Air Quality Event Report: A guide to how organizations are planning, preparing, and responding to events

As we face another summer and fall of wildfires, we again have the risk of air quality events.

Last year the California Resiliency Alliance and BRMA teamed up on a survey to look at this topic in California. In total, we received over 100 responses from the public and private sectors.

As the risk of air quality events increases, and they become a recognized hazard, more attention and planning will be required.

The goal of the report is to increase the understanding of the impacts of air quality events and how others are managing them; thereby, supporting organizations in their planning and preparedness efforts.

Report sections address:

• The Air Quality Index (AQI)
• The Effects of Air Quality Events on People and Organizations
• Planning for Air Quality Events
• Protecting Employees / Reducing Exposure
• Minimizing Business Impacts
• Monitoring Air Quality Levels
• Information Sharing
• Respondents’ Planning Assumptions
• Employee Opinions of what Employers Should Do
• Additional Concerns About Air Quality Events

Three appendices include respirator usage, AQI considerations, and a collection of resources.

This report has been made possible through a partnership between the California Resiliency Alliance and BRMA.