Protecting Workers at Ground Zero
Protecting Workers at Ground Zero The United States will never be the same following September 11,
2001. The destruction of the World Trade Center (WTC) was unprecedented in American history. The
tragic events of 9/11 have become a national benchmark. The heroic dedication of the rescue workers
at what became known as Ground Zero filled the nation with hope and pride.
New York, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota,
Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee,
Vermont, Virginia, Washington
The New York Division of Safety and Health (DOSH)
and federal OSHA took immediate steps in the aftermath of 9/11 to protect the search and rescue
workers. Besides New York DOSH, 18 state plan states sent staff to work
in New York City as part of the around-the-clock effort to ensure the safety and health of workers
involved in the World Trade Center recovery operations. States sending workers were: Arizona,
California, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina,
Oregon, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington.
On May 30, 2002, the recovery and cleanup at the World Trade Center disaster site came to an end.
Three million work hours were logged by rescue and recovery personnel at the World Trade Center
worksite. More than 1,000 members of the OSHA family from around the country came to New York City
to help protect those recovery workers.
The state plan states were proud to aid in the efforts to protect the thousands of working men and
women at the World Trade Center disaster site. Staff who volunteered expressed a unified gratitude
to be able to assist the heroic men and women who worked tirelessly in the rescue and recovery
operations.
Preparing for Workplace Emergencies
In response to the events at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and numerous anthrax
scares–government officials combined their efforts to protect citizens from acts of terrorism. Many
federal and state agencies charged with protecting workers developed guidelines, formed project
groups and enlisted other organizations to address terrorism and emergency preparedness in the
workplace.
No one expects an emergency or disaster to directly affect them, their employees or their business.
An emergency or disaster, however, can happen to anyone, anywhere, at any time. Workplace
emergencies in the past have included: fires, floods, toxic gas releases or chemical spills,
explosions, etc. Now that list must also include acts of terrorism.
State plan states have responded in a variety of ways to this new workplace hazard. Typically we
know what the hazards of the workplace are, and we know how to protect workers against known risks.
When dealing with the unexpected and unknown risks related to workplace security and emergency
preparedness, a cooperative effort is essential.
New York
The New York State Division of Safety and Health (DOSH)
has expanded its ability to respond to emergencies and to protect the workplace through a combination
of outreach, training and consultant services. Since the World Trade Center (WTC) disaster, DOSH has
focused on a number of emergency preparedness readiness activities.
Under the Comprehensive Cooperative Agreement Strategic Plan, significant safety and related work
has continued with New York’s fire and emergency services organizations. Outreach, training, and
resources are provided to foster operational response working relationships, assist with incident
command and line of authority training, and facilitate necessary updates to emergency response
plans. These efforts have included coordination with state and local fire services, emergency
management offices and fire associations. To date, over 600 partnerships have been established with
various fire organizations. In addition, DOSH consultant services are coordinating with weapons of
mass destruction (WMD) officials to assist with respirator fit testing, training for first
responders, local response teams planning, and the development of procedures for equipment
distribution in time of need.
DOSH utilized collective experiences of its 9/11 WTC response team by conducting a two-day critique
of emergency readiness, response and recovery activities that resulted in the development of the
DOSH Crisis Response Plan. This plan addresses the DOSH role to provide safety and health assistance
and support to state and local government emergency responders in time of need. This plan addresses
the DOSH response role for all natural and man-made disasters, including terrorist actions.
Work is also underway or has recently been completed as follows:
- Updated and re-issued the employee and supervisor Emergency Reference Manual, which identifies
procedures to follow in the event of an emergency.
- Issued guidelines and delivered specialized employee training on mail-handling and workplace
building security procedures.
- Coordinated with New York State Office of Public Security and the Division of State Police on data
sets to facilitate response to potential explosive and radiological incidents.
New Jersey
New Jersey was significantly impacted by the bio-terrorist attack in the fall of 2001. Four letters
containing anthrax passed through postal facilities in New Jersey. The letters caused contamination
that resulted in four cases of cutaneous and two cases of pulmonary anthrax, contamination of postal
facilities, and public concern. The New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services (NJDHSS),
Public Employees Occupational Safety and Health Program (PEOSH),
participated in the efforts to protect postal employees public employees and the public during this
serious public health emergency.
PEOSH staff assisted in the development of guidelines including:
- Sample Collection and Building Evacuation and Decontamination and Re-entry Guidelines for Suspect
Anthrax Incidents;
- Interim Guidelines for Minimizing the Risk from Cutaneous and Inhalation Anthrax While Handling
Mail;
- Guidelines for Employees Potentially Exposed to Bacillus anthracis.
PEOSH staff also assisted in environmental evaluations including:
- Environmental sampling strategy for the Hamilton Township Postal Facility;
- Site entry into the Hamilton Facility, West Trenton Facility, Princeton Facility and the Bellmawr Facility;
- Conducted environmental surface sampling in all postal facilities served by the main Hamilton
Facility (896 samples from 49 facilities);
- Assisted in decontamination of the Hamilton Facility;
- Attended meetings with representatives of US Postal Service, IT Corporation, EPA, and CDC NIOSH;
- Conducted inspections of a high volume state government mail sorting facility and made
recommendations for engineering controls.
Other activities conducted by staff:
- Participated on the Domestic Security Preparedness Task Force;
- Answered phone calls at the State Police Emergency Operations Center to address bio-terrorism concerns;
- Assisted at local hospitals providing anthrax screening; and
- Prepared and administered a survey determining the effectiveness of guidelines prepared for mail handlers.
Nevada
After the events of 9/11, it became clear to Nevada
government agencies that they needed to be better prepared to handle catastrophic emergency situations.
Through a combined effort, the Nevada OSHA and Safety Consultation and Training Sections
were able to receive federal grants and one-shot money to form two response teams. These two teams began
training in early October 2002.
All team members have been trained to the Technician Level for HAZMAT response, as well as, many
training dealing for emergency response to terrorism. The two teams drill in conjunction with local
first responder agencies, and work with high-hazard employers throughout the state. A major function
of the teams is to perform outreach presentations to local employers to assist them in preparation
for response to emergency situations.
Outreach presentations are focused around "Emergency Preparedness in the Workplace." Team members
assist employers in reviewing emergency response plans, observe and participate in drills, and
provide any type of help deemed necessary to ensure that the employer is prepared for the
unexpected. Outreach sessions have proven to be productive for both employers and team members.
The two response team trailers are stocked with various types of personal protective equipment,
which can be issued to affected employees and responders during the course of an incident. Files
pertaining to high-hazard employers throughout the state are kept with the response team equipment
to ensure quick access to much needed information during an emergency situation.
California
California has worked with local and state emergency response agencies on
integrating safety into their planning and response to catastrophic events. For a number of years,
Cal/OSHA representatives have met with the California Office of Emergency Services, the organization
charged with coordination and emergency contingency planning. More recently, Cal/OSHA has met with
the Office of Homeland Security.
Cal/OSHA recently expanded on its liaison with the Office of Homeland Security by
completing a systematic evaluation of Cal/OSHA’s preparedness in terms of personnel and other
resources to respond to terrorist events. Cal/OSHA has created emergency response teams in northern
and southern California. Cal/OSHA personnel were selected to serve at the Risk Assessment level or
the Competent Technical level based on the level of training, expertise and experience in one or
more of the risk categories. Risk categories include biohazard, industrial chemical hazard,
radiological hazard, chemical weapons or nuclear device hazard or structural collapse hazard.
Connecticut
Connecticut (CONN-OSHA) is working with the Connecticut Office of Emergency Management (OEM)
developing personal protective equipment (PPE) protocols and guidelines for response to weapons of
mass destruction (WMD) incidents. They are also meeting with OEM to define CONN-OSHA’s roll to
protect the safety and health of emergency responders, should an incident occur. CONN-OSHA continues
to offer all employers in the state, emergency evacuation training and provided information to 300
emergency responders at the height of the anthrax incidents.
Iowa
Iowa participated in inter-agency planning meetings in the statewide response
to the anthrax threat in mail handling. They are also prepared to provide respiratory protection training
to employers and employees.
Kentucky
The Kentucky OSH Program has representation on the
Governor’s Security Working Group. The delegates meet monthly to plan actions to be taken and
discuss homeland security issues, and participate in state security exercises and planning conferences.
Maryland
During federal fiscal year 2002, Maryland developed
an "Emergency Response and Disaster Preparedness" seminar. The program guides participants through
the process of preparing and implementing an emergency response plan. This seminar was presented
four times during this period reaching 123 employers and employees for a total 738 training hours.
Michigan
The new MIOSHA Strategic Plan for 2003-2008 includes
a specific objective to address emergency preparedness strategies to enable MIOSHA to assist in the
event of a terrorist or other significant threat or attack. MIOSHA will provide preparedness information
to increase workplace knowledge of and readiness for a terrorist attack or other significant threat or
attack. MIOSHA will train and equip program staff to provide consultation and technical assistance to
clean up and recovery personnel. In response to the terrorism and anthrax concerns following 9/11, MIOSHA
developed a workplace security resource guide for use in outreach and training efforts. The guide includes
information on preparing for emergencies, terrorism and industrial chemicals, terrorism and
biological/chemical agents (including anthrax) and helpful websites.
Minnesota
The Minnesota Department of Labor is represented by MNOSHA
compliance at the Department of Public Safety. This representation ensures their involvement in all
incidents of natural, as well as human-made disasters. In addition, they are involved in state of
Minnesota planning for potential acts of terrorism. The role of MNOSHA compliance is defined in the
Minnesota Emergency Operations Plan. The state has an internal Catastrophic Event Team that is their
first line of contact in regard to an event. MNOSHA also provides help to employers in regard to their
emergency response and preparation plan.
Oregon
In FY 2002, Oregon OSHA initiated a work group to
coordinate and communicate information on biological and chemical terrorism. The group’s efforts are
focused in five key areas: 1) identification and collection of information and resources related to
biological and chemical terrorism; 2) networking and establishing a coordinated effort to address the
occupational safety and health issues associated with emergency response; 3) emergency planning for
the Portland metropolitan area; 4) participating with Oregon Public Health Services on chemical terrorism
issues, including work being coordinated by NIOSH and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease
Registry; and 5) seeking out training on bioterrorism and related issues. The goal is to create a team
of experts knowledgeable in biological and chemical hazards trained to respond to a variety of
contaminants under potentially catastrophic conditions.
Tennessee
Tennessee OSHA has worked with the Tennessee Office of Homeland Security
and the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency to develop a response plan to provide technical assistance
and assure the safety and health protection of emergency workers. The Commissioner of Labor and Workforce
Development is a member of the Governor’s Homeland Security Council.
Virginia
In 2002, Virginia Consultation, in cooperation with
the Virginia Labor Studies Center at Virginia Commonwealth University, conducted "Emergency Preparedness"
training sessions for small businesses in three areas of the state. This project was to focus on businesses
that were prone to any potential disasters, e.g., natural, man-made, and individual or organized terrorism.
An Emergency Preparedness Manual was developed and is available in English and Spanish on their website at
www.doli.state.va.us.
Washington
Washington had active participation in the "TOPOFF 2" exercise that was held
in Seattle by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Department of State. The exercise
consisted of response by federal, state and local emergency responders to a simulated explosion containing
radioactive material.
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