Region 1 News Release:   BOS 2001-157
Oct. 26, 2001
Contact: Ted Fitzgerald
Phone: (617) 565-2074

OCEAN STATE OSHA STAFF ASSIST AT WORLD TRADE CENTER

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Three safety and health professionals from the Providence, R.I., area office of the U.S. Labor Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration recently served at 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 been working with federal, state and local government agencies to minimize the risks of injury and death to the thousands of workers in lower Manhattan. Two industrial hygienists and one safety specialist from the Providence office spent the week of September 24 in New York are part of a voluntary contingent of eleven OSHA employees from New England who were providing on-site assistance. A second group of twelve New England OSHA employees is scheduled to do so during the week of October 29.

Approximately 400 OSHA personnel -- of which more than 200 are from the New York region alone -- are directly involved in the effort. As part of OSHA's role of consultation and assistance, the agency is conducting air monitoring to characterize possible air contaminant exposures; distributing and fit-checking respirators and other personal protective equipment; and assisting New York City agencies in safety monitoring to address the physical safety of construction and rescue personnel on-site.

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