Working in Smoke

[data farm 26]

According to this map there are many fires burning in N. Amer right now. I'm definitely in a lot of smoke myself.

Wildfire smoke map: Track fires and red flag warnings across the US

Track the latest wildfire and smoke information with data that is updated hourly based upon input from several incident and intelligence sources.

data.usatoday.com

Obviously there is a big spectrum of potential smokiness, but generally speaking, do you work in the smoke or wait for clean air?

 

[Serf Life]

Depends on bills... Joking to a point

 

[southsoundtree]

Respirators are your friend.

 

[flushcut]

Smoke is everywhere here just keep on keeping on.

 

[evo]

Weight it out just like rain or wind. If it’s stupid bad we will bag it, but if there is no end in sight might give it a run.
More breaks and a chiller pace

 

[data farm 26]

Weight it out just like rain or wind. If it’s stupid bad we will bag it, but if there is no end in sight might give it a run.
More breaks and a chiller pace

That's pretty much what I do. I'm just waiting it out. I can't stand working with a mask on if I don't have to!

 

[Bart_]

If we send forest fire smoke across Canada, down across Ontario, down into the states, and then the weather pattern sends the smoke back up into Ontario, does that mean I'm breathing second hand smoke?

ba dump bump!

 

[Chris Schultz]

I’d go broke this season if I waited for the smoke to clear…

 

[Brando CalPankian]

Yeah we couldn't wait. Starts little earlier and quit earlier. Smoke and heat makes for a shitty day. Schedule more labor intensive jobs out a bit and grab low hanging fruit till it passes. Keep an eye on your guys too. We cut down hours quite a bit just to stay healthy.

 

[Serf Life]

Keep an eye on your guys too. We cut down hours quite a bit just to stay healthy.

Everyone gets hit different, and good employers actually take notice vs projecting how they "dealt with it for years" etc.
I have lower blood pressure and can tolerate some conditions better, but have zero body fat and do worse elsewhere. Helped a friend out a week ago in modest heat, after a few hrs his face was crazy puffy/red and noticeably worse for wear as his wife said was common. Working in cold Fall drizzle he is fine and I'm shivering, prone to pull a muscle.
Smoke's a bit different than other situations though; some folks can work though the poor air quality, but all damage lungs.

 

[southsoundtree]

That's pretty much what I do. I'm just waiting it out. I can't stand working with a mask on if I don't have to!

I can wear a vented cartridge respitator much easier and effectively than a vented mask that fogs glasses.

Yesterday, I was shortening a snag. Didn't breathe any dust.

 

[southsoundtree]

If you're vision is too obstructed, consider removing the cartridge on your good vision side.

 

[Matias]

They now make p100 cartridge respirators with smaller cartridges too. My boss had these and they work great. I'll check what brand on Monday.

 

[Muggs]

Storm Trooper

 

[Matias]

It's pretty sweet to not smell or taste, and of course inhale the brown cloud of powdered wood that spews from every orifice on the chipper when we send through all these rotten logs. That day it was like a dense fog around the whole chipper, so thick I couldn't see 6" in front of me.

 

[Muggs]

In the 90's I did paving stone. We used to cut all those retaining wall stones with the concrete saw without masks or anything. We died like men.

 

[Chris Schultz]

It's pretty sweet to not smell or taste, and of course inhale the brown cloud of powdered wood that spews from every orifice on the chipper when we send through all these rotten logs. That day it was like a dense fog around the whole chipper, so thick I couldn't see 6" in front of me.

Been there…. The crusty boogers after those jobs are rowdy.

 

[Matias]

In the 90's I did paving stone. We used to cut all those retaining wall stones with the concrete saw without masks or anything. We died like men.

I guess it's true:
You either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain

 

[southsoundtree]

It's pretty sweet to not smell or taste, and of course inhale the brown cloud of powdered wood that spews from every orifice on the chipper when we send through all these rotten logs. That day it was like a dense fog around the whole chipper, so thick I couldn't see 6" in front of me.

I'm very interested in those low-profile respirators.



If possible, consider a misting system for days like that. I've heard of people spraying a mist in to the infeed. Maybe an sprinkler on a stick spraying across the infeed. Add some y-splitters and add mist/ spray in more areas.


In heat, misting areas near the worksite gives the whole area a cooling effect, and a place for workers to cool down.

 

[Matias]

I'm very interested in those low-profile respirators.



If possible, consider a misting system for days like that. I've heard of people spraying a mist in to the infeed. Maybe an sprinkler on a stick spraying across the infeed. Add some y-splitters and add mist/ spray in more areas.


In heat, misting areas near the worksite gives the whole area a cooling effect, and a place for workers to cool down.

I will suggest it, since we also have to have a water tender for these jobs