Moreover, current conditions combine pollution from wildfire smoke with increased ambient temperatures in some areas. The Department of Consumer and Business Services is Oregon's largest business regulatory and consumer protection agency. Make sure your car is properly maintained to reduce pollution. Data may be available for a geographic area in one time period but not another. Due to changes in the NAAQS in the following years, data spanning those years are not comparable: The number and location of air monitoring stations has changed over time, which is reflected in the availability of data. Good ozone occurs naturally as a layer in the atmosphere and protects us from the sun's harmful radiation. Our mission is to advance and improve workplace safety and health for all workers in Oregon. Such outdoor operations include farming harvests, construction and those in which outdoor activities require heavy and prolonged exertion. consultation services and OSHA's letters of interpretation specifically addressing IAQ issues can be found in Other Resources. Employers also are encouraged to check the state’s Air quality tells us how much pollution is in the air. They include Repeated exposure may cause permanent damage to lung tissue. “This makes this important and sizable population of our workforce potentially more vulnerable to the adverse effects of combined wildfire smoke and COVID-19 risks,” Sidelinger said. The EPA requires daily sampling when PM2.5 for an area falls within 5% of the NAAQS. Northwest Coordinator Center Our interpretation letters explain these requirements and how they apply to particular circumstances, but they cannot create additional employer obligations. Indoor air quality may also become a concern. Oregon OSHA to implement new COVID-19 workplace standards Oregon would be only the third state to have implemented COVID-19 emergency workplace standards. By Thomas Enger, MS, CSP, Chmm . If outdoor air quality data are to be used in health assessments, it is important to consider these factors as well as the contribution of other pollutants, especially those that occur when ozone and PM2.5 are present. The General Duty Clause of the OSH Act (the law that created OSHA) … Recycle. PM has many different components like acids, organic chemicals, metals, and dust. Oregon OSHA to implement new COVID-19 workplace standards State health officials reported 29 of Oregon’s 600 COVID-19-related deaths were connected to workplace outbreaks. Two Portland area monitors collect data year-round and the remaining monitors are seasonal (summer). The annual NAAQS for PM2.5 is 12 ppb. DEQ also uses the standards as regulatory tools to prevent pollution of the state's waters. technical experts. Breathing-Air Quality in an Abrasive Blasting Context . Exposure to ground-level ozone can aggravate asthma and cause respiratory symptoms like coughing and lung inflammation. These new indoor air quality guidelines for household fuel combustion aim to help public health policy-makers, as well as specialists working on energy, environmental and other issues understand best approaches to reducing household air pollution -- the greatest environmental health risk in … Ozone is a gas that you cannot see. Approximately 20% of counties in the United States have actual air monitors. It conserves energy and helps reduce air pollution. The relationship between measured pollutant concentrations and personal exposure varies depending on pollutant, individual activity patterns and local differences in pollution levels. They range from upper respiratory tract irritation, coughing and shortness of breath to aggravating conditions such as asthma, emphysema, and bronchitis. For more information, visit these websites: Find us on Facebook In some areas, the modeled data underestimates or overestimates the air pollutant concentration levels when compared to monitoring data. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — You’ll want to stay indoors until the air quality clears up, and that applies to work as well. Oregon Smoke Information Blog Get current local air quality information from Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and learn if there is a health advisory in your community. Oregon OSHA utilizes the Field Operations Manual (FOM) to provide guidance for the enforcement program. On the Tracking Network, both monitored and modeled datasets are available to track possible exposures to ozone and PM2.5, evaluate health impact, conduct analytical studies linking health effects and the environment, and guide public health actions. Modeled data helps to fill in these time gaps. Therefore, the best way to use modeled air data is together with actual monitoring data. These limits, called the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), help protect public health and the environment. While OSHA issued a guidance document, Oregon OSHA included a section on ventilation in its new COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard (the “Oregon ETS”), which goes into effect November 16. There are two benefits to creating modeled air pollution data: After careful study, EPA and CDC found that air pollution modeled predictions are very similar to actual monitor data in areas where the two can be compared. 12/10/2020 Oregon OSHA launches free online course addressing COVID-19 safety training.  Follow us on Twitter Providing N95 masks, where and when appropriate, and informing workers of their proper use and care. The outdoor air quality measures are calculated from data collected by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. Oregon’s index is based on three pollutants regulated by the federal Clean Air Act: ground-level ozone, particle pollution and nitrogen dioxide. The employer must provide respirators for employee use on a voluntary basis when the current AQI for PM2.5 is equal to or greater than 150 but less than 500. The small size of these particles allows them to get deep into the lungs and reach the bloodstream. Find workplace safety and health videos here. Likewise, employers must formally assess the risk of exposure, develop infection control plans, and address indoor air quality within their current capability. PM2.5 - Days Above Regulatory Standard (35 ppb): These data help summarize short-term trends in particle pollution concentrations. This is because exertion results in a higher respiratory rate that will increase harmful pollutant exposure and increase the risk of adverse health effects. 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