Firefighter Safety and Health Issues at the World Trade Center Site

The rescue effort which began at theWorld Trade Center (WTC) complex on September 11, 2001 demonstrated to the world the unparalleled bravery and dedication to service of theNewYorkCity FireDepartmentmembers. Three hundred and forty-three firefighters died in the attack and more than 200 were seen in emergency rooms for physical trauma [Kelly, 2002a]. The Fire Department of New York (FDNY) led the rescue and evacuation of thousands of civilians from the Twin Towers and surrounding endangered buildings. The Fire Department utilized its entire Incident Command Structure (command, operations, planning logistics, finance) to control and coordinate rescue and recovery operations. It also coordinated the efforts of construction workers using heavy demolition equipment (front-end loaders, excavators, cranes, grapplers, etc.) to remove mountains of steel and building debris after the collapse of the Twin Towers and WTC 7. In a frantic attempt to find survivors, firefighters courageously positioned themselves in very close proximity to these demolition machines, manually digging in areas containing mounds of unstable debris. Void searches and confined space entries were conducted under the shadows of damaged buildings and pedestrian bridge structures without required safeguards in place. As the rescue effort continued through the night, portable stadium lights were obtained through the Mayor’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM). These lights are still in place at Ground Zero to enhance visibility during inclement weather and to permit operations to continue at night. The FDNYBureau of Health Services (BHS) physicians responded immediately to the scene and a triage area was established on Broadway. However, the threat of collapse of WTC 7 building resulted in its relocation to the Pace College building in the same afternoon. At the outset, many firefighters complained of eye irritation, cough, and congestion as the air was heavily contaminated with particulate matter from the collapse of the Twin Towers and WTC 7 [Kelly, 2002a]. Shortly after September 11th, the FDNY BHS teamed with representatives of theNational Institute of Occupational Health and Safety (NIOSH) and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP) to develop aMedicalMonitoring Program for all members, in order to compare current results with past annual medical exams. Each firefighter filled out a computerized survey to provide exposure data (days worked at theWTC, tasks performed, etc.). Testswere also performed to evaluate firefighter hearing, lungs, blood, and urine [Kelly, 2002a]. Within days after the attack, theMayor’sOffice, solicited the San Francisco-based Bechtel Construction Company to evaluate safety conditions at Ground Zero and draft an accident prevention plan. By mid-October, Bechtel with assistance from the designated Project Manager of the Department of Design and Construction (DDC), the New York Department of Health, the Port Authority of NY and NJ (PA), New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) produced the Environmental, Safety, and Health (ESH) Plan for theWTC Emergency Project. The ESH Plan defined the minimum acceptable requirements for ensuring worker safety and health at the WTC for all operational agencies. The FDNY, leading the Search, Rescue, and Recovery effort was given the responsibility for the implementation, enforcement, and compliance with the plan.