Wildfires. The word has struck fear into the hearts of small and midsize rural communities for generations. Now, thanks to smoke blanketing parts of North America, urban America and the corporations headquartered there are beginning to understand themselves as vulnerable, too. Last week, East Coast cities from New York to Toronto and Montreal saw air quality rapidly decline to some of the worst in the world as smoke from wildfires in Canada drifts south. This means the conversation in Corporate America has moved beyond indoor air circulation or filtration, to encompass outdoor air quality as well.
Is Your Company Prepared for the Effects of Wildfires?
What companies can do now to address poor air quality and other health concerns of climate-related disasters.
June 13, 2023
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Summary.
Today’s wildfires and smoke can travel hundreds of miles, blurring the lines between what happens within and outside the workplace when it comes to workforce health. Now is the time for employers to develop a plan to get ahead of this and other climate change-driven health issues. The author recommends taking six actions: 1) Connect global wildfires to local health; 2) Collect and assess air quality data, developing thresholds for workforce advisories; 3) Identify the key stakeholders in your corporate response team and activate your command center; 4) Identify when to take action for outdoor workers; 5) Identify how to support indoor office employees; and 6) Develop communication and education plans for your employees.