Fox Corporation has established a Wildfire Smoke Protection policy, to be used in response to observed hazardous conditions of wildfire smoke air quality and the health and safety of our employees.
1.0 SCOPE
This Procedure applies to Fox Corporation (FOX) activities where Employees may be exposed to wildfire smoke and when the current Air Quality Index (current AQI) for airborne particulate matter 2.5 micrometers or smaller (PM2.5) is 151 or greater (but does not exceed 500) regardless of the AQI for other pollutants.
The following operations are exempt from this section:
- Enclosed buildings or structures in which the air is filtered by a mechanical ventilation system and the employer ensures that windows, doors, bays, and other openings are kept closed to minimize contamination by outdoor or unfiltered air.
- Enclosed vehicles in which the air is filtered by a cabin air filter and the employer ensures that windows, doors, and other openings are kept closed to minimize contamination by outdoor or unfiltered air.
- FOX demonstrates that the concentration of PM2.5 in the air does not exceed a concentration that corresponds to a current AQI of 151 or greater by measuring PM2.5 levels at the worksite in accordance with Appendix A.
- Employees exposed to a current AQI for PM2.5 of 151 or greater for a total of one hour or less during a shift.
2.0 Definitions
Current Air Quality Index (Current AQI):
The method used by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) to report air quality on a real-time basis. Current AQI is also referred to as the “NowCast,” and represents data collected over time periods of varying length to reflect present conditions as accurately as possible.
The current AQI is divided into six categories as shown in the table below, adapted from Table 2 of Title 40 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 58, Appendix G.
| Air Quality Index (AQI) | |
| Categories for PM2.5 | Levels of Health Concern |
| 0 to 50 | Good |
| 51 to 100 | Moderate |
| 101 to 150 | Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups |
| 151 to 200 | Unhealthy |
| 201 to 300 | Very Unhealthy |
| 301 to 500 | Hazardous |
NIOSH:
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. NIOSH tests and approves respirators for use in the workplace.
PM2.5:
Solid particles and liquid droplets suspended in air, known as particulate matter, with an aerodynamic diameter of 2.5 micrometers or smaller.
Wildfire Smoke:
Emissions from fires in “wildlands,” as defined in Title 8, section 3402, or in adjacent developed areas.
3.0 Responsibilities
In addition to required Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) Programs, the responsibilities described below are necessary to ensure the effectiveness of the procedure.
3.1 Department Heads and Supervisory Personnel
Affected Department Heads will be responsible for ensuring the implementation of wildfire smoke prevention procedure when the current air quality index (current AQI) for PM2.5 is 151 or greater regardless of the AQI for other pollutants.
Department Heads will communicate the current AQI at the start of each workday where the current AQI for PM2.5 is above or projected to be over 151 to their teams and ensure that all personnel are adhering to the established EHS guidelines.
3.2 Employees
All FOX employees will adhere to wildfire smoke prevention controls as directed by their Department Heads and as specified in this procedure.
3.3 Environmental, Health and Safety Department
The EHS Department will set up automatic notifications to Department Heads to follow the procedure. Department Heads will notifying their employees of the current AQI at the start of each workday where the potential exists for the current AQI for PM2.5 is above or projected to be over 151.
4.0 Procedure
It is the responsibility of individual Department Heads to ensure appropriate actions are taken in the event that the current AQI exceeds 151 of 2.5 particulate matter (but does not exceed 500).
4.1 Identification of Harmful Exposures
FOX’s EHS Team will partner with the Global Security Operations Center (GSOC) to monitor the AQI and send communication to Department Heads, who will provide the data to their Employees.
The GSOC will monitor AQI forecasts and the current AQI for PM2.5 from local air pollution control district websites, or local air quality management district websites and report to FOX employees at designated intervals during wildfire events.
4.2 Communication
FOX has established and implemented a system for communicating wildfire smoke hazards in a form readily understandable by all affected employees. The system includes informing the employees of:
The current AQI for PM2.5. The GSOC will monitor the air quality daily and send out communication to each Department Head when the potential exists for the current AQI to exceed the 151 AQI threshold for PM2.5.
Protective measures are available to FOX employees including administrative and engineering controls when workers are exposed to harmful air pollutants. It is our utmost priority to reduce the exposure of wildfire smoke inhalation.
FOX EHS encourages employees to inform their Department Heads or EHS Team of worsening wildfire smoke conditions; or if they start to experience symptoms due to a direct result of working outside while exposed to wildfire smoke. Symptoms may include asthma attacks, difficulty breathing and chest pain.
4.3 Training and Instruction
Training is provided to all employees who may need to work outdoors during a wildfire for an extended period of time. This training covers information in correlation with Appendix B.
4.4 Control of Harmful Exposures to Employees
4.4.1 Engineering Controls:
To reduce employee exposure time to PM2.5 to less than a current AQI of 151, all outside work will be redirected inside enclosed buildings, structures, or vehicles where air is filtered, if possible. If departments are unable to redirect work inside to reduce employee exposure to PM2.5 to less than a current AQI of 151, then administrative controls must be followed.
4.4.2 Administrative Controls:
- Work will be relocated to a workspace where the current AQI for PM2.5 is lower than 151.
- Department Heads will rearrange work schedules to prevent/reduce workers time outdoors.
- Department Heads will reduce the work intensity when workers are working outdoors.
- Department Heads will ensure that workers take an additional break after every hour of work outdoors.
4.5 Control by Respiratory Protective Equipment
4.5.1 Voluntary Respirator Use
Where the current AQI for PM2.5 is equal to or greater than 151 FOX Department Heads will have respirators available to all employees for voluntary use and encourage employees to use respirators. Prior to providing respirators, FOX employees will voluntarily request a respirator using FOX’s voluntary respirator request form. Prior to being issued a respirator, FOX employees will receive training on NIOSH approved respirators. Training will include how to properly put on, use, and maintain the respirators.
Respirators will be NIOSH-approved devices that effectively protect the wearers from inhalation of PM2.5, such as N95 filtering facepiece respirators. Respirators shall be cleaned, stored, maintained, and replaced so that they do not present a health hazard to users. FOX shall use Appendix B of this policy in lieu of Appendix D for training regarding voluntary use of respirators.
Where the current AQI for PM2.5 exceeds 500, respirator use is required. FOX will cease outside operations for non-essential production if current AQI is 500 or greater.
5.0 REFERENCES
None.