Wildland Fire Smoke Exposure Among Farmworkers and Other Outdoor Workers

On March 14, 2024, NIOSH published a Request for Information (RFI) in the Federal Register announcing plans to develop a Hazard Review document that summarizes the scientific literature about the health effects from exposures to wildland fire smoke and provides recommendations to protect outdoor workers [NIOSH 2024]. In response to the RFI, NIOSH received 10 comment submissions, all of which were reviewed and considered during the development of this draft Hazard Review. The Hazard Review development process involved review and assessment of the scientific literature about exposures to wildland fire smoke, potential health effects, outdoor worker populations at risk, and development or update of recommendations to protect outdoor workers. The purpose of the Hazard Review document is to provide an overview of the relevant health effects literature and present evidence-based recommendations to protect outdoor workers, including farm workers, construction workers, oil and gas workers, park rangers, emergency responders, and others from the adverse health effects of occupational exposure to wildland fire smoke. The information presented in this Hazard Review represents the scientific rationale and the current methodology about approaches to assess and control the hazards of wildland fire smoke to outdoor workers. Scientific information related to wildland fire smoke presented in the Hazard Review covers the following topics:

• Background on wildland fire smoke
• History of NIOSH and other government organizations’ related activity
• Chemical and physical properties of the smoke
• Population of outdoor workers with potential exposure
• Routes of worker exposure
• Health equity
• Health effects of exposure
• Exposure assessment
• Controlling workplace exposures
• Medical surveillance and medical monitoring
• Research needs

To view the notice and related materials, visit https://www.regulations.gov  and enter CDC-2024-0065 in the search field and click “Search.”

Public Comment Period

Comments will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. ET on November 12, 2024.  

Written comments, identified by CDC-2024-0065 and docket number NIOSH-352-A, may be submitted by any of the following methods:

• Federal rulemaking portal: Follow the instructions for submitting comments.

Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name and docket number. All relevant comments, including any personal information provided, will be posted without change to https://www.regulations.gov

• Mail: NIOSH Docket Office
  1090 Tusculum Avenue
  MS-C34
  Cincinnati, OH 45226