Rancho Mesa's Alyssa Burley and Media Communications & Client Services Specialist Lauren Stumpf discuss wildfire prevention and wildfire smoke regulations.

Show Notes: Subscribe to Rancho Mesa's Newsletter
www.ranchomesa.com/workshops-and-webinars

Director/Host: Alyssa Burley

Guest: Lauren Stumpf

Producer/Editor: Megan Lockhart

Music: "Home" by JHS Pedals, “News Room News” by Spence

© Copyright 2023. Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc. All rights reserved.

Transcript

[Introduction Music]

Alyssa Burley: Hi! This is Alyssa Burley with Rancho Mesa’s Media Communications and Client Services Department. Thank you for listening to today’s top Rancho Mesa news brought to you by our safety and risk management network, StudioOne™. Welcome back, everyone. My guest is Lauren Stumpf, Media Communications and Client Services Specialist with Rancho Mesa. Today, we're going to talk about wildfire prevention and wildfire smoke regulations. Lauren, welcome to the show.

Lauren Stumpf: Hi Alyssa, thanks for having me.

AB: Of course! So, anyone who has been paying attention to the national or international news lately is keenly aware of the wildfires in Canada and how they’re affecting places in the US. Most notably, we’re seeing images out of New York City that show a thick orange sky behind iconic buildings. And while wildfires aren’t common for places like New York, we see them annually here in Southern California. They can affect people across the country from time to time. So, this is the perfect time to talk about wildfire prevention and wildfire smoke for people working outside. Lauren, why should employers talk about wildfire prevention with their employees?

LS: Well, in many places like California, we deal with droughts quite often. And as a result, the dry brush throughout the region can become fuel for wildfires. When employees are working outside near fuel sources with their tools and equipment, they could inadvertently cause a wildfire to start. So, employers and employees should be cautious.

AB: Is a there a wildfire season or should employers be mindful of the risks all year long?

LS: Here in Southern California, the risk of wildfire is becoming more frequent. So, it’s best to be aware of the risks, regardless of the season.

AB: What are the elements needed for wildfires?

LS: Well first, in order to have a wildfire, there must be oxygen. So, that’s everywhere. Two, there must be heat or an ignition source like a metal chain striking a rock causing a spark or hot exhaust from a piece of equipment like a mower or chainsaw. Three, there must be fuel. Fuel can be things like dry brush, piles of trash, or gasoline. It’s really anything that can burn. So, when employees are working outside, they should be aware that when these three factors are present, the risk of wildfire is high.

AB: Lauren, let’s switch gears a little and focus on wildfire smoke. What should employers be aware of when it comes to the possible exposure to wildfire smoke?

LS: Well, I’m not an expert on wildfire smoke, but it is the employer’s responsibility to reasonably anticipate when their employees may be exposed to wildfire smoke. So, if you’ve heard on the news or have seen wildfire smoke in your area, check to see what the air quality will be at your jobsites and adjust schedules to limit employee exposure.

AB: And that’s smart. What kind of damage can be caused from exposure to wildfire smoke?

LS: There are numerous health issues that are caused by wildfire smoke exposure. Some include reduced lung function, bronchitis, worsening of asthma, and heart failure. And, no one wants to be the person responsible for sending employees into conditions with those risks.

AB: Lauren, what do you recommend employers do to prevent wildfires and exposure to wildfire smoke?

LS: Training is really key. Recently, Steven Hamilton from Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Companies put together a training for preventing wildfires and wildfire smoke regulations. I highly recommend listeners watch the training. He goes into detail on prevention and the specifics things employers and employees can do to mitigate the risk. He also covers training for employees on wildfire smoke dangers like providing an air quality index so people can easily see the level of health concern based on the air quality. 

AB: Lauren, if listeners are interested in the wildfire prevention and wildfire smoke regulation training, where can they access it?

LS: Anyone can go to our website at ranchomesa.com, click on workshops and webinars, and click the registration link for the webinar.

[Outro Music]

AB: Lauren, thanks for joining me in StudioOne™.

LS: Thanks, Alyssa!

AB: This is Alyssa Burley with Rancho Mesa. Thanks for tuning in to our latest episode produced by StudioOne™. For more information, visit us at ranchomesa.com and subscribe to our weekly newsletter.