The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001
exposed rescue and recovery workers to unprecedented levels of risk for
job-related injury, illness, and death. The National Institute for Occupational
Safety and Health (NIOSH) responded swiftly to address workers' needs
in the aftermath of the attacks. NIOSH quickly sent to Ground Zero dozens
of staff who applied their technical expertise to help meet immediate
worker protection needs. NIOSH also funds programs to provide medical
screening, monitoring, and treatment for responders who served at the
WTC site. Links to information about the NIOSH response, and World
Trade Center health resources, can be found below.
WTC on the NIOSH Science Blog
See what guest blogger David Prezant has to say about respiratory health and the WTC collapse. Visit the NIOSH Science Blog and leave your comments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to commonly asked questions about the program.
Protecting
Workers at the World Trade Center Site - Response from the National
Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
DHHS (NIOSH) Pub. No. 2002-143
Summary of the NIOSH effort to address workers' needs in the aftermath
of the terrorist attacks.
HHS Web Page: World Trade
Center Health Resources
This site is a resource for responders, their families, medical professionals,
and those seeking information about the health effects resulting from the
September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center.
External Link: http://www.hhs.gov/wtc/
Worker Survey and Health Screening
Results
The World Trade Center Disaster and the Health of Workers: Five-Year Assessment of a Unique Medical Screening Program
Environmental Health Perspectives [Online 6 September 2006]
PDF
only 2 KB (31 pages)
External Link: http://www.ehponline.org/members/2006/9592/9592.pdf
CDC Press Release:
First Reports of Health Effects in World Trade Center Rescue and Recovery Workers Find High Rates of Respiratory and Mental Health Problems (September 2004)
Use
of Respiratory Protection Among Responders at the World Trade Center
Site - New York City, September 2001
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, September 11, 2002 / 51(Special
Issue);6-8
Impact
of September 11 Attacks on Workers in the Vicinity of the World
Trade Center - New York City
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, September 11, 2002 / 51(Special
Issue);8-10 Air Sampling
Summary Report to the New
York City Department of Health: NIOSH Air Sample Results for the
World Trade Center Disaster Response (February 2002)
Findings for Asbestos, Carbon Monoxide, Particulates, Hydrocarbons,
more...
Environmental
Studies of the World Trade Center area after the September 11,
2001 Attack (Nov. 27, 2001)
External Link: http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2001/ofr-01-0429/
Report describes the results of an interdisciplinary environmental
characterization of the World Trade Center (WTC) area after September
11.
Other Resources
Sources Sought NoticeWorld Trade Center National Responder Health Assessment and Treatment Services Contract, March 17, 2008
External Link: http://www2.fbo.gov/spg/HHS/CDCP/CMBP/2008-N-10358/SynopsisR.html
New York City Department of Public Health and Mental Hygiene 9/11 Health Website
Developed by the New York City Department of Public Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC-DOHMH) established the 9/11 Health Info website to provide the latest scientific information to the public about 9/11-related health problems and to serve as a resource for people who have health problems related to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center..
External Link: http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/wtc/html/home/home.shtml
Covered Conditions
A list of the conditions currently covered
by the program.
Workers' Compensation
Workers and volunteers who took part in the rescue, recovery, and clean-up
activities can find information about the extended filing deadline
for the Workers’ Compensation Board of New York, and about eligibility
and instructions on registering. Registration closes on August 14,
2007.
External Link: http://www.nycosh.org/911info/index.html
9/11 Workers' Compensation Public Service Announcement
Developed by the Business and Labor Coalition of New York (BALCONY).
External Link: http://www.balconynewyork.com/
Draft Standardized Postmortem
Examination Guidelines for Individuals Dying After Environmental
Exposures Related to the Collapse of the World Trade Center on September
11, 2001
This is an inactive archived draft document. Based on the independent scientific reviews, there will be no further development of this archived draft NIOSH instead will pursue other avenues for documenting long-term health effects from exposure to air contaminants from the World Trade Center disaster.
HHS
Press Release: HHS Awards $81 Million for Five-Year Health Screening
of World Trade Center Rescue, Recovery Workers (March 18, 2004)
HHS
Press Release: HHS
Awards $11.4 Million Contract to Assess Health Status of Workers, Volunteers
at World Trade Center Disaster Site (Aug. 5, 2002)
Protecting
Emergency Responders Vol. 1-3
Based largely on input received from emergency responders
and managers who have been engaged in recent major disaster responses,
including the 9/11 terrorist attacks on New York City and the Pentagon,
these reports show a need for research, planning, training, coordination,
and management procedures to help protect emergency responders
in terrorist attacks.
NIOSH Safety and Health Topic: Emergency Response Resources
Includes information for first responders and other emergency personnel
on terrorism response, natural disasters, site management, personal
protective equipment, chemical agents, and emergency preparedness.
Page last updated: May 19, 2008
Page last reviewed: August 27, 2004
Content Source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
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