Region 4 News Release:   USDOL: 01-216
Thurs., Nov. 1, 2001
Contact: Lorette Dempsey or Jo Anne Burgoyne
Phone: (404) 562-2078 or (404) 562-2076

ATLANTA -- Forty-seven safety and health professionals from nine southeastern area offices of the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration have assisted in the World Trade Center recovery effort.

"The aftermath of the attack on America has brought out the best in Americans and the best in OSHA," said OSHA Assistant Secretary John Henshaw. "In this effort, our people are using their skills to protect the safety and health of the recovery workers.

Since the September 11 terrorist attack, OSHA has worked with federal, state and local government agencies to minimize the risks of injury and death to the thousands of workers in lower Manhattan.

Approximately 400 OSHA personnel -- more than 200 from the New York region alone -- are directly involved in the consultation and assistance effort. The agency conducts air monitoring for possible air-contaminant exposures; distributes and fit-checks respirators and other personal protective equipment for rescue workers; and assists New York City agencies in monitoring the physical safety of construction and rescue personnel on-site.

The Southeastern contingent of OSHA employees, serving one-week assignments, includes twenty-nine industrial hygienists, seventeen safety specialists and one safety engineer from area offices located in Mobile, Ala.; Jackson, Miss.; Raleigh, N.C.; Ft. Lauderdale, Jacksonville, and Tampa, Fla.; and Atlanta, and Savannah, Ga.