Health & Safety
Outdoor Air Quality
Purpose
Carleton College will follow the procedures in this program to limit exposure to air pollution for faculty, staff, and students.
Exposure
Pollutants can come from a variety of sources, however in our region, the primary source is wildfires. Wildfire smoke is a mixture of gases and fine particles from burning trees and other plant material. The gasses and fine particles can be dangerous if inhaled. Smoke can irritate eyes and the respiratory system, and worsen chronic heart and lung diseases, potentially causing acute and chronic health effects. The amount and length of smoke exposure, as well as a person’s age and degree of susceptibility, play a role in determining if someone will experience smoke-related health problems. Employees experiencing serious medical problems for any reason, should seek medical attention immediately.
Determining Exposure
Air Quality is described using the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Air Quality Index (AQI) published by US AirNow system. The US Fire and Smoke Maps provide the Air Quality Index (AQI) by location and provide a range of air quality from good to hazardous. The AQI is a single number, presented on a scale of 0–500, where 0 indicates no air quality problems and 500 indicates the most hazardous levels of air pollution.
Air Quality Index (AQI) – Categories for PM2.5 |
||
|---|---|---|
| Index Value | Air Quality | Air Quality Description |
| 0 to 50 | Good | Air quality is satisfactory, and air pollution poses little or no risk. |
| 51 to 100 | Moderate | Air quality is acceptable. However, there may be a risk for some people, particularly those who are unusually sensitive to air pollution. |
| 101 to 150 | Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups | Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is less likely to be affected. |
| 151 to 200 | Unhealthy | Some members of the general public may experience health effects; members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects. |
| 201 to 300 | Very Unhealthy | Health alert: The risk of health effects is increased for everyone. |
| 301 to 500 | Hazardous | Health warning of emergency conditions: everyone is more likely to be affected. |
Communication
When AQI concerns exist, department managers will communicate the current average AQI readings and wildfire smoke hazards to affected employees via one of the following options: email, text messages, phone calls, radio communication. These communications serve as a means of directing employees to apply safeguards and controls to protect themselves from wildfire smoke hazards. Employees are also encouraged to monitor the air quality index and report any changes to their manager.
When AQI threshold reaches 201, Security Services will alert the college community of the emergency resulting from wildfire smoke or other pollutants.
Exposure Control Measures
When wildfire smoke creates hazardous conditions, Carleton has implemented the following safety protocols. These ratings may vary based on conditions or individual circumstances. Employees should inform their supervisor immediately if they are concerned about the outdoor air quality or if they experience any symptoms.
When the AQI is 101 or greater:
- Ensure windows and other building openings such as loading docks and bays are kept closed to reduce overall smoke exposure inside.
- Operate heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems in the re-circulate setting or temporarily reduce the amount of outdoor air supplied to the building.
- Employees should take breaks indoors.
- Evaluate alternate sleeping arrangements for students without sufficient ventilation.
In addition to control measures listed above, when the AQI is 151 or greater:
- Prolonged outdoor exposure and heavy exertion should be avoided. Avoid all outdoor physical activity for sensitive individuals.
- If possible, outside work tasks, activities, and events should be relocated or rescheduled to smoke-free or less smoky areas or times of the day.
- Levels of physical activity should be reduced, when possible, especially strenuous activities.
- Employees should work with their supervisor to identify indoor work duties or other work that reduces exposure to smoke.
- Employees may elect to use a NIOSH Approved® filtering facepiece respirator (FFR), like an N95® respirator. When respirators are used on a voluntary basis in an occupational setting, employees should follow the requirements for the use of respirators.
- The AQI should be reviewed at least every four hours.
When the AQI is 201 or greater:
- Whenever possible, outdoor activities should be canceled.
- Security Services should be informed.
Indoor control measures
College buildings that use heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems to filter indoor air typically remove up to 90% of harmful pollutants in wildfire smoke.
In naturally ventilated buildings (buildings without mechanical HVAC systems), the indoor temperatures may rise due to windows being closed. For indoor air quality Carleton has air cleaners equipped with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter or electrostatic precipitators.
Missed work due to wildfire smoke
In the absence of indoor work, employees may request to use weather days, sick leave, ESST, or other accruals to cover missed hours.
The following workplaces are exempt from these rules:
- Enclosed buildings and structures in which air is filtered by a mechanical ventilation system.
- Enclosed vehicles in which the air is filtered by a cabin air filter.
- When Carleton predetermines those operations will be suspended to prevent employee exposure.
- Employees exposed for 1 hour or less of work time per day.
- Working remotely.
This program will be reviewed and updated as needed.
Maintained by: Human Resources