By MOLLY CHARBONEAU
The federal Environmental Protection Agency came under fire Feb. 11
at a U.S. Senate hearing held in lower Manhattan for prematurely stating
that polluted air from the World Trade Center disaster was safe.
Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Joseph Lieberman (D-Conn.)
presided at the hearing in a packed auditorium before a throng of
reporters and camera crews.
DC 37 member Judith Burger-Arroyo testified and DC 37 Administrator
Lee Saunders spoke at a news conference on the issues.
The union said federal funds must be set aside to address the safety
and health needs of workers impacted by the disaster. Many other unions,
health and environmental experts, elected officials, area residents,
parent groups and researchers also testified and called for federal
action.
"Our people went down immediately on Sept. 11. They were not
using respirators, they were not using any protective gear, and we
believe that they've got to be tested," said former DC 37 Administrator
Lee Saunders in an interview with Channel 4, which aired that evening.
"Adequate funds must be specifically earmarked for the medical
testing and treatment of employees who were exposed to dangerous chemicals
in and around Ground Zero," said Ms. Burger-Arroyo, a Public
Health Nurse.
She also testified about DC 37 members' heroic rescue efforts and
described how she and others in United Federation of Nurses Local
436 staffed 24-hour emergency shelters in schools after Sept. 11.
"To date, only some of the employees working at Ground Zero have
received baseline medical examinations. Unfortunately, hundreds of
others have not," Ms. Burger-Arroyo stated.
"Monies for medical testing, treatment and surveillance of workers
should be allocated to the New York State occupational health clinic
network, which is well equipped and staffed but lacks adequate funding
to deal with the huge numbers of workers potentially affected by this
disaster," she said.
Remember to
mail in your
DC 37 WTC Disaster Incident Report Form
If you were exposed or have experienced health problems due to the
WTC disaster or its aftermath, be sure to complete and mail in the
DC 37 WTC Disaster Incident Report Form that appeared in the Feb.
2002 issue of PEP.
Copies of the form can also be printed from the union's website at
www.DC37.net (click on DC
37 WTC Disaster Incident Report Form) or obtained from the
DC 37 Safety and Health Dept. at (212) 815-1685. Use the postage-paid
envelope that was enclosed in the PEP or send the forms in a regular
envelope to District Council 37, AFSCME, Attn: Safety and Health Dept.,
125 Barclay St., New York, NY 10007.