OSHA Says Cleanup Workers Don’t Need Breathing Protection: Same Thing They Said For 9/11 Clean Up

[Omaha Steve]

http://seminal.firedoglake.com/diary/52868

By: Kirk James Murphy, M.D. Friday June 4, 2010 2:32 pm

OSHA’s director claims the workers trying to clean up BP’s oilpocalypse don’t need breathing protection.

David Michaels, assistant secretary for the Department of Labor’s OSHA, said in an interview Thursday that based on test results so far, cleanup workers are receiving "minimal" exposure to airborne toxins. OSHA will require that BP provide certain protective clothing, but not respirators.

Hey, at least OSHA’s consistent.

While the 9/11 fires were still burning, medical occupational health and safety experts writing on their discipline’s most influential discussion list correctly foresaw the rescue and clean up workers there were at great risk of permanent respiratory damage.

The occupational and environmental medicine experts’ prediction of massive pulmonary injuries to unprotected 9/11 rescue and clean-up workers (as well as to local residents) was correct.

Testimony Questions OSHA Enforcement Failure During 9/11 Emergency

The results of a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request added fuel this summer to the simmering debate over whether OSHA, during a national emergency, should enforce its personal protective equipment (PPE) standard or merely take a consultative approach.

The FOIA request, filed by the New York Occupational Safety and Health Committee (NYCOSH), explored OSHA decision-making during clean-up in the wake of the 9/11 attack at the World Trade Center. Even after the initial crisis had passed, OSHA did not enforce its PPE standard. More recently, OSHA was also questioned for failure to enforce PPE regulations in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

With regard to the Ground Zero clean-up, the FOIA request uncovered a trail of email and other documents showing that the New York City Department of Health (NYCDOH), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the New York City Fire Department (NYCFD) all asked for OSHA enforcement during October 2001 when the immediate crisis had passed and extensive clean-up efforts were underway. Despite requests, OSHA did not enforce its regulations. It is estimated that as many as 60,000 workers and volunteers assisted in the clean-up.
Though no one knows what portion failed to use proper PPE, anecdotal reports suggest that unsafe exposure was commonplace. Already, as many as 60 percent of all Ground Zero workers have shown some signs of respiratory illness and some have died due to their exposure.

I can’t find it in my heart to say David Roberts is completely responsible for his toxic decision, though I am deeply saddened and disappointed by how rapidly those "leading" various Federal regulatory agencies find they are merely servants of the industries and megacorps that effectively control the Executive Branch.

FULL story at link.

[maryf]

1. K&R

workers don't matter, they're dispensable...its all about profit loss management, those respirators cost money, dontcha know...:grr:

[katandmoon]

2. K&R for exposure of David Roberts to all the airborne toxins in the Gulf

If he doesn't have the balls to stand up for the health of cleanup workers then fuck him and his lungs too.

[Angry Dragon]

3. If he thinks it is so safe he should do clean up

for a couple of weeks.

I always like it when people say it is safe but would never work under those conditions

Missouri....Show me

[slipslidingaway]

4. knr nt

[1776Forever]

5. So relevent to so many who still suffer from that incident! This is REALLY important!

I know of a Salvation Army Captain who suffers daily from this because he was in Ground Zero for months and he will never fully recover!

K&R

[pipi_k]

6. I was thinking the same thing, and I also recall

thinking "BULLSHIT!!!" when the air around the WTCs was deemed to be "safe" after 9/11 and how someone would have to be a total idiot to believe otherwise, no matter what anyone said.

Burning plastics and whatever else. Yeah. Safe.


The other day Mr Pip used a bit of oil on the screen door closer off the kitchen area. It wasn't much, but the smell made me sick. I can't even imagine how awful the air must smell in the Gulf. :(

[MrMickeysMom]

7. This is gonna cost... they never learn, as is the case with the 911 first responders

This makes me so mad. We have uncompensated workers who responded to ground zero on 9/11. ALL THIS TIME many firefighters and police have battled lung problems... uncompensated.

Fucking idiotic Bush administration was to blame then. Now....... WHAT?

[MountainLaurel]

8. Horseshit

I live 45 miles away from the Gulf. The first day that winds were blowing from that direction, I was dizzy as hell and at least 2 people I know ended up with migraines. If I needed a mask at that distance, I would guess that the people doing the actual cleanup sure as hell would.

[meeshrox]

9. I have HAZWOPER training and my husband does petroleum cleanup for a living

At 45 miles away, you didn't smell the vapors from the spill. According to the law, OSHA does not require a mask because there is no risk of vapor concentration. Also, the mask required for hydrocarbon vapors has a cartridge and cannot be purchased at home depot like particulate masks.

As for the 9/11 cleanup, the workers should have worn a particulate mask for proper breathing protection. Period.