Wildfire Smoke Is a Workplace Hazard. Don’t Ignore It.

The SMART-TD union published the best article about the hazard of wildfire smoke so far. I copied and edited it for CTA workers below.

Across much of the Midwest and Eastern part of the country, wildfire smoke is creating dangerous air quality conditions that are affecting millions of people. For CTA workers on trains, shops, the tracks, in yards, on the ground, or anywhere outdoors, this isn’t just another weather event. It’s a workplace hazard.

Wildfire Smoke Is More Than an Inconvenience

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has warned employers that wildfire smoke can present serious health risks for outdoor workers and has urged employers to have plans in place to protect employees when air quality deteriorates.

OSHA recommends monitoring air quality through the EPA’s AirNow system, reducing strenuous work when conditions worsen, providing breaks in cleaner air whenever possible, and allowing the voluntary use of appropriate NIOSH-approved respirators when needed. Those aren’t suggestions to be ignored. They are recognized safety practices designed to keep all American workers healthy.

CTA workers know the job doesn’t stop just because the sky turns hazy. Trains and buses still move. Customers still expect service. But no train, no bus, no terminal, and no operating plan is more important than your health.

Know the Warning Signs

Wildfire smoke contains microscopic particles that can travel deep into the lungs and even enter the bloodstream. Exposure can cause coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, dizziness, eye irritation, headaches, unusual fatigue, and difficulty breathing. For members with asthma, heart disease, or other respiratory conditions, the risks can be even greater.

Protect Yourself and Keep Your Union Informed

If you begin experiencing symptoms that affect your ability to safely perform your job, notify your supervisor immediately. If conditions continue to worsen or you have trouble breathing, move to cleaner air as soon as it is safe to do so and seek medical attention if necessary. Your health is not something to gamble with.

Just as importantly, let a trusted union official know.

Union officers and stewards cannot challenge unsafe practices that we never hear about. If CTA mismanagement requires our brothers and sisters to work in hazardous smoke without providing guidance or reasonable protective measures, we need to know. If you are instructed to continue working despite symptoms or unsafe conditions, document what happened and report it.

When reporting wildfire smoke concerns, keep a record of:

    •    The date, time, and location.
    •    The Air Quality Index (AQI) for your work area.
    •    Any symptoms you experienced.
    •    Who you notified.
    •    Any instructions you were given by management.

It is not hard to get the AQI for your work area. Just put in the zip code into the search field of this OSHA provided website.

That information can make all the difference if we need to pursue the issue with your carrier or with federal regulators. We are not the canary in the mineshaft. We can’t let ourselves and our coworkers be treated like we are.

Unions Should Calls For Accountability

Unfortunately, this is not the first time that this situation has happened. In the Summer of 2023, massive wildfires in Canada created many of the same concerns. Following the situation in 2023, OSHA instructed employers to come up with mitigation plans for moments exactly like what is happening today.

Various unions like SMART-TD is also encouraging our State Legislative Directors and Legislative Representatives of their Locals to request each employers' guidance for operating during wildfire smoke events. This is a good opportunity to make sure they followed OSHA’s mandate for one thing, but it also puts the employers on notice that we have no intention of allowing them to push our brothers and sisters beyond federal regulations under our current air safety conditions.

CTA workers deserve to know what standards their carrier is following before they are placed in hazardous conditions, not after.

Remember, various laws employees who report workplace safety concerns or work-related illnesses in good faith. No employee should face retaliation for raising legitimate health and safety issues. If you believe you are receiving pushback for reporting hazardous conditions or protecting your health, contact your trusted union officer or steward. OSHA is not only the federal agency protecting workers from the known dangers of working in smoke and smog, but, it is also the same agency that handles Whistleblower cases.

You Have the Right to Speak Up

As railroaders, we take pride in getting the job done. That’s part of who we are. But professionalism does not mean ignoring hazards that threaten your health.

Pay attention to changing air quality conditions. Watch for symptoms. Speak up when something isn’t right. Keep your union informed.

Most importantly, remember this: there will always be another train to move. We don’t want anyone risking their health and well-being to prove a point, or to make a manager look good on tomorrow’s conference call.

Copied and slightly edited with credit: SMART-union.org

The Amalgamated Transit Union published a similar notice on Facebook.