In response to continuing recovery and cleanup efforts following wildfires in Southern California, the state’s Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) posted updated guidance for workers and employers on how to proceed rapidly and safely to address the risks associated with fire debris removal and cleanup, the DIR announced February 5.

Hazardous conditions persist, even after fires are extinguished, according to the DIR. The state’s employers involved in recovery and cleanup operations in fire-damaged areas must assess workers’ risks, address unsafe conditions, and ensure all workers are provided proper training.

The DIR emphasized its commitment to protecting workers on the front lines of disaster recovery, ensuring their safety and health as they help restore what’s been lost.

The DIR oversees several areas of labor regulation in the state, including workplace safety and health through its Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA).

Other DIR divisions include:

• The Division of Workers' Compensation (DWC) and Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB), which administer the state’s workers’ compensation programs;
• The Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE) and Industrial Welfare Commission (IWC), overseeing enforcement and regulation under the state’s labor laws; and
• The California Apprenticeship Council and Division of Apprenticeship Standards (DAS), which oversee the state’s apprentice labor standards.

The DIR provides worker and employer resources that include a wildfire cleanup training tool that’s available in both English and Spanish. It also offers a number of resources addressing recovery and cleanup safety and health issues, such as:

• Physical hazards. Information is available regarding the risks of structural collapse or contact with live utilities.
• Hazard communication. Informing and training workers on chemical hazards from burned buildings, such as fire retardants, lead or asbestos, and other hazardous materials.
• Cleanup, debris removal, and restoration. Cal/OSHA provides guidance for employers and workers regarding proper training and equipment for safely handling debris during the cleanup of contaminated areas. Cleanup of fire-damaged sites and debris removal must be done in accordance with the state’s Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) regulations.

Other labor issues involved in disaster recovery and cleanup include worker retaliation protections, immigrant labor retaliation, wage and overtime regulations, wage requirements for public works, and unpaid wages.

Cal/OSHA recently updated its guidelines for employers performing fire cleanup following the wildfires in Los Angeles and Ventura counties.

Safety hazards of fire cleanup include demolition, electricity, excavations, fire and fire byproducts, flammable gases, hauling vehicles, sharp or flying objects, tree work, and unstable structures; health hazards include asbestos; ash, dust, and soot; carbon monoxide poisoning; hazardous liquids and other hazardous substances; and heat illness. Applicable state standards include Cal/OSHA’s regulations on general safety precautions, electric shock, and injury and illness prevention programs.

Employers in the state may also want to consult Cal/OSHA’s guidance for respiratory protection during fire cleanup, as ash, dust, and soot can be disturbed during cleanup and could be inhaled. The agency recommends that cleanup employers use feasible engineering controls to ventilate and provide filtered air to indoor work areas, as well as a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) vacuum, when cleaning ash, dust, and soot. Employers also must provide and ensure employees use properly fitted, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)-certified air-purifying respirators.