Free Workshop Aims to Help Employers Protect Workers from Heat and Wildfire Smoke
The workshop will help employers prepare for heat and smoke hazards, offering expert guidance and practical safety strategies for outdoor workers.
- By Stasia DeMarco
- May 07, 2025
With hotter and drier-than-usual conditions expected across the West Coast this summer, the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) is hosting a free workshop to help employers prepare for rising risks tied to extreme heat and wildfire smoke.
The event will be held on Thursday, May 29, from 9 a.m. to noon at L&I’s Tukwila office, located at 12806 Gateway Drive South.
Designed for employers, safety managers, and others responsible for outdoor workers, the workshop will provide practical guidance on how to prevent heat-related illness and respond to wildfire smoke hazards in the workplace. Attendees will also learn when respiratory protection is required and review applicable workplace safety regulations.
Certified consultants Drew Fullmer and Timothy Banning from L&I’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) will lead the session. Both bring years of field experience—Fullmer in industrial hygiene and compliance and Banning with a background in commercial roofing and safety consulting.
In addition to presentations, the workshop will offer opportunities for participants to ask questions and share strategies tailored to their specific industries. Whether attendees are starting a heat safety plan or looking to improve existing protocols, the session is intended to provide actionable insights.
More information: Outdoor heat exposure & wildfire smoke workshop, Thursday, May 29, 2025, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. - Workshops and Training Center
About the Author
Stasia DeMarco brings a strong and varied journalism background to her role at Occupational Health & Safety, having previously served as a multimedia editor, broadcast journalist, professor and reviewer across major news organizations. As Content Editor, she writes news and feature articles, hosts sponsor and editorial webinars, co-hosts the SafetyPod worker health and safety podcast, and manages the brand’s digital and social media presence. She is committed to informing and engaging the safety community through compelling reporting and conversations that support safer, healthier workplaces.