Carson City, NV — A new law in Nevada provides outdoor workers with protections against wildfire smoke.
Signed by Gov. Joe Lombardo (R) on June 10, S.B. 260 directs the state’s Division of Industrial Relations to establish – by Jan. 1 – regulations requiring employers to take certain measures when the Air Quality Index is between 150 and 199 and take further steps when the AQI reaches 200 or higher. DIR must also establish an AQI level at which employers are prohibited from allowing workers to perform “critical tasks” outdoors.
The law also directs the DIR administrator to establish regulations on the implementation of a communications system and worker training. Employer communications systems must:
- Inform workers when they’re exposed to poor air quality.
- Enable workers to report poor air quality and symptoms related to wildfire smoke exposure.
Employers also must provide training “in a manner that is understandable to the employee,” as well as describe the risks of not using personal protective equipment when the air quality is poor because of wildfire smoke.
The law doesn’t apply to mine operators or employers who employ commercial truck drivers, provide emergency services or have fewer than 10 workers.
