ABC Monitoring Inc. was commissioned by the regional authority for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), to conduct a worker exposure assessment for personnel exposed to asbestos in the Staten Island area from October 11, 2001 to June 27, 2011. The exposure sampling and assessment is in response to the collapse of the World Trade Center buildings on September 11, 2001.The terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, that instantly killed 2,753 people at the World Trade Center (WTC) site; created a huge gray cloud of hazardous airborne debris that covered the lower Manhattan and Staten Island areas. This cloud contained a variety of substances injurious to human health. These materials include asbestos, fiberglass, pulverized concrete, lead, mercury, cadmium, dioxins, PCB’s and a large number of other dangerous substances (Senior, 2004). Destruction of the towers released indeterminate amounts of asbestos that was used to insulate between floors. It has been estimated that the amount of asbestos used in the WTC, to be as high as 1000 tons, but it remains unclear how much asbestos actually became airborne (Senior, 2004). Cleanup at the WTC officially ended on May 30, 2002 and it took 3.1 million man-hours to clean up 1.8 million tons of debris, with a total cost of $750 million (CNN, 2013). It is well established that exposure to asbestos may increase the risk of lung cancer and mesothelioma.
Asbestos Study of WTC Asbestos Sampling Data for Staten Island Area
Introduction
ABC Monitoring Inc. was commissioned by the OSHA to conduct a quantitative exposure assessment for workers exposed to airborne asbestos created by the WTC disaster. Workers associated with rescue and cleanup activities in the Staten Island ...
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On September 11th, 2001 at the World Trade Center 2,749 people were killed when hijacked American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175 were crashed into the north and south towers. 412 of them were rescue workers who came to help. 147of them were passengers or crew members on the two flights. 102 Minutes by Jim Dwyer and Kevin Flynn, the title referring to the time between when the first airplane hit the north tower and the south tower collapsed, tells the stories of what is happening inside the Twin Towers on September 11th and the fight for survival under unimaginable conditions.
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On September 11, 2001 four passenger commercial jet airliners were hijacked and as a result approximately 3,000 human lives were lost. When asked about 9/11, many can recall exactly what they were doing when they heard the news that a plane crashed into one of the World Trade Center (WTC) buildings and many Americans can tell you how it all unfolded and the reason behind such a travesty. The “official story” provided by officials, and restated by Sofia Shafquat, producer of “9/11 Mysteries: Demolitions” say that “four passenger planes were hijacked and taken radically off course, within an hour, two of the planes had flown into the enormous steel towers of the World Trade Center, creating fires and eventually toppling them” (Shafquat). Soon the American public believed that the impact of the planes and that the fires had gotten so hot from burning jet fuel, that they caused the steel frames of the buildings to give way and implode, falling to the ground into dust (Shafquat). Internal fires take on the responsibility of the official story, though others believe controlled demolition is to blame. Some evidence that debates these two explanations of how the steel towers fell are: the way the buildings collapsed, the properties of steel, and the evidence of molten metal.
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The attacks of September 11 were some of the worst ever experienced in the history of the United States. These attacks generated a widespread feeling of insecurity and uncertainty throughout America, compelling the government to revise safety measures and protocol pertaining to the wellbeing of the United States. However, some aspects of security under modification, such as building codes, are being questioned by many. The collapse of the twin towers, due to the impact from the airplanes, spurred a movement focused on strengthening the integrity of skyscrapers and other high-rise buildings throughout the United States. Though the terrorist attacks proved to be a tremendous tragedy, the application of measures this great is not seen as a proven necessity. The circumstances of the incident proved to be so extraordinary that dramatic modifications to the structure of building should not take place because of such an event. Therefore, the building codes of skyscrapers should not be changed due to the terrorist attacks of September 11.
On Sept. 11, 2001, A date that will live in infamy for Americans, terrorists attacked the World Trade Center in New York City. At 8:48 a.m. flight 11 crashed into the north tower. As it continued to burn a second plane flight 175 carrying 65 people crashed into the south tower around 9:05 a.m.. as smoke and debris fill the air in New York City after one of the World Trade Center towers collapsed. Police officers and rescue workers on the disaster scene in New York are covered in Ash that was two to three inches deep in places. People wandered dazed and terrified, Several firefighters coated with dust sat on the ground gasping for breath. One top fire official was asked if both towers had completely collapsed: "You can see what I can see, " he responded. "We just have no idea." At least 202 firefighters and possibly up to 350 are missing,
Villemez, Jason, and Dalia Mortada. “Chronology of the September 11 Attacks and Subsequent Events through October 24, 2001.” George Washington University. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Jan. 2014. .
My investigation first led me to find that twenty people died from October 26-31, 1948 (Pennsylvania DEP). According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation website, the town population was about 14,000 at the time of the disaster. Devastatingly, about half-7,000-of those people became ill or hospitalized. My investigation led me to discover that this disaster was “created by unchecked industrial emissions and stagnant air conditions” (Donora’s Killer Smog Noted at 50). These conditions led to a smog fog hanging around the area. The American Steel & Wire Co., a subsidiary of the US Steel Group, was the local plant responsible for producing these emissions and conditions. It is also widely accepted that the weather conditions were prominent in producing the disaster. In October of 1998, spokespeople for the industry agreed that the disaster was unfortunate and tragic, but did not fail to note that, at the time of the disaster, clean air acts did not exist. If any good could come from this disaster it was the funding for research about clean air and the eventual passing of clean air acts and legislation.
Asbestos is a mineral that was used prevalently in the middle 1900’s as a building material. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral in the earth’s crust, that was once mined in the United States. Currently, the mining of asbestos is banned in the United States, and the use of asbestos is highly regulated. During the peak use of asbestos, it was used primarily for its insulating properties, for heat protection and sound dampening. Some examples of use include fire protection equipment for fire fighters, drywall, ceiling tiles, and insulation around pipe and boilers. Many schools built during the mid-1900’s contain asbestos. For this case study, a hypothetical school, Big Bend Elementary, contains
This is important if you are planning on demolishing, or having renovations done to your building. Contact Asbestos Associated today for advice on the most appropriate steps to take. We are specialists in the safe removal and disposal of asbestos. We can provide a complete HSE licensed asbestos removal service, as well as general advice, management survey for your building, pre demolition/refurbishment survey and sample analysis. Each member of our team is committed to their own safety and to the safety of their colleagues and the public. All work that we complete is done with complete professionalism and in accordance to industry and Health and Safety
One particular method that may create the contamination of asbestos is known as vermiculite mining. Vermiculite is a silicate mineral that's categorized as a phyllosilicate and when heated it expands. The manufacturing process used to engender commercial expanded vermiculite consists of two separate operations. The mining and concentrating operations that engender raw vermiculite flakes are conducted at one location. The exfoliation and relegating operations that engender sundry sizes of lightweight, expanded vermiculite granules for use in other products are conducted in another location. Sometimes these two locations can be half a world apart.
Reese, C.D. and Eidson, J.V. (1999). Handbook of OSHA construction safety and health. Boca Raton, FL. CRC Press
Hazardous materials can be important in everyday life when properly handled. However, when improperly handled, they can result in injury, death, and destruction as well as have lingering effects that may last for years to come. To address the risk of an uncontrolled hazardous materials release, there must be a coordinated effort to identify, locate, and quantify the hazardous materials in a particular location (Drexel University Safety & Health, 2001). Typically, industry and government agree that a hazardous materials incident is one where
A type of mineral fibre called asbestos is present in the building material of many older Region of Peel schools. This fibre needs to be removed because it is an odourless and tasteless product that when breathed in, can cause serious health problems such as mesothelioma, a fatal cancer that affects the lungs, as well as other lung-related diseases. Unfortunately, many cash-strapped schools in Canada are following Health Canada’s ruling that asbestos is safe when contained. That means that if the product is in good shape, there is no need to remove it. However, many countries disagree with this, including Britain, Australia, Japan, Sweden, Germany and Denmark; all of which have gotten rid of asbestos completely.
Technological and accidental hazards can be occur without warning and can be both hazardous material incidents and failures at nuclear power plant. In some cases, victims that have been exposed to harmful chemicals or radiation show little to no symptoms until several years later. There are an increasing number of new substances and chemicals being manufactured which has increased the likelihood of a hazardous material spill or release. This also increases the risk to the environment and to the health and safety of a community.