Wildfire Smoke Puts 120 Million Under Alerts, Forcing Employers to Rethink Workplace Safety
Updated
Updated · riskandinsurance.com · Aug 13
Wildfire Smoke Puts 120 Million Under Alerts, Forcing Employers to Rethink Workplace Safety
1 articles · Updated · riskandinsurance.com · Aug 13
Summary
More than 120 million people in 16 states have faced unhealthy air alerts since mid-July as smoke from hundreds of Canadian wildfires spread across the Midwest and Northeast, turning air quality into a workplace compliance risk far beyond traditional fire zones.
Nearly 46,000 U.S. fires have burned 5.2 million acres in 2026, and insurers now underwrite wildfire risk nationwide as smoke exposure threatens outdoor workers most directly but can also endanger indoor staff through weak filtration.
Smoke-related claims can be long-tailed: Verisk says smoke damage made up about 30% of claims filed in the first 20 days after the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires, while another 35% from comparable events arrived as late as two years later.
California and Oregon already require action when PM2.5 or AQI thresholds worsen—generally above 150 for offering N95 masks—and Chicago's AQI hit a record 877 in mid-July, underscoring the need to monitor conditions, adjust shifts and improve HVAC systems.
With no nationwide federal OSHA smoke standard yet, attorneys and insurers say employers should build formal plans now, including air-quality monitoring, indoor breaks, remote work where possible and proactive protective equipment.