Over a year ago, the town of Jasper became the latest Alberta community to suffer from the destructive impact of a major wildfire. Sadly, it is unlikely to be the last. As wildfire seasons grow longer and more intense, the construction industry must increasingly contend not only with the threat of flames, but also with the pervasive impact of wildfire smoke on worker health, productivity, and project timelines.
The Alberta Construction Association (ACA) recognises that construction sites can face unique risks during wildfire events—from evacuation logistics and equipment loss to air quality concerns that can jeopardise worker safety. In response, ACA has developed a Construction Wildfire Preparation and Emergency Response Information Sheet to help members prepare for, respond to, and recover from wildfire-related emergencies.
This new resource was developed with the support of ACA’s dedicated Workforce and Safety Committee specifically for construction operations. It provides practical steps that site managers, contractors, and crews can take to safeguard their people and assets during fire season. Topics include:
- Preparing your job site for evacuation.
- Creating a go bag and travel preparations.
- Supporting worker safety in poor air quality; andÂ
- Links to trusted government and non-government sites.
This is by no means an exhaustive list, but rather, suggestions you may want to consider.
As Alberta continues to experience dry, hot summers and an escalating number of wildfire alerts, proactive preparation is essential. Our goal is to equip members with an understanding of tools to consider in making informed decisions to protect both workers and worksites.
We encourage all ACA members, regardless of project size or location, to review the wildfire resource and incorporate it into their site safety planning. Preparing today could make all the difference tomorrow.