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This article covers general respirator use. Workers performing wildfire cleanup or wearing respirators for other purposes should follow their employers’ policies under OSHA’s respiratory protection standard or other applicable standards.

For a respirator to provide protection, it must form a tight seal around the mouth and nose. Facial hair doesn’t allow a tight fit, so wearers should be clean-shaven. Respirators can increase risk for other medical conditions because it is more difficult to breathe through them. If you feel dizzy, lightheaded or nauseous, first tell someone, then go to a less smoky area, remove your respirator and seek medical attention.

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The Vienna Convention has little definition and standardization for unique regulation signs. Most signing countries will utilize a rectangular shape with a blue or light background color and varying text colors. These signs will regulate the types of vehicles allowed in certain areas, note the start and end of any urban areas, and note any change to the type of road used.

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Inhaling these particles can cause a range of health effects, from irritation of the lungs and throat to more serious conditions such as bronchitis, worsening of existing asthma and heart failure. Exposure to high concentrations of particulates can cause persistent cough, phlegm, wheezing and difficulty breathing. Children, pregnant women and the elderly are especially vulnerable to smoke exposure, as are people with cardiovascular disease.

Prohibitive and restrictive signs will be circular with a white, yellow, or blue background. The signs will mark maximum speed limits, prohibited entry, no-parking zones, and cases where certain vehicle types are not allowed. These signs will also post restrictions to driving, including no overtaking or passing, as well as no-entry one-way streets. In cases where a travel zone is defined, such as a zone prohibiting a specific vehicle type, you will see the same sign with a line crossing it to note the end of the restricted travel zone. It is essential to follow the instructions of the signs to avoid accidents, fines, and blocking traffic.

Signatories of the Vienna Convention define the mandatory sign design as circular with a blue or white background. White signs will have a red border, while blue signs will utterly blue with no border. You will see mandatory signs as you approach roads that only allow certain types of vehicles, roads that require equipment, or signs that point the way around road work or traffic islands. When approaching any of these areas, be sure only to follow the appropriate signs for your vehicle.

The standard priority signs adopted internationally will differ in shape, color, and border, depending on the sign's function. Areas that require giving way or yielding to oncoming traffic will be marked with an inverted equilateral triangle with a yellow or white background and red border. Stop signs requiring a complete stop at an intersection have slight variation worldwide, with most countries using an eight-sided sign with white lettering and red background. Priority road signs indicate that the road is a priority at intersections, which allows for traffic on the priority road to flow freely. A white, diamond-shaped sign with a yellow diamond indicates starting points for priority roads, with priority road termination indicated with the same sign and "tire marks" or lines over the sign.

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Last year was the most destructive wildfire season in California’s history. Hundreds of thousands of acres burned, causing billions in property damage and tragic losses of life across the state. Even in areas not directly affected by the fires, millions of people were exposed to wildfire smoke, and air quality became an important topic of discussion among workers, who spend much of their time outdoors, and the public.

As the Vienna Convention defines, these signs can vary significantly in color and shape. The signs supplement danger, priority, restrictive, mandatory, information, and directional signs. The additional panel notes the approximate distance until the approaching obstacle, the distance until the advised service, or the length of the restricted travel zone.

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All smoke is a mixture of carbon dioxide, water vapor, carbon monoxide, particulate matter, hydrocarbons and other organic chemicals. Particulate matter in wildfire smoke includes microscopic bits of organic chemicals, metals, soil or dust particles and allergens such as pollen or mold spores that are suspended in the air. These microscopic particles can get deep into the lungs. While a facial covering like a wet bandana might keep someone from inhaling grit or other visible dust, it won’t stop fine particulates from getting into the lungs because of their size – they are much smaller than the width of even a single human hair.

When worn correctly, these respirators are effective at filtering out the small respirable particles found in wildfire smoke. However, they do not filter out fumes and gases; for that, see the next type of respirator listed.

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The Vienna Convention has relatively few guidelines for the format of information and service signs. Signs are often blue or green, with no specified border color. These signs will indicate upcoming gasoline service stations, parking areas, and restaurants, and indicators for tourism offices. These serve to assist when a particular facility is needed while driving.

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During times of poor air quality, many people choose to cover their mouth and nose to protect themselves from breathing in wildfire smoke. However, not all masks and facial coverings actually protect the lungs from the harmful respirable particles found in wildfire smoke. Here’s a breakdown of the intended use and level of protection offered by each:

“Choosing the proper respirator can prevent overexposure to the harmful contaminants found in wildfire smoke,” says LIUNA General Secretary-Treasurer and LHSFNA Labor Co-Chairman Armand E. Sabitoni. “Being educated on what respirators and paper dust masks do and do not protect against can help LIUNA members and their families protect their safety and health during times of reduced air quality.”

With the implementation of the Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals in 1978, many members of the European Union now utilize a standard set of signs and signals to make travel easier for visitors and residents alike. You will see signs and advisements only valid in a particular country, such as London's congestion charge; however, most signs in European destinations will be standardized.

European standard signs will fall under the classes listed below, ranging from danger warnings to service information to directional signs.

The convention-backed rules for danger warning signs are simple and very uniform in design, with slight variation. Danger warning signs are either a diamond or an equilateral triangle shape, with a white or yellow background and a red or black border. You will see danger warning signs as you approach a narrow road, a train crossing without a barrier, or an upcoming pedestrian zone. When approaching an area marked with a danger warning, proceed with caution.

The convention has little or no definition for the format of direction and indication signs. They are rectangular and will vary in color. Motorway indicators fall into this sign category, usually colored blue or green. Any temporary directional sign involving a detour will be yellow or orange. These signs serve as additional information for navigation.