What is a work restriction?
During fire season in British Columbia, Canada, if you are carrying out an activity that is at risk of starting a wildfire, in an area within 300m of forest land or grass land you are obligated to determine whether there are work restrictions in your work area.
The BC Government has three steps you must figure out before this work starts. The steps are detailed on the BC Gov site, but in summary:
Step 1. Find out if your proposed activity is considered a high-risk activity. If it is,Step 2. Find out what the fire danger rating is at your proposed location of operation. Then,Step 3. Based on what the fire danger rating is, determine whether there are restrictions on high risk activities.
In a previous blog post we dove into fire danger ratings and what they mean but in this blog post we want to do a deeper dive into Step 3: determining work restrictions and how it might not be a straightforward task.
To determine work restrictions, Schedule 3 of the Wildfire Act provides you with a work restriction table to work through.
We’ve replicated that table below but have added labels next to each restriction to refer to them easily (R0 - R5) and will also sometimes refer to the duration of the restriction as exit conditions. This is the condition that needs to be met to no longer have to comply to that specific work restriction.
Restriction
Label |
Fire Danger Rating |
Restriction |
Duration
(exit condition) |
| R1 |
DGR 3 |
After three consecutive days of DGR 3 or greater, implement a fire watch immediately after the high risk activity ends for a minimum of one hour |
Until after the fire danger class falls below DGR 3. |
| R2 |
DGR 4 |
Implement a fire watch immediately after the high risk activity ends for a minimum of two hours. |
Until after the fire danger class falls to DGR 3 for 2 consecutive days of falls below DGR 3. |
| R3 |
DGR 4 |
After 3 consecutive days of DGR 4, cease activity between 1 p.m. PDT (Pacific Daylight Savings Time) and sunset each day. |
Until after the fire danger class falls to DGR 3 for 2 consecutive days of falls below DGR 3. |
| R4 |
DGR 5 |
Cease activity between 1 p.m. PDT (Pacific Daylight Savings Time) and sunset each day and implement a fire watch immediately after the high risk activity ends for a minimum of two hours. |
Until after the fire danger class falls below DGR 4 for 2 or more consecutive days. |
| R5 |
DGR 5 |
After 3 consecutive days of DGR 5, cease activity all day. |
Until after the fire danger class falls to DGR 4 for 3 or more consecutive days or falls below DGR 4. |
This table looks simple, but it’s not. As you read closely you’ll find the wording is not the most intuitive and a small misunderstanding of it can have large consequences. For example, you could be working when you should actually have your worksite shut down which could lead to a forest fire being started.
Now lets work through some scenarios and put this table to use!
Scenario 1
Let’s start with a simple one. The example below lists danger ratings for an area from June 1 - June 5. Next to it we determine the restrictions based on the danger rating.
⚠️
A note on our interpretation: “After X consecutive days” means the restriction doesn’t apply until the day after the Xth day.
| Date |
DGR |
Restriction Applied |
Restriction Description |
|
| June 1 |
2 |
none |
none |
|
| June 2 |
3 |
none |
none |
⌄ |
Referring to the DGR 3 row in the restriction guide, it states:
"After three consecutive days of DGR 3 or greater, implement a fire watch immediately after the high risk activity ends for a minimum of one hour."
1st consecutive day of DGR 3 |
| June 3 |
3 |
none |
none |
⌄ |
| 2nd consecutive day of DGR 3 |
| June 4 |
3 |
none |
none |
⌄ |
| 3rd consecutive day of DGR 3 → next day may be R1 |
| June 5 |
3 |
R1 |
1hr fire watch after work today |
⌄ |
| 4th day of DGR 3 → R1 |
One aspect of the restriction table is that we have to keep track of consecutive days of danger ratings. On June 2, 3, 4, there are three consecutive days of DGR 3. On June 5th, a day after the 3rd consecutive day, the restriction levels up to R1 and a fire watch must be implemented for at least an hour after work.
If June 5th had a danger rating of 2 or 1, the restriction code would be R0 so no fire watches would have been necessary.
Scenario 2
Another fairly straightforward one. In this scenario we want to highlight when restrictions occur immediately once a danger rating for the day is released.
⚠️
A note on our interpretation: R2 and R4 restrictions do not say “after X consecutive days”, therefore we interpret it as it happens immediately.
| Date |
DGR |
Restriction Applied |
Restriction Description |
|
| June 1 |
2 |
none |
none |
|
| June 2 |
3 |
none |
none |
⌄ |
|
1st consecutive day of DGR 3
|
| June 3 |
4 |
R2 |
Implement a minimum 2h fire watch after work |
⌄ |
Referring to the DGR 4 row, it states: “Implement a fire watch immediately after the high risk activity ends for a minimum of two hours.”
Therefore we enter immediately into R2 when the danger rating is released
|
| June 4 |
5 |
R4 |
Cease work at 1pm + 2hr fire watch after work |
⌄ |
|
The danger rating increases to a 5, therefore we look at the DGR 5 row and it states: “Cease activity between 1 p.m. PDT (Pacific Daylight Savings Time) and sunset each day and implement a fire watch immediately after the high risk activity ends for a minimum of two hours.” **
|
** Something interesting to note here is that on June 4, the danger rating is 5 therefore the work restriction immediately switches to ceasing work at 1pm and setting up a 2 hour fire watch after work. However danger ratings aren’t typically released until 2pm of that day, which might mean a worksite not shutting down in time. Taking into account the weather, understanding how danger ratings work, and looking ahead of danger rating forecasts and work restriction for a forecast may be useful in this case.
Scenario 3
⚠️
A note on our interpretation: We keep track of multiple restrictions simultaneously as some days can meet the criteria of multiple restriction states, and therefore all active restrictions apply. This also involves keeping track of the different exit conditions of the restrictions applied.
| Date |
DGR |
R1 |
R2 |
R3 |
R4 |
R5 |
Restriction Applied |
|
| June 1 |
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
none |
|
| June 2 |
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
none |
|
| June 3 |
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
none |
|
| June 4 |
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
none |
|
| June 5 |
3 |
✅ |
|
|
|
|
Implement a minimum 1h fire watch after work |
⌄ |
There were three consecutive days of danger 3, therefore the 4th day of
a danger rating of 3 or more is equal to an R1 state.
”After three consecutive days of DGR 3 or greater, implement a fire
watch immediately after the high risk activity ends for a minimum of
one hour”
To exit out of R1, the DGR rating needs to fall below 3. "Until after
the fire danger class falls below DGR 3.”
|
| June 6 |
4 |
✅ |
✅ |
|
|
|
Implement a minimum 2h fire watch after work |
⌄ |
On this day, the danger rating goes up to a 4. Therefore we’re now also
in an R2 state which means we need to maintain a 2hr fire watch after
work.
To exit out of R2 the following condition needs to be met:
”Until after the fire danger class falls to DGR 3 for 2 consecutive
days or falls below DGR 3.”
Note that we haven’t exited out of the R1 state either mentioned above.
|
| June 7 |
5 |
✅ |
✅ |
|
✅ |
|
Cease work at 1 p.m. PDT and sunset each day and implement a minimum 2h
fire watch after work
|
⌄ |
Danger rating goes up to a 5. Therefore R4 is also in effect in addition
to R1 and R2. This means we now have to ceases work at 1pm and maintain
a 2hr fire watch after work.
To exit out of R4 the following condition needs to be met:
”Until after the fire danger class falls below DGR 4 for 2 or more
consecutive days.”
|
| June 8 |
3 |
✅ |
✅ |
|
✅ |
|
Cease work at 1 p.m. PDT and sunset each day and implement a minimum 2h
fire watch after work
|
⌄ |
The danger rating drops to a 3 now.
Let’s refer to this as the 1st day of cooldown for R4 and R2.
|
| June 9 |
2 |
⛔️ |
⛔️ |
|
✅ |
|
Cease work at 1 p.m. PDT and sunset each day and implement a minimum 2h
fire watch after work
|
⌄ |
The danger rating drops to a 2. This means the exit conditions for R1
("Until after the fire danger class falls below DGR 3.”) and R2
(”Until after the fire danger class falls to DGR 3 for 2 consecutive
days or falls below DGR 3.”)
have been met.**
2nd day of cooldown for R4.
|
| June 10 |
3 |
|
|
|
⛔️ |
|
none |
⌄ |
On this day the danger rating goes back up to a 3, however we’ve met the
exit conditions for R4
(”Until after the fire danger class falls below DGR 4 for 2 or more
consecutive days.”)
We also won’t enter into an R1 state either because we need three
consecutive days of danger rating 3 or greater to meet the criteria of
R1.
Therefore there are no work restrictions on this day.
|
** As mentioned above we track multiple restrictions simultaneously. This means that once exit conditions are met for those restrictions, they can be removed. However we’ve encountered a BCWS fire behaviour specialist that interprets things slightly differently. They believe that upper level restrictions must be exited first before removing lower level restrictions.
Therefore if we revisit the danger rating chart above again using their interpretation, on June 9, the R1 and R2 restriction states would be kept intact without exiting. On June 10, with a danger rating of 3, the R4 state can exit but instead of being no work restrictions there will still be an R2 restriction.
Scenario 4
Here’s an example where restrictions can be different based on how you interpret the table.
Below is how we interpret the table by keeping track of multiple restrictions simultaneously.
| Date |
DGR |
R1 |
R2 |
R3 |
R4 |
R5 |
Restriction Applied |
|
| June 6 |
4 |
|
✅ |
|
|
|
Implement a minimum 2h fire watch after work |
⌄ |
| The danger rating is a 4. Therefore we’re in an R2 state. To exit out of R2 the following condition needs to be met: ”Until after the fire danger class falls to DGR 3 for 2 consecutive days or falls below DGR 3.” |
| June 7 |
5 |
|
✅ |
|
✅ |
|
Cease work at 1 p.m. PDT and sunset each day and implement a minimum 2h fire watch after work |
⌄ |
| 1st consecutive day of DGR 5. To exit out of R4 the following condition needs to be met: ”Until after the fire danger class falls below DGR 4 for 2 or more consecutive days.” |
| June 8 |
5 |
|
✅ |
|
✅ |
|
Cease work at 1 p.m. PDT and sunset each day and implement a minimum 2h fire watch after work |
⌄ |
| 2nd consecutive day of DGR 5. |
| June 9 |
5 |
✅ |
✅ |
|
✅ |
|
Cease work at 1 p.m. PDT and sunset each day and implement a minimum 2h fire watch after work |
⌄ |
| 3rd consecutive day of DGR 5. |
| June 10 |
5 |
✅ |
✅ |
|
✅ |
✅ |
Cease activity all day |
⌄ |
4th consecutive day of DGR 5 therefore we’re now in an R5 state.
It’s important to note that no work can be done all day regardless of the work restriction. There were three consecutive days of danger 5, and therefore the worksite should be in complete shutdown this morning. Danger ratings are released at 2pm everyday. To exit out of an R5 state the following condition needs to be met: “Until after the danger class falls to DGR 4 for 3 or more consecutive days or falls below DGR 4.”
Because today is a danger rating of 5, the worksite will continue to be shutdown. However even if the danger rating fell below DGR 4, the R4 state would still be intact causing the worksite to stay shutdown after 1pm.
|
| June 11 |
3 |
✅ |
✅ |
|
✅ |
⛔️ |
Cease work at 1 p.m. PDT and sunset each day and implement a minimum 2h fire watch after work |
⌄ |
The danger rating here falls to a 3. Therefore we can exit out of R5.
We enter the R1 state (exit condition: “Until after the fire danger class falls below DGR 3.”), but we still can’t exit out of R4 or R2. Therefore the R4 work restriction takes precedence for the day.
1st day of cooldown for R4.
1st day of cooldown for R2.
|
| June 12 |
3 |
✅ |
✅ |
|
✅ |
|
Cease work at 1 p.m. PDT and sunset each day and implement a minimum 2h fire watch after work
|
⌄ |
The danger rating stays at 3.
2nd day of cooldown for R4.
2nd day of cooldown for R2.
|
| June 13 |
2 |
⛔️ |
⛔️ |
|
⛔️ |
|
none
|
⌄ |
|
Danger rating drops to 2. All states have met their exit conditions. There is no work restriction.
|
As mentioned above, the above methods of determining work infers that that certain days can meet multiple restriction states, the restrictions stack up on top of each other, and the restriction states need to exit one by one.
Another way of interpreting the work restriction table, which one BCWS specialist used, is to look at the row in the restriction table corresponding to the new danger rating as soon as another restriction exits.
For example, yesterday on June 10, the danger rating was a 5 and the restriction was an R5. Then today on June 11, the danger rating is a 3. According to the duration beside the danger 5 row it states “Until after the danger class falls to DGR 4 for 3 or more consecutive days or falls below DGR 4.”. Therefore on June 11, when danger rating falls to a 3, this takes us out of an R5 state, and we would look at the danger 3 row and check if we’ve had 3 consecutive days of danger ratings of 3 and above.
The following table helps demonstrate this method using the same dates and danger ratings as the example above:
| Date |
DGR |
Restriction Applied |
Restriction Description |
|
| June 6 |
4 |
R2 |
Implement a fire watch immediately after the high risk activity ends for a minimum of two hours. |
|
| June 7 |
5 |
R4 |
Cease work at 1 p.m. PDT and sunset each day and implement a minimum 2h fire watch after work |
|
| June 8 |
5 |
R4 |
Cease work at 1 p.m. PDT and sunset each day and implement a minimum 2h fire watch after work |
|
| June 9 |
5 |
R4 |
Cease work at 1 p.m. PDT and sunset each day and implement a minimum 2h fire watch after work |
|
| June 10 |
5 |
R5 |
Cease activity all day |
⌄ |
4th consecutive day of DGR 5 therefore we’re now in an R5 state: “After 3 consecutive days of DGR 5, cease activity all day.”
To exit out of R5 the following condition needs to be met:
“Until after the danger class falls to DGR 4 for 3 or more consecutive days or falls below DGR 4.”
|
| June 11 |
3 |
R1 |
Implement a fire watch immediately after the high risk activity ends for a minimum of one hour |
⌄ |
|
DGR fell below 4, so looking at the DGR 3 row, there have been 3 consecutive days of DGR 3 or greater, so R1 applies here.
|
| June 12 |
3 |
R1 |
Implement a fire watch immediately after the high risk activity ends for a minimum of one hour
|
|
| June 13 |
2 |
R0 |
none
|
|
In this case, on June 11 the exit condition for June 10’s work restriction was met, and therefore we exit out of R5 and enter into R1. Therefore in this interpretation, for June 11, a work restriction could be to only “implement a fire watch immediately after the high risk activity ends for a minimum of one hour.”
In the previous interpretation with parallel stacking of restriction states, for June 11 the work restriction was much more strict. It was (R4) “Cease activity between 1 p.m. PDT (Pacific Daylight Savings Time) and sunset each day and implement a fire watch immediately after the high risk activity ends for a minimum of two hours.”
The guidelines in the Wildfire Act are not very clear and it might come down to a matter of opinion. There’s also some wildfire and weather knowledge that is useful to understand that might help shape opinion. Understanding what weather patterns caused the danger rating to drop down from 5 to a 3 on June 11, and what’s keeping it at a 3 is valuable to know and understand. Our team has consulted with wildfire experts from both BC Wildfire Services and workers performing high risk activities and have come across multiple different interpretations of this system. We’ve spent a lot of time reasoning through it , and although we take a more cautious approach to interpreting the restriction table, it is important to note that it’s an opinion that should not be considered a hard and fast rule.
However if your goal is to figure out whether you should work or not, going through the work restriction table and working through the danger ratings and restriction states and keeping track of the previous days danger ratings can be a task that might lead to incorrect calculations or not being cautious enough. It can be very confusing! Beacon solves that problem by automating that process. You simply have to determine the weather station that best represents your work site and we provide you with historical, current, and future danger ratings along with the work restrictions.
If you work for an industry that is impacted by work restrictions during the wildfire season we’d love to hear about your experiences monitoring fire danger ratings and determining work restrictions. Do you have questions about the work restriction table or interpret it in a different way? Send us a message via email, Facebook, or Twitter!
