California Issues Wildfire Cleanup Safety Guidance for Workers

California’s Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) has posted guidance for protecting workers involved in fire debris removal and cleanup. “Even after fires are extinguished, hazardous conditions persist,” notes the state agency’s news release. “Employers involved in recovery operations within fire-damaged areas must assess these risks, address unsafe conditions, and ensure proper training is provided to all workers.”

This guidance includes DIR’s wildfire cleanup training tool (PDF), a fact sheet available in English and Spanish. The tool advises cleanup workers to protect their health by coordinating with hazmat crews, wetting work areas to control dust, wearing personal protective equipment and long-sleeved clothing, avoiding heat stress, and taking steps to avoid bringing dust into their homes.

The DIR news release directs visitors to the state agency’s webpage on cleanup and rebuilding after wildfires. In turn, this page links to resources for workers during wildfires and response efforts from Cal/OSHA and the state Labor Commissioner’s Office (LCO), as well as to relevant information about workers’ compensation, public works cleanup and rebuilding, and tree work safety. DIR also stresses that workers have rights to safety, evacuation, communication and cellphone access, time off, and pay, including disability benefits, during emergency conditions. California workers can learn more information about their legal protections during wildfires from LCO.

Workers in California with safety and health questions may contact Cal/OSHA, and those with questions about labor laws may contact LCO. Safety and health complaints may be filed with Cal/OSHA district offices.

Further information is available from DIR’s news release.