Unnecessary Hazards to Workers at Ground Zero

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Unnecessary Hazards for Workers at Ground Zero

Ananova - 15:37 Friday 26th October 2001

http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_434298.html


Workers at the remains of the World Trade Centre have been exposed to
dangerous levels of toxic chemicals and suffered unnecessary
injuries.

An official government safety report has slammed the city of New York
for not making sure workers had basic equipment.

These include hard hats, safety glasses and respirators.

About 1,000 injuries have taken place to rescue workers since
September 11.

A leaked document also shows dangerous levels of chemicals including
lead, benzene and chromium have contaminated the air and the soil
around the site, and exposed workers to levels far higher than is
legal.

The safety report, by the American National Institute of
Environmental Health Sciences, said basic training and equipment
could have prevented injuries at the site including severe burns and
broken bones.

Safety inspector John Moran said: "There is no excuse for what I saw.

"When I was up there, there was no evidence of any safety or health
programme or plan. It's the worst site I've ever seen, extremely
hazardous.

"Very few of the workers were wearing even the most basic protective
equipment."

The report came after a five-day inspection of what is now America's
biggest construction site, where almost 2,000 workers continue to
labour at any one time.

The city's fire department admitted there had been problems
initially, but said safety procedures were being tightened up.

Spokesman Frank Gribbon told the New York Daily News: "There has
never been anything of this magnitude in the nation's history."

 
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