Wildfires are a natural part of the ecosystem in the United States, but in many areas, our cumulative risk management choices over the last century have contributed to crisis conditions that make fires more severe and far-reaching. On the front lines of wildfire response are wildland firefighters, who do arduous work under difficult conditions, frequently in remote locations.

Construction companies are primarily small businesses, and many do not have access to occupational hygiene data or expertise. The Silica Control Tool, developed by the British Columbia Construction Safety Alliance, uses a database of respirable crystalline silica exposure measurements from construction work sites to help employers generate RCS exposure estimates for their work activities and environments.

OSHA’s recordkeeping requirements and workers’ compensation involve two distinct bodies of laws and regulations. Recordable injuries or illnesses are those that employers are legally required to document via OSHA forms 300, 300A, and 301. For most employers, workers’ compensation is regulated by state law. An injury or illness may be OSHA recordable but not be accepted as compensable.