October 8, 2001—The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is working around the clock with federal, state, and local agencies to help ensure the safety and health of workers involved in the recovery effort at the World Trade Center. OSHA’s role continues to be one of assistance and consultation. OSHA is conducting personal air monitoring to characterize exposures; distributing and fit-checking respirators and other personal protective equipment; and conducting safety monitoring. Approximately 200 OSHA personnel are directly involved in the rescue and recovery efforts in lower Manhattan.
Risk Assessment/Monitoring
Between September 13-27, OSHA took 250 samples of asbestos. Results of the sampling continue to be within safe and acceptable limits. Updated results can be found at OSHA’s “Asbestos Monitoring at the WTC Site”. The agency has also begun sampling for silica, carbon monoxide, lead, and other heavy metals, and various organic compounds.
Respirator Distribution and Fit-Checking
Approximately 4,000 respirators are being distributed and fit-checked daily for rescue workers. Four distribution points have been established: at Public School 89 (West & Chambers Streets, just north of the WTC site), West & Albany Streets, adjacent to the debris pile), at Queens (staging area for firefighters), and at Staten Island (staging area for law enforcement personnel). OSHA is also distributing other personal protective equipment such as hard hats, gloves, and safety goggles.
Safety Monitoring
OSHA safety monitoring teams are working in concert with the New York City Department of Design and Construction to address the physical safety of personnel involved in the rescue effort. There are approximately 1,350 construction personnel on-site. Along with these personnel are an increasing amount of heavy equipment such as cranes, excavators, and dump trucks. OSHA’s construction safety specialists are providing technical assistance and consultation to help identify potential hazards and abate them quickly to prevent injuries.
Agency staff from other parts of the country are also being sent to New York to help support the effort. Among those working are the 23 members of OSHA’s Manhattan Area Office who escaped when Building 6 of the World Trade Center, where they were located, was severely damaged. As part of the overall rescue operation, OSHA also provided technical assistance and advice to officials of the Pentagon, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms.
