December 26, 2001—The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced December 12, 2001, a new partnership initiative to help protect the safety and health of workers involved in the World Trade Center Staten Island recovery operation. The WTC Project Staten Island Recovery Operation Partnership formalizes a commitment to safety and health among federal, state, and city agency representatives, contractors, employees, and employee representatives participating in the effort.
The agreement calls on the partners to exercise leadership in preventing occupational fatalities and serious injuries and illnesses for all workers involved in the WTC Staten Island Landfill Recovery Operation, so that, as OSHA states, “the September 11 tragedy claims no more victims in terms of fatalities or serious injuries or illnesses.” Partners agree to work cooperatively with all organizations assisting in the operation to: ensure implementation of and compliance with the WTC Staten Island Recovery Operation Emergency Project Environmental, Safety and Health Plan; abate all serious hazards immediately; and share safety hazard and exposure monitoring data.
Joining OSHA in the partnership are the US Army Corps of Engineers, Environmental Protection Agency, New York Police Department, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, New York City Department of Health, New York City Department of Sanitation; Hugo Neu Schnitzer East, Phillips and Jordan, Evans Environmental & Geosciences, Yanuzzi & Sons, Inc., Mazzochi Wrecking; Taylor Recycling Facility L.L.C.; International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 14-14B and Local 15, and Garner Environmental Services, Inc.
The partnership is similar to another pact OSHA recently initiated with contractors, employees, employee representatives, and federal, state and city agency representatives involved in the emergency response effort at the World Trade Center site. The Staten Island partnership calls on partners to work together in their respective roles to create the highest level of worker safety health in extremely difficult work environments. Safety and health initiatives have already begun, including safety meetings, joint safety monitoring tours, respirator fit testing, air sampling, and employee training.
