LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – As wildfire smoke from Mexico is forecasted to intensify in the Las Vegas Valley Tuesday, outdoor workers will be forced to breathe it. However, earlier this month state lawmakers passed a law requiring Nevada employers offer workers more protections from unhealthy air.
“The smoke from wildfires contains particle pollutants that are harmful to our health. They get into our lungs and our bloodstream and can cause long term health effects,” explained Jackie Spicer with the Nevada Environmental Justice Coalition during a town hall on worker rights.
S.B.260, signed into law by Governor Joe Lombardo this month, was touted as a significant step towards protecting Nevada’s outdoor workers from the health risks associated with wildfire smoke exposure. It mandates employers ensure worker safety during periods of poor air quality caused by wildfires.
“In Nevada, wildfires are becoming more frequent, more severe and lasting longer. Due to hotter temperatures and the dry climate that we have in the West,” Spicer reported.
Monday, as a blanket of smoke covered the Vegas Valley, the new wildfire smoke regulations to be enforced by Nevada OSHA are being created. By law, employers will have to monitor air quality and limit work during dangerous smoke conditions. Employees also must be allowed to report poor air quality and if they start to feel sick. When the air quality index reaches certain level, employers must stop some work altogether.
The law also mandates training for outdoor employees about wildfire smoke risks and the danger of not using PPE. Much of the law went into effect immediately upon the governor’s signature earlier this month. The rest takes effect January 1, 2026.
There are exemptions to the new law. The requirements do not apply to operators of mines, commercial truck drivers, emergency service providers nor employers with 10 or fewer employees.
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