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Upcoming Classes and eLearning: CATALOG - SEE ALL TRAINING COURSES, Upcoming Open Learning Classes, Safety Meta World (Immersive Training)
By Type: Checklists, Guidebooks, Presentations, Quick Reference Cards, Safety Awareness Posters, Safety Videos, Templates, Toolbox Talks, 3rd Party Resources, Webinars
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Journey to OSSE Certification, Safety Needs Analysis | GAP Analysis, OSSE Continual Improvement Program, Safety Pinnacle Awards, OSSE/COR Audit Tools, OSSE/COR Hall of Fame, OSSE/COR News, OSSE/COR Reference Materials, Certified OSSE/COR External Auditors, Certified OSSE External Auditor Training, OSSE/COR Internal Auditor Training
Wildfire Safety
Wildfires are a very real risk in British Columbia, especially between April and October during wildfire season. They can spread quickly, particularly in hot, dry conditions. In addition to their potential to destroy wildlife habitats, forests, and watersheds, wildfires can level community infrastructure, homes, and business properties and damage cultural and economic resources. Additionally, wildfires increase the potential for flooding, debris flows, and landslides—and wildfire smoke can also cause significant health problems.
Plan now to help protect your people—and your business—from the destructive impact of wildfires.
We have compiled a number of resources to support businesses impacted by, or at risk from wildfires in the region.
If you need specific health and safety support to prepare for a disaster situation, or to recover and rebuild, please call our safety advisors at 1-604-795-9595.
Basic Training
Course
Explore response to emergency situations that can be encountered in manufacturing. Gain a basic understanding of what to anticipate and expect when responding to an emergency. Available in English, Spanish, Punjabi, Mandarin, and Cantonese.
Videos & Webinars
Wildfire Safety Resources and Tools
Under the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation — specifically sections 4.13 through 4.16 and Part 32 on emergency preparedness, response, evacuation, and rescue — all employers are expected to plan, prepare, and train their employees for all emergencies.
This WorkSafeBC publication outlines responses to frequently asked questions from employers during the wildfire season. This information is provided to help you understand the hazards associated with exposure to smoke, and to outline some measures you can implement to minimize worker exposures.
This WorkSafeBC document on wildfires provides an overview of employer obligations related to emergency response planning, as well as ways to reduce exposure to wildfire smoke for indoor and outdoor workers. The document also contains links to several key WorkSafeBC resources related to wildfires.
Learn about B.C. wildfires, preparing for an emergency, air quality, food and water safety, evacuation information, and more.
A map to identify the status of the various wildfires currently in B.C.
BC Wildfire Service provides an up-to-date information on the current wildfire situation in B.C.—including evacuation orders and alerts and road closures. It also offers resources to help prevent, prepare, respond, and recover from a wildfire.
Website
The BC FireSmart Committee is a group comprised of various agencies working together collaboratively to maintain and improve the delivery of the FireSmart BC program to better support wildfire preparedness, prevention and mitigation in BC. The FireSmart program is backed by a vast amount of field, laboratory and wildfire modelling research. Its methods help reduce […]
Website
EmergencyInfoBC is active during partial and full-scale provincial emergencies. They share official response and recovery sources, as well as verified event information from trusted partners.
Website
This map is overseen by EmergencyInfoBC and serves as a general reference for current public safety conditions during emergencies.
Website
Up-to-date information on driving conditions, road closures, and other road conditions in British Columbia.
Smoke, evacuations, loss, worry—BC’s floods and wildfires affect us all. If you are feeling stressed or anxious, you are not alone.
After a disaster, the provincial government may declare the event eligible for Disaster Financial Assistance (DFA). Once declared, the DFA program may compensate applicants for essential uninsurable losses.
Planning and preparing for emergencies and natural disasters can be hard. A support network lets two or more people help each other in an emergency.
Supports for businesses impacted by disasters are available from the federal and provincial governments, community organizations and the private sector.
During this difficult time, there are several resources available to business owners to help with managing the day-to-day situation.
A Q&A with the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development Fair, Safe and Healthy Workplaces Division Outdoor Air Quality Concerns
Having to flee your home, leave animals or possessions behind and relocating can cause distress, fear and anxiety for you and your loved ones.
Website
Following an emergency or disaster, a person may experience a range of thoughts, feelings and behaviour that can be intense, confusing and frightening.
Website
This study provides a review of academic and technical literature about the effectiveness of do-it-yourself (DIY) air purifiers. Results from these sources indicate that DIY air cleaners/purifiers performed similarly to commercial portable air cleaners in terms of clean air delivery rate (CADR) and energy efficiency under controlled conditions. However, DIY devices were much more cost […]
Do you have an emergency response plan to evacuate due to the risk of a wildfire or flood? Use this checklist to build your plan.
After a disaster, the provincial government may declare the event eligible for Disaster Financial Assistance (DFA). Once declared, the DFA program may compensate applicants for essential uninsurable losses.
Flood workers should be warned that when the seemingly endless rain tapers off and the flood waters recede, they will continue to face a number of hazards associated with cleanup activities.
This resource provides a daily update on the Air Quality Health Index for locations across B.C.
It is natural to feel stress, anxiety, grief, and worry during and after a disaster.
Quick Reference Card
Wildfire smoke contains pollutants including fine particulates (PM), carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds that travel deep into your lungs when you inhale. These particles can cause adverse health effects until the air quality improves. Symptoms Most symptoms from smoke exposure can be managed without medical attention including: Sore throat Eye irritation Runny […]
This resource from WorkSafeBC lists items that employers who operate in remote locations should consider as part of an Emergency Evacuation Plan.
News & Blog Articles
Support for members in wildfire-affected areas | Health and safety contacts, support, and resources
August 18, 2023
Our hearts are with our members in the Okanagan as you keep watch on the fires in and around West Kelowna, north Kelowna, and Keremeos—and 386 active wildfires around the province today. As your partner in health and safety, we...
Support for Wildfire Evacuees and Emergency Response
July 29, 2024
With wildfires impacting some of our British Columbia members once again, it is important to be able to support employees with information and advice. That is particularly critical when our businesses or employees are facing evacuation. Please do not hesitate...
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