Worker Health and Safety in Wildfire Regions

Protecting Workers Exposed to Smoke from Wildfires

Worker Safety and Health During Fire Cleanup

Workers face hazards even after fires have been extinguished. Employers performing cleanup and other work in areas damaged or destroyed by fire are required to identify and evaluate these hazards, correct any unsafe or unhealthful conditions and provide training and instruction to employees (California Code of Regulations , Title 8, sections 1509, 1511, 1518 and 3203). Potential hazards in fire cleanup areas include, but are not limited to, the following:

Fire
Fire can continue to be a hazard during cleanup of a fire-damaged area. Heat sources from smoldering wood or other debris can come into contact with flammable material and could ignite and cause fire again. Employers should therefore provide fire extinguishers at every cleanup job. Fire extinguishers are required to be provided when employees are working inside buildings or structures or on construction or demolition sites (sections 1922 and 6151).

Electricity
After an outage, electrical deaths and injuries can occur as power lines are reenergized and electrical equipment is turned on.

  • Employers must allow only qualified electrical workers, as defined in section 2700, to work on or near downed power lines and restore electrical power.
  • Employers must allow only qualified line clearance tree trimmers, as defined in section 2700, to conduct tree trimming operations in the vicinity of energized power lines (sections 2950–2951).
  • Other workers must not be allowed to perform any function in proximity to energized high-voltage lines (section 2946).
  • Overhead electrical power lines must be considered energized until the utility company verifies that the lines are not energized, and the lines are visibly grounded at the work site (section 2946).

If water is or has been near electrical circuits or electrical equipment, employers must ensure that the following precautions are taken:

  • Turn off power at the main breaker or fuse of the service panel for the building.
  • Do not turn power on or use electrical equipment until electrical circuits and equipment are inspected by a qualified person, as defined in section 2300 and section 2700.
  • Do not use electrical equipment or circuits that have been exposed to heat from fire until inspected by a qualified person, as defined in section 2300 and section 2700.
  • Unless all electrical power is off, never enter flooded areas or areas with standing water.
  • Do not touch electrical equipment if wet or if the ground or surface is wet.

(See sections 2320.1–2320.10, 2340.1, 2380.1 and 2485.2)

Flammable Gases
Employers must ensure that pipes and tanks containing flammable gases, if potentially damaged or leaking, are properly shut off (subsection (c) of section 3329 and subsection (a) of section 5416). See additional information from the Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E).

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

(See sections 2320.1–2320.10, 2340.1, 2380.1 and 2485.2)

Gasoline or diesel-powered pumps, generators and pressure washers may be used during cleanup. When in use, these machines generate carbon monoxide gas, which is colorless, odorless, tasteless and potentially lethal. It is nearly impossible to tell whether ventilation is sufficient to prevent excessive carbon monoxide buildup (section 5155) without using personal carbon monoxide monitors. Therefore, in most situations, employers must not use gasoline or diesel-powered equipment indoors (sections 3662, 5141 and 5146).

Unstable Structures
Never assume that fire-damaged structures or buildings are stable. They may be structurally damaged or weakened and can collapse without warning. Employers must ensure that precautions, such as the following, are taken:

  • Do not allow work to be performed in or around any fire-damaged structure until it has been examined and certified that it is safe for work by a registered engineer or other qualified person.
  • Assume that all stairs, elevated floors, and roofs are unsafe until inspected.
  • Establish procedures and provide training to ensure that employees leave the structure immediately if it shifts, or if there are unusual noises or other signs of impending collapse.

(Sections 3203 and 3241).

Note: Even after a building or structure is determined to be safe, employees working in or around these structures may be exposed to falling objects. Employers must therefore provide and ensure that employees wear hardhats or helmets, safety glasses, gloves and adequate foot protection such as steel-toed shoes (sections 3380–3385).

Demolition
During demolition or dismantling of damaged buildings, structures, and equipment, there is an increased risk of hazards such as unexpected collapse, falling objects, damaging utilities and exposure to hazardous materials. Before commencing work, employers should review all demolition safety requirements in sections 1733 –1737. Requirements include the following:

  • A qualified person must conduct a written survey of the structure to determine the condition of the structural components and the possibility of an unplanned collapse of any portion of the structure and adjacent structures (section 1734).
  • Employers must determine if any type of hazardous chemicals, gases, explosives, flammable materials, or similarly dangerous substances have been used in any pipes, tanks, or other equipment on the property. These hazards must be eliminated before demolition is started (section 1735).
  • Demolition work must be under the immediate supervision of a qualified person with the authority to secure maximum safety for employees (section 1734).
  • Utility companies must be notified and all utility services shut off or otherwise controlled before starting demolition, unless electricity or water is needed for demolition. In those cases, the utility services must be relocated or rearranged as necessary and protected from physical damage (section 1735).

Sharp or Flying Objects
Employees handling, cutting or breaking up debris may be exposed to sharp objects, flying objects and other cutting hazards. Employers must therefore provide and ensure that employees wear appropriate eye, hand and foot protection (sections 3380, 3382, 3384 and 3385).

Ash, Soot, Dust and Asbestos
Ash, soot and dust disturbed during cleanup may be inhaled and cause irritation or damage to workers’ lungs. Employers must therefore take the following precautions:

Stored Chemicals
Fires in commercial and residential buildings and water used to fight fires can damage or dislodge tanks, drums, pipes and equipment that may contain hazardous chemicals. Any cleanup of hazardous spills must be performed only by employees who have the required skills, knowledge and training (subsection (q) of section 5192). Employers must provide these employees with the necessary personal protective equipment and emergency equipment to perform the work (subsection (q) of section 5192). Other employers must ensure that damaged or dislodged equipment containing hazardous chemicals is not moved or altered without first obtaining instruction from the local fire department.

Damaged or spilled household products such as cleaning chemicals, paint, batteries, pesticides and fuel may also be hazardous. If employees are working in potentially contaminated areas, the employer must provide the necessary training and must provide and ensure that employees use suitable respirators and other protective equipment (sections 3380–3385, 5144, and 5194).

Heat Illness
For employees working outdoors, employers must provide potable drinking water, appropriate rest breaks and access to shade to prevent heat illness (section 3395). More detail is available on Cal/OSHA’s Heat Illness Prevention page.

Additional Information

Fire Cleanup Hazards and Safety Precautions

Wildfire Cleanup Training Tools in English and Spanish

October 2017