A new report released by the National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON) and the University of Illinois Chicago has documented widespread failures to meet basic safety standards during fire cleanup efforts in Altadena, California.
According to the LA Times, the study surveyed more than 1,000 workers across 240 job sites and found that only one in ten wore the full Tyvek suits required by California regulations.
Just a quarter wore gloves and only 20 percent wore masks while removing toxic debris in the Eaton Fire burn zone.
The cleanup effort, taking place four months after the fire, included workers contracted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
The report has raised questions about whether employers and government agencies are adequately protecting workers from hazardous exposure.
NDLON’s worker survey, conducted in early May 2025, aimed to assess on-site use of protective gear in the Altadena cleanup area.
Surveyors observed workers across hundreds of locations.
They noted minimal use of gloves, respirators, or protective suits despite fire debris containing lead, arsenic, mercury and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.
Nik Theodore, professor at the University of Illinois Chicago, said: “This was no small sample by any means. This was an attempt to be as comprehensive as possible and the patterns were clear.”
The Army Corps of Engineers stated that it requires contractors to wear full PPE, including hard hats, Tyvek suits and respirators, when operating in ash zones.
However, NDLON’s findings suggest the policy was inconsistently applied or enforced in the field.
NDLON co-executive director Pablo Alvarado said: “Those workers are no longer alive. They died of cancer.”
“Sometimes it’s uncomfortable to wear all of that crap — particularly when it’s hot.”
He recalled similar issues following 9/11 and said current failures mirror past disasters.
NDLON has worked at disaster sites across the United States, where it routinely supports what it refers to as “second responders.”
Cal Soto, NDLON’s workers’ rights director, said: “We just happen to be literally in the shadow of it,” referring to the proximity of NDLON’s Pasadena Community Job Center to the Eaton burn area.
The organization began distributing PPE and organizing cleanup support immediately after the fire, highlighting the recurring nature of such lapses.
In response to observed safety failures, NDLON began offering free training for day laborers involved in post-fire cleanup.
Sessions were held in Pasadena churches and community centers, where instructors reviewed PPE use and identified common errors.
Debora Gonzalez, NDLON’s health and safety director, led demonstrations on mask fitting and proper suit usage.
She asked one training group: “What is our friend missing?” as attendees pointed out absent gloves and ill-fitting masks.
Carlos Castillo, a volunteer trainer, warned laborers that wildfire ash can contain a range of noxious substances.
NDLON’s goal is to ensure that laborers are equipped and informed, especially when employers fall short.
The California Department of Industrial Relations said in a statement to the LA Times that it has conducted nearly 500 site visits in the area.
A spokesperson said: “Our outreach services participated in numerous events to ensure safety information is clear, accessible, and widely shared across impacted communities.”
“Our enforcement team has also been actively providing compliance assistance.”
The Army Corps of Engineers stated that it enforces PPE use at all cleanup sites.
“USACE’s number one priority is public health and safety — of our employees and contractors, and of the survivors and the community,” the corps said.
Despite these claims, NDLON and its survey team documented multiple sites where PPE was missing, even at locations displaying official safety posters.
NDLON said this shows that stronger enforcement is needed.
Nadia Marin-Molina, NDLON’s co-executive director, said: “Unfortunately, workers’ health goes by the wayside.”
NDLON and the University of Illinois Chicago conducted a survey of over 1,000 workers in the Altadena Eaton Fire burn zone.
Findings showed widespread non-use of required protective equipment, including gloves, masks and Tyvek suits.
The cleanup involved contractors overseen by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
The Army Corps stated all workers are required to wear PPE at cleanup sites.
The California Department of Industrial Relations said it has conducted 500 site visits and provided outreach.
NDLON began offering free training sessions to educate workers on safety procedures.
The group has previously responded to disaster recovery efforts across the United States.
The report found that even where PPE requirements were posted, usage remained low.
NDLON attributed responsibility for worker protection to employers.
The organization called for stricter government enforcement of PPE regulations.
