Lawmakers, Cal/OSHA and unions press for stronger worker protections during LA wildfire cleanup

State lawmakers, union leaders and worker advocates on Wednesday urged expanded safety protections, worker training and long-term health monitoring as cleanup and rebuilding continue after the Los Angeles wildfires.

The hearing brought testimony from firefighters, labor unions, community organizations and state agencies about hazardous exposures, gaps in enforcement and the need to prioritize local workers in contracting. “We humbly ask your support in continuing to fund the California Firefighter Cancer Prevention and Research Program, which could tilt the odds just a little bit in our favor,” said Derek Erwin, an LA County firefighter and researcher, describing repeated, high-intensity exposures to carcinogens during recent urban conflagrations.

Why it matters: Witnesses said the debris- and ash-filled cleanup exposes firefighters, construction crews, and informal workers to respiratory hazards and toxicants. Speakers called for immediate workplace protections — proper respiratory protection, HAZWOPER training and on-site monitoring — along with investments in long-term health surveillance for first responders.

Key testimony and context - Firefighter health and research: Derek Erwin, a firefighter and researcher, described firefighting as a “group 1 carcinogen” exposure and urged larger longitudinal studies and expanded funding beyond the grants created under AB 700, which he cited as an important but modest first step. He said California could support large-scale cohort studies to identify biological mechanisms linking exposures to cancer. - Cal/OSHA outreach and enforcement: Deborah Lee, chief of Cal/OSHA, said the agency has mobilized outreach teams, bilingual materials and local visits to employer sites and worker centers. "Workers performing wildfire cleanup may potentially be exposed to hazards such as slips and trip hazards, heat illness related exposures and respiratory hazards," Lee said, and Cal/OSHA has dedicated staff in the field to educate employers and to investigate complaints. - Union and labor federation concerns: Sarah Fox of the California Labor Federation urged that recovery not deepen existing inequities. "The risk is that recovery is just going to deepen and worsen the inequities that already exist," she said, calling for tracking of workers’ compensation claims and long-term supports for frontline workers.

Operational details mentioned at the hearing - Cal/OSHA said it had distributed thousands of bilingual outreach materials, staffed a bilingual call center and deployed enforcement and consultation teams to sites in Los Angeles County. - Witnesses stressed the need for HAZWOPER (Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response) training, respiratory protection programs, and access to proper masks with appropriate filters for ash and toxic particulates.

What officials asked for Panelists asked legislators to fund increased Cal/OSHA field capacity, expand educational outreach into worker networks that speak languages other than English, and sustain funding for firefighter health programs and worker-monitoring systems beyond short-term grants.

Ending: Lawmakers at the hearing said they would press state agencies for follow-up briefings and documentation on field enforcement, the status of PPE distribution, and options for funding long-term health monitoring schemes for firefighters and other high-exposure workers.