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"A
green line, painted around the perimeter of the
Word Trade Center site, defined the recovery
area. Within and around this boundary, OSHA
worked for 10 months with its partners in safety
and health to protect the well-being of workers
on the site. Within that space, no workers lost
their lives in the recovery effort that followed
the tragedy of September 11, 2001." |
From the start,
OSHA knew that the recovery of the WTC site
would be no ordinary task. In the center stood a
six story mountain of twisted and mangled steel
was all that remained of two 110 story
skyscrapers that had for decades had defined the
New York City skyline. OSHA's goal from the
beginning was protection, not citation, and
given the number of hazards and the fact that
this was still a rescue effort, the site was
operating under emergency conditions, their goal
was going to be difficult to achieve. OSHA
suspended their enforcement actions and assumed
the roles of consultation and technical
assistance.
Some of the
extremely dangerous hazards included cranes
lifting beams of unknown weight, compressed gas
cylinders, threats posed by falls and falling
objects, hot steel, confined spaces, Freon and
much more.
Thirty cranes were
used onsite, including some of the largest in
the world, and were operating in uncomfortably
close quarters inside the green line. In what
has been described as "an intricate balance of
motion and timing," the cranes lifted loads of
twisted steel and compacted rubble in an
environment filled with the potential for
accidents. High winds, rain and an unstable
ground added to this dangerous mix.
Rescue workers
working side by side with demolition workers
using heavy equipment created very unique
challenges since they were working in extremely
tight quarters. OSHA needed to find a simple
solution and after consulting with construction
personnel, labor representatives, and emergency
responders they found one that made a big
difference. Workers started wearing brightly
colored reflective vests to make them more
visible to equipment operators and OSHA also
imposed a mandatory distance between heavy
equipment and rescue workers to provide
additional protection.
The pile of debris
posed further complications with its sheer size
and instability. The mountain of mangled debris
rose six stories above ground and descended
seven below. Gaps and voids within the wreckage
caused ever-changing shifts and constant
hazards. There was constant concern with heavy
equipment operating on such unstable surfaces.
There were many "near misses," including an
unattended crane that fell 30 feet when the
platform of rubble on which it sat collapsed.
There was a
never-ending potential for explosions at the
site. In one case. a
fuel tank with tens of thousands of gallons of
diesel fuel was found buried seven stories below
ground. The parking garage under the WTC held
nearly 2,000 automobiles, each tank holding an
estimated five gallons of gasoline. When
recovery workers reached the cars, they found
that some had exploded and burned while others
remained intact. OSHA's Manhattan Area Office
was in Building 6 of the WTC which also housed
many other federal agencies, including the U.S.
Customs Service. More than 1.2 million rounds of
their ammunition, plus explosives and weapons
were stored in a third floor vault to support
their firing range.
Another danger
involved the high temperature of twisted steel
pulled from the rubble. Underground fires burned
at temperatures up to 2,000 degrees. As the huge
cranes pulled steel beams from the pile, safety
experts worried about the effects of the extreme
heat on the crane rigging and the hazards of
contact with the hot steel.
Yet another danger
imposed on the workers was the huge underground
tanks that held more than 200,000 pounds of
Freon stored to cool the seven buildings. The
WTC complex had the largest air-conditioning
system in the country. OSHA personnel were
concerned that workers entering areas below
grade could be exposed to Freon gas, a known,
heavier-than-air, invisible killer. After a
leaking tank was discovered, agency staff and
the site construction manager carried out
special sampling for months until all the tanks
were uncovered and safely removed.
On September 11,
2001, the United States entered a new era - one
that requires increased levels of vigilance and
stronger commitments than ever before to
emergency preparedness. OSHA learned a great
deal at the WTC site, lessons that can help the
agency improve its own emergency preparedness
while also helping employers prepare for
emergency response.
Post Thought, By
Gary Gagliardi, Director of Operations
On December 17, 2004 the staff of Safety
Resources Inc. visited the WTC site. As you
stare through the fence surrounding the area
that once was the World Trade Center buildings,
the enormity of the September 11th tragedy is
overwhelming. You then realize that there is
construction in progress and businesses are
being conducted all around you. For as enormous
as the September 11th tragedy was, after a
visit to the World Trade Center site, you truly
understand that the energy, pride and true
character of New York and of this country is
even greater. |