Wild Firefighters Get Okay for N95 Masks

Federal Wildland firefighters can now voluntarily use N95 masks against smoke, reversing a U.S. Forest Service long-standing policy banning the use of respirators to reduce exposure to toxins and carcinogens.
According to new guidance the agency posted, the Forest Service will provide N95 respirators in the standard set of equipment for workers on a fireline.
The posting acknowledged that the masks can “provide some level of protection against exposure to particulates in smoke.”
The agency had previously approved only bandanas for facial covering.
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OSHA appropriations in three competing FY2026 budget proposals diverge in funding levels, staffing, program priorities, and enforcement capacity, with potential consequences for workplace safety and worker protections nationwide, according to Ogletree Deakins.
The U.S. Senate FY 2026 proposal for OSHA would maintain the agency’s fiscal year (FY) 2025 funding and staffing, supporting robust enforcement, training, and state partnerships.
The U.S. House of Representatives’ and Trump administration’s proposals would reduce OSHA’s budget by nearly $50 million, cut 223 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions, and eliminate key training grants.
The House and administration emphasize deregulation and “efficiency,” resulting in diminished enforcement and outreach activities, according to Ogletree’s John Surma.
Separately, The National Safety Council has come out with a very positive statement for the Senate’s approval of the 2026 Labor HHS Appropriations Bill that had funding in it for OSHA and for NIOSH, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, according to the Federal News Network.
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Nationwide’s Grain Bin Safety program has awarded 450 grain rescue tubes to first responders across 36 states, equating to more than $2 million in resources.
With six rescues in 2024 alone, the initiative continues to demonstrate measurable results in preventing grain bin fatalities, the insurer said.
To raise awareness of these dangers and prevent tragic accidents in grain structures, Nationwide holds an annual contest in which it awards the grain bin rescue tube and training session to the winning fire department.
According to U.S. Wheat Associates, this year’s harvest of hard red winter wheat is nearly finished. The harvest of northern durum wheat is about 80% complete.
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A recent study by the Infrastructure Health and Safety Association said that “respirable silica exposure over time can lead to silicosis, a serious lung disease. Silica is present in concrete dust, making it essential to minimize worker exposure to these hazards.”
IHSA examined exposure levels during the following tasks: use of a hand grinder, chipping concrete, cutting concrete, sandblasting, shot blasting and mixing concrete.
Sandblasting (outside) had the highest exposure to respirable dust, at 16.9 milligrams per cubic meter. That’s more than five times the permissible exposure limit of 3 mgs per cubic meter.
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