New York —In early December 2001, INDUSTRIAL DISTRIBUTION went on location at the former World Trade Center site to follow the ongoing efforts there.

Firefighters and other rescue workers have given way to contractors and operators of heavy machinery. Aided by the favorable weather conditions, workers have made great strides in removing the massive mountain of rubble and transporting it to Staten Island's Fresh Kills landfill where it is searched for evidence by FBI and other law enforcement agents.

"It is amazing, considering the scope of the disaster site, that no worker has been seriously injured or killed," said Dan Carson, International Union of Operating Engineers director of hazardous materials. "That is due in large part to the availability of the proper safety equipment and the expertise of the union members working on site."

The IUOE also formed a unique partnership with safety distributors The Olympic Glove & Safety Co., Safeware, and safety equipment manufacturer MSA. The goal is to properly "fit test" all respirators to the workers, said Joshua D. Goldstein, vice president of Elmwood, N.J.-based Olympic Glove.

"In those first chaotic days after the attack, many of the supplies that did arrive were not properly organized or distributed," said president Edward A. Simons of Largo, Md.-based Safeware. "Most of us have seen images from Ground Zero of workers and volunteers not wearing respirators. In some cases, cartridges were not matched to respirators and rescue workers tried to make do — even if it meant duct-taping cartridges to mismatched respirators."

Simons said his employees helped organize and coordinate the distribution of safety equipment and both Olympic Glove and Safeware had staff on site around the clock during the first weeks after the disaster.

Carson said the air quality is a big concern considering that there is asbestos in the building materials of the WTC in addition to smoke, dust, and other toxins. It is actually the responsibility of the individual employers and contractors to properly outfit and train their employees, but the union didn't want to take chances, he added.

"MSA, Olympic Glove and Safeware have given out and fit tested nearly 1,600 respirators," said Carson. "They didn't have to but they just came and put respirators on everyone."

Ralph A. Pascarella, Local 30 director of apprenticeship training, safety & health for the union, said that the partnership has gone far beyond a purchasing relationship. He said the distributors delivered the right materials there when they were needed and that Goldstein was on site to supply information and expertise.

"Training is the key component in any safety program. We are providing an ongoing effort to educate the workers about why compliance is important and show them how to make the safety equipment comfortable," said Pascarella. "We have more than doubled the compliance on site."

While numerous manufacturers and distributors contributed supplies and their people donated time and money to the rescue efforts, Goldstein stressed the important ongoing role of safety distributors. He said Olympic Glove, Safeware and other safety distributors were contacted by FEMA and other controlling agencies within hours of the tragedy and their expertise was critical to getting the workers and volunteers the proper personal protection supplies and demonstrating their proper use.

For more coverage of the ongoing cleanup efforts in New York, visit www.inddist.com.