Army Corps and Cal/OSHA say worker safety is top priority as massive LA debris removal continues

Colonel Jim Hondura, commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers South Pacific Division, said the Corps has prioritized worker safety as it leads phase 2 residential debris removal after the Los Angeles wildfires and has set up field offices and crews across the region. The Corps has received thousands of signed rights of entry from homeowners and estimates millions of tons of debris must be removed.

The Corps began phase 2 work on Feb. 11 and, as of the hearing, had received 3,771 rights of entry for private property debris removal; 3,573 of those parcels were assigned to contractors and 242 parcels had been completed and signed off, Hondura said. He described on‑site controls including sorting, dust suppression and personal protective equipment, and said the Corps is embedding safety professionals with contractors and coordinating with state agencies.

The scale of the task is large: Hondura estimated roughly 4.25 million to 4.5 million tons of debris must be removed. "Nothing will ever be more important than the safety and well‑being of the workers conducting these vital missions," said Colonel Jim Hondura, South Pacific Division commander.

Deborah Lee, Chief of the…