California Domestic Workers Coalition

January 17, 2025

SACRAMENTO – In a consequential victory, Cal/OSHA is interpreting the application of the fire cleanup standards to apply to domestic workers. 

This comes after years of advocacy and grassroots  organizing by members of the California Domestic Workers Coalition (CDWC). 

“This is a systemic change that finally acknowledges the labor of domestic workers on the frontlines of climate-fueled disasters and protects them from injury and illnesses,” says Kimberly Alvarenga, director of CDWC. 

Senator Maria Elena Durazo, longtime champion of domestic workers stated: “What has happened in LA is a tragedy and we should not compound that tragedy further by harming the health of the workers we will be relying upon to help with the cleanup and rebuilding of LA.  Exploiting vulnerable workers whose livelihoods were lost in the fires in Los Angeles by offering them fire clean up work without adequate health and safety protections is shameful and it is also against the law.”

The changes made by the administration are a testament to the grassroots organizing and long-term commitment by our coalition. Every sacrifice that made over the years is manifested in these changes. 

Domestic workers are often called in to clean up in the aftermath of these disasters as described by the Instituto de Educación Popular del Sur de California, (IDEPSCA)  in a report following the Woolsey Fire. This change by Cal/OSHA ensures that these essential workers will have the protections needed during, before and after fire cleanup efforts.  

Says Andrea Lopez, a coalition member leader in IDEPSCA and a domestic worker, “This news actually helps me breathe easier. I’m pregnant and employers are asking me to clean up ash. With this news I now know that I can demand health and safety protections because it is my right.” 

Socorro Diaz, Coalition member leader, experienced severe health issues after being called in to clean up homes after the destructive Tubbs fire that seared through Santa Rosa in 2017. 

Upon hearing the news about fire cleanup protections for domestic workers she said,  “I’m so glad to hear this news. Cal/OSHA should have done this years ago, it’s so important. And with more flooding and wildfires increasing from climate change, these protections are very important to frontline workers like us, who are called to clean up after fires, after floods. It will be a relief from the health issues we deal with when we take these jobs. At least we will have protections that are mandated.”

Diaz recalls, “Right after the Tubbs fires I cleaned evacuated homes in the fire zones. These homes were filled with smoke and ash and the air was still extremely smoky outside. I knew it might be dangerous, but I had to work because my family needed the money. I inhaled all this dust mixed with ashes. I bought my own mask and cleaning gloves to use. My employers did not give me any protective equipment or explain the dangers of the job.”  

According to CalOsha

Existing Cal/OSHA standards do not encompass “household domestic service,” such as cooking, cleaning, and childcare performed for a family. Fire cleanup work, including ash and debris removal and cleaning of fire-damaged structures, is not household domestic service, and employees performing this work are covered by Cal/OSHA health and safety standards.

Furthermore, even if a worker usually performs household domestic service work, they are covered by Cal/OSHA safety standards when performing all other types of work, such as fire clean up and reconstruction work. All employers whose employees are engaged in fire cleanup work should consult the resources above and take steps to protect their employees from hazards.

“This is evidence of the longstanding work of the coalition and our members who have been advocating the need for these protections for many years. This is a historic and significant victory that will impact more than 350,000 workers in California in light of the climate-fueled disasters that we will most certainly face in the future,” added Alvarenga. 

Contact: Rose Arrieta
rose@ cadomesticworkers.org

1.  Worker Health and Safety during Fire Cleanup