Workers’ have rights when it comes to wildfire smoke in Okanagan, Kamloops

Health experts have been advising people around Kamloops and the Okanagan to stay indoors and avoid doing anything strenuous outside, but a lot of people can’t follow that advice.

Employers have a duty to do what they can to protect their workers from smoky conditions, especially when working outdoors.

WorkSafeBC’s head of prevention services Todd McDonald said employers have to keep their eye on the sky.

“Air quality conditions can change quickly during wildfire season,” Todd McDonald said in a press release issued Aug. 12.

“Employers should monitor conditions closely and be prepared to adjust work activities as needed to protect workers.”

WorkSafeBC said employers can also reduce physically demanding tasks when the air quality deteriorates, give alternate assignments to employees who are more sensitive to smoke and provide respiratory protection when required.

There are no specific exposure limits for wildfire smoke in B.C., but employers must take steps to reduce exposure.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees said everyone has the right to refuse unsafe work, including working in wildfire smoke.

“You can refuse work if you believe it could endanger your health and safety or the health and safety of others,” the union said in a written statement.

“It is illegal for employers to threaten, dismiss, discipline, intimidate or pressure you for following health and safety laws.”

WorkSafeBC said wildfire smoke on its own might not be enough to qualify as dangerous working conditions for employees to refuse work unless someone has a health condition.

“While wildfire smoke would likely not meet the threshold for an undue hazard for most individuals to refuse work, workers with pre-existing conditions may have reasonable cause to believe working in smoke conditions is unsafe,” WorkSafeBC said.

The City of Kelowna said it has been adjusting some of the work for its employees who have been outdoors on days with dangerous air quality.

“As conditions change, we may adjust work activities to protect employee health and safety. This may include reducing strenuous outdoor work, providing more breaks in areas with cleaner air, relocating or rescheduling work where possible,” the city said in an emailed statement.

The BC Air Quality Health Index has a scale to display the risk in a particular area and sites like IQAir.com have more detailed readings from specific air quality sensors.

“Protecting the health and safety of our employees remains our priority. The city will continue to provide services to the community while adapting how and where work is done as wildfire and air quality conditions change,” the City of Kelowna statement said.