshablog.com. Your comments/ questions are always welcome. Please send them to sam@cellyservices.com . Training should include how employees can obtain air quality information and medical treatment, if necessary. Employers should establish a method for employees to inform them about worsening air quality and related adverse health effects. The public address system at the dealership should suffice.  CALIFORNIA WILDFIRE — continued from page 40