Work Health and Safety Alert and Advice Smoke Haze - Bushfires and Air Quality

Bushfire smoke contains a mixture of gases and very fine particles that can be hazardous to health.

Those most at risk are firefighters and outdoor workers.

The short-term health hazards include making asthma and chronic bronchitis/emphysema worse. People who suffer from chronic bronchitis/emphysema or heart conditions are at an increased risk and should take additional precautions, including staying indoors.

Asthmatics may need to use their medications more often.

Air quality is measured using an Air Quality Index (AQI). The AQI combines the measures of ozone, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, particles PM10 and PM2.5 and visibility into a rating of air quality. PM2.5 is the smallest and usually most harmful particle.

An AQI less than 50 indicates that the air quality is good. At this low level, a person can spend time outdoors and air pollution will pose very little risk to their health. As the AQI number increases, so does the risk to human health.

Air Quality 
Index Levels
of Health      Numerical
Concern        Value       Meanng
Meaning                 
Fair 	       67 to 99    Sensitive groups: plan strenuous outdoor activities 
                           when air quality is better.
Poor           100 to 149  The general public is not likely to be affected.
			   Sensitive groups cut back or reschedule strenuous 
                           outdoor activities.
Very poor      150 to 199  Everyone cut back or reschedule strenuous outdoor 
                           activities.
			   Sensitive groups should not be doing strenuous 
                           outdoor activities.
Hazardous      200+        Sensitive groups avoid all outdoor physical activities.
                           Everyone significantly cut back on outdoor physical 
                           activities

The EPA or Health department in states and jurisdictions publishes air quality information regularly.

People most at risk from particle pollution exposure include those with heart or lung disease (including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease-COPD), older adults, and children.

Research indicates that pregnant women, newborns, and people with certain health conditions, such as obesity or diabetes, also may be more susceptible to Particulate Matter (PM)-related effects.

When the AQI is above 200 it is likely that even healthy people may experience eye, throat and nose irritation, coughing, chest tightness and shortness of breath.

Exposure needs to be avoided by staying indoors with windows closed and running an air conditioner, keeping activity levels low and avoiding activities that make you breathe faster and deeper.

The steps needed to minimise exposure include: