As cleanup begins after the Boyle Heights warehouse fire, community advocates say day laborers could once again play an important role. This time, however, hazardous materials raise new questions about worker safety, training and oversight.
Day laborers could once again become an important part of the cleanup efforts following the warehouse fire in Boyle Heights. Their work after the devastating fires in Pacific Palisades and Altadena demonstrated how quickly organized community labor can help communities begin the long recovery process.
Following those wildfires, day laborers played a critical role in cleanup operations. They did not wait for an official invitation. Through the National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON) and the Pasadena Community Job Center, they organized volunteer brigades that entered affected neighborhoods to assist residents with cleanup efforts.
They cleared fallen tree limbs, ash, leaves, and windblown debris from streets and sidewalks, helped distribute food and emergency supplies, and assisted elderly residents. Hundreds of volunteers joined these community-led efforts.
A similar contribution could be made in Boyle Heights, where cleanup operations are expected to be extensive and labor intensive.
“They are currently discussing whether they will join the cleanup efforts in that area,” one member of the organization said.
However, the Boyle Heights fire presents a very different set of challenges. The warehouse fire involved numerous hazardous chemicals, making the cleanup far more complex than previous wildfire recovery efforts. The operation is expected to involve removing approximately 85 million pounds of spoiled food, contaminated debris, and fire-damaged materials. Officials have identified environmental mitigation and biohazard management as top priorities.
It is possible that day laborers could become part of the cleanup workforce. However, they should not be assigned to hazardous areas without proper training, protective equipment, and professional oversight.
Following previous major fires across Los Angeles, contractors have frequently hired day laborers for debris removal and salvage work. Labor advocates and workplace safety officials have also warned that these workers are sometimes asked to perform dangerous jobs without adequate protection.
If day laborers are hired for the Boyle Heights cleanup, they should receive OSHA-required safety training, appropriate personal protective equipment including respirators, gloves, and protective clothing, clear information about workplace hazards, fair wages, workers’ compensation coverage, and medical monitoring when working around contaminated materials.
As of now, there has been no official announcement establishing a day laborer hiring program specifically for the Boyle Heights warehouse cleanup. Even so, their participation remains a realistic possibility depending on the type of work ultimately required.
The recovery efforts in Pacific Palisades and Altadena involved a different type of disaster. As residents returned to homes that survived the fires but were contaminated by smoke and ash, many hired day laborers to vacuum ash and soot, clean walls, remove contaminated household items, and prepare homes for restoration.
In Boyle Heights, the circumstances are different. Any participation by day laborers would require specialized preparation, appropriate hazardous materials training, and any certifications necessary to safely work in a contaminated environment.
