[COEXERJ145]

One has to wonder why he wasn't wearing the proper protective gear. A good respirator, one that filters out both particulates and vapors, would probably have protected him.

[EBH]

I remember ready in one of the safety magazines I get from the ASSE one of the problems was all the different manufactures of masks and not having enough of the right fitting cartridges for the masks. Each manufacture has a unique mechanism so you're stuck using only their cartridge. They are not interchangeable.

I believe this was discussed and was going to be changed? But, I don't recall it ever having happened.

[Restorer]

Obviously you've never worn a respirator for long. Nobody could effectively work for that many hours while wearing one. Not that this should have stopped them from enforcing appropriate respiratory protection.

[Calpernia]

Protective gear? I only remember seeing hard hats. And gloves.

[MensRightsActivist]

"One has to wonder why he wasn't wearing the proper protective gear. A good respirator, one that filters out both particulates and vapors, would probably have protected him."

Maybe all the respirators became plugged with all the particulate debris floating in the air. There are specific respirators and cartridges that must be worn to filter out asbestos and other particulate contaminates. Face-Mounted Powered Air Purifying Respirator (PAPR) Systems This type "use a single high efficiency filter for protection against dusts, fumes, mists and radionuclides." This type is "ideal for lead, asbestos and other hazardous particles." These might have worked, but I believe you need an air line to use them, which would have been ackwardly restrictive given the type of recovery and demoltion work going on. Here is another type that allows the worker more freedom of movement. Portable PAPR

Having been trained in respiratory protection, I especially noticed all the workers in the debris with their respirators hanging around their necks. I was very concerned for the long term health of their lungs. Occasionally, I'd see one or two workers wearing their respirators or masks, but there were many who didn't. The masks were far more ineffective than the respirators, but much better than nothing. The Mayor of New York held his respirator in his hand and took it off to make comments to the newsmedia. That was also unsafe. He should have had it on and left it on, even though his voice would have been very muffled when he spoke. All that being said, a dust particulate filter probably would have filtered out little or no gasified mercury that was in the air. I think a respirator specifically for Mercury would have been all that would have worked properly, but check with respirator manufacturers to be sure. Mercury Vapor or Chlorine cartridge None of this post is intended as training or advice in respiratory protection. I'm just giving my opinion.

IMO, I would say this present victim's proximity to this event (very close) at the time it occurred would have contributed immensely to any Mercury poisoning as the gas should have evaporated rather quickly. The dust would have been another story.

Given the shock that most were in after this occurred I would be the last to blame anyone for "slipping up" and not following established safety regulations. My sympathy to all. This is just one more tragedy that I think is directly contributeable to the events of 9/11. It is sad to see the lethal legacy of 9/11 claim another victim.

Lastly, 92% to 94% of industrial deaths and injuries are male, but you won't find that "oppressive" statistic in any college or university, women's studies courses that I know of. So much for all the women's studies ballyhoo about male privileges in the work place.

[beaver fever]

"One has to wonder why he wasn't wearing the proper protective gear. A good respirator, one that filters out both particulates and vapors, would probably have protected him."

Yeah they cost $25 at the local paint store.

I wore one everyday for years. Had to lend it to a guy one day because he was going to scrub a chimney with muriatic acid without a resperator!

Rule one: always wear a respirator on a demolition site even in the open air.

[Strzelec]

Early in the disaster, probably because it wasn't immediately available for all personnel, and the need for search and rescue was thought to trump personal safety. If he didn't wear it during the following weeks, it was because his organization didn't ensure he was properly equipped, and, most importantly, using that equipment properly. Not meaning to cast stones - 9/11 was far beyond anyone's experience level at the time - but there are lessons to be learned so we can do better next time.

Some groups, notably the Consolidated Edison electric and gas workers, did a much better job of protecting themselves from the start (although in all fairness the ConEd responders were fewer in number and were not first responders performing SAR). A big part of this was that the company insisted that the workers protect themselves (through training, controlled site access, on-site safety inspections and mandatory decontamination). At times it's really tough to get workers to use their PPE - getting them to wear hardhats at all time in normal conditions is difficult enough, let alone restrictive equipment like respirators and special protective clothing in conditions like that after 9/11.