How Cross Border Smoke Events Are Forcing Multinational Corporations to Rethink Air Quality Policy

Effective response plans combine filtration, monitoring, remote work and respiratory protection.

• By Mia Barnes
• Sep 17, 2026

Wildfires are a cross-border risk that can follow multinational corporations around. These public health threats can derail your international operations, diminishing the merits of expanding your organization’s global footprint.

The bad news is that such smoke events are likely to become more frequent and more intense due to climate change. The good news is that you can take positive steps to protect your employees by rethinking your company’s air quality policy.

Canadian Wildfires Are Affecting North America

In July 2026, wildfires ignited across Canada. Some might have started as isolated incidents, but they’ve evolved into cross-border emergencies that threaten public health. According to the Air Quality Index, a level of at least 51 may already be risky for sensitive individuals.

Wildfire smoke knows no boundaries and can travel thousands of miles to reach distant population centers in foreign countries, as has happened this wildfire season. The conflagrations have sent heavy smoke as far as Virginia, affecting air quality in at least 18 American states. Detroit, one of the closest major cities to Canada, recorded nearly 570 at one point, a warning of emergency conditions, endangering almost everyone’s health.

The Impact on the Workforce

The Canadian wildfires have affected the operations of many industries. Those with outdoor operations, such as manufacturing, construction, logistics and agriculture, are more prone to disruption.

Workers exposed to smoke may inhale particulate matter, carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds and other pollutants, causing a range of health problems. Common symptoms include shortness of breath, coughing, eye, nose and throat irritation and chest pain. Smoke inhalation can exacerbate the condition of people with preexisting asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and other respiratory ailments.

How Multinational Corporations Are Responding to Potential Smoke Events

Business leaders with foresight have improved their air quality policies to mitigate the effects of wildfire smoke when it blows toward their locations, no matter where they are. Here are four best practices.

Tightening the Building Envelope

Sustainable properties are big on natural ventilation, but they can be airtight when necessary. Sealing the building shell helps prevent uncontrolled air infiltration. A controlled ventilation system complements a tight building envelope by expelling stale indoor air while filtering out pollutants from incoming outside air, protecting the respiratory health of all occupants.

Using Higher-Rated Air Filters

Multinational corporations with wildfire-resilient air quality policies prioritize HVAC filters with a high Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) rating. Members of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers recommend choosing at least MERV 13 to reduce most wildfire smoke. You can also invest in gas filtration to minimize the smell even further.

Adopting Work-From-Home Arrangements

Remote work can be instrumental in protecting employee health in areas blanketed by wildfire smoke. Severe air pollution can be a travel hazard, so allowing team members to perform their tasks without going to the office makes a huge difference.

Proactive work-from-home arrangements can also boost employee morale. Such a policy demonstrates that the organization cares about its workers and is willing to adapt to health emergencies quickly to avoid needlessly endangering those who can do their jobs without leaving the house.

Providing N95 Masks

N95 respirators are effective personal protective equipment (PPE) for wildfire smoke. Distributing them to employees for voluntary use is a thoughtful gesture, promoting respiratory health while letting team members exercise their agency to wear as they see fit.

The respirator itself should not pose a hazard, according to OSHA 1910.134 App D. Review the equipment’s design elements and limitations with the wearer’s abilities and tasks in mind to balance safety and comfort.

Key Policy Considerations and Best Practices

Remember the following when developing your organization’s air quality policy:

• Regulatory compliance: Familiarize yourself with relevant laws and regulations to craft compliant policies.
• Baseline conditions: Install outdoor air quality sensors to understand normal conditions at your locations to have a reliable benchmark for pollution.
• Air quality monitoring: Review data regularly and keep current with wildfire-related news.
• PPE protocols: Teach employees how to properly wear respirators and stock up on N95 masks to distribute them immediately when necessary.

Building a Smoke-Resilient Workforce

The cross-border impact of smoke events reminds multinational corporations that severe air pollution can significantly disrupt normal operations indefinitely. With wisdom and foresight, organizations can develop more effective policies and adapt as the wind blows.