Dear Colleagues,

As we enter peak wildfire season, I want to make sure each and every supervisor is prepared.

We are counting on you to know your role in the event of a wildfire emergency, including impacts from smoke.

Determine now which of your direct reports are designated (or non-designated) employees to serve if your campus’s operating status changes. Talk about it with your teams so there are no surprises when the next emergency happens. And understand that an employee’s designation may change depending on the duration of the incident.

There is a new UC Davis policy that applies to both the Davis and Sacramento campuses and is intended to guide decisions during such an event. And the UC Office of the President recently published a decision matrix that provides additional guidelines.

Other important changes during wildfire smoke and windy conditions to plan for:

• CalOSHA established new standards for when employers must provide respirators during smoke events when outdoor workers are exposed to an Air Quality Index of 150 or higher. The new standards provide temporary exceptions to fit-testing and medical evaluation.
• PG&E may conduct public safety power shutoffs based on weather conditions and low humidity. We’ve prepared guidelines to help departments plan for three potential scenarios.

Safety is a shared responsibility at UC Davis and we need your leadership to ensure our folks are informed and well prepared.

And because we value your safety and that of your family, I encourage you to take a look at the materials PG&E has posted to help each of us prepare for power outages and wildfire at home.

Thanks,

Kelly Ratliff
Vice Chancellor
Finance, Operations and Administration