Industry publication, December 2001

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

people they work with and feel their job continually challenges them.” Several reasons why people leave Air Quality relate to lack of advancement. “We fig­ ure about 80 to 85% of people have not been promoted by their current employ­ er,” says James Vockley, executive vice WORLD TRADE FIRES DEGRADE AIR, president of Kimmel A^ociates, a Nash­ ville-based executive search firm. “Mon­ BUT TOXICS IN LINE, OFFICIALS SAY ey is down on the list as a motivator, com­ pared to the feeling that you’ve been dead-ended in your current job.” Horn­ berger agrees: “The old saying ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ doesn’t apply to man­ agers having to do the same thing over and over again.” “Broken promises are one of the key Be IH factors in turnover,” says Vockley. “Some companies promise moon and stars but then don’t come through. These com­ panies are at the greatest risk,” he says. The market downturn may have some impact on turnover, but it will not elimi­ nate the problem. “We see that experi­ enced operations and finance managers

TOP 10 REASONS CONSTRUCTION EXECS LEAVE: 1. Immediate Supervisor 2. Promotion 3. Increased Compensation 4. StOGk Ownership ; BURNING ISSUE Site smoke Isn’t exceeding contaminant standards, data shows. : 5. Jeb Security ' 6. Incompetent Leadership STUBBORN nRES AT THE WORLD TRADE Richard Tramontano, a director of the Center cleanup site in Manhattan remain state health agency, verified that “ground ) 7. Job Autonomy the key cause of air quality concerns that level air quality was causing irritations,” 8. Broken Promises brought local activists, politicians and en­ but said researchers have yet to fully char­ 9. Ethics & Integrity vironmental regulators to a verbal clash acterize “what’s burning.” EPA is only now 10. Unpaid Bonus last week at a New York state Assembly embarking on a long-term, site-area study, Sora: HmtaniB' UamgumtCg, hearing. Assembly Speaker Sheldon Sil­ he added. Legislators also pressed for cuts ver (D), whose district includes the WTC in equipment emissions. Johnson said site continue to be in demand,” says Robin­ site, led legislators in grilling regulators vehicles could be refitted to burn low-sul­ son. Vockley says that contractors no over the nature of site-driven pollution fur fuel, “but we don’t know if we have the ' I longer are just hiring bodies to fill poten­ and the extent of air monitoring. emergency power to order its use.” tial future requirements. But they con­ CarlJohnson, deputy commissioner of Patricia Clark, U.S. Occupational Safe­ tinue to need new people to meet cur­ the state’s Dept of Environmental Con­ ty and Health Administration regional rent needs. “Middle managers, particu­ servation, said agencies have been moni­ director, praised the site’s safety record so larly project managers and superinten­ toring asbestos, particulates and dioxin far, and noted a new safety “parmering” dents with about 10 years’ experience, since Sept. 11 and updating data on the pact signed by the city, site contractors are in real demand,” he says. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s and unions. Richard Cucolo, a state labor “Firms are still looking for quality Website, but these have not exceeded department official, said his agency is business development people and those “ambient levels” over a 24-hour period, “coordinating” with owners and contrac-. with preconstruction estimating experi­ despite “some spikes reported.” tors at 50 buildings near 'WTC to deter­ ence,” says Hornberger. ‘There are con­ Johnson added that Hudson River wa­ mine if scaffolds being used for repairs tractors now creating a new title—direc­ ter quality has not changed since the at­ sustained damage during the attacks. tor of preconstruction.” tacks, with historic levels of dioxin and Officials of the city’s Dept, of Design Turnover, even in a slow market, will chlorinated toxins “in line.” But Richard and Construction said current 24-hour continue to be a problem for contrac­ Brodsky, environmental committee chair­ work shifts will continue, even as winter tors. “As the work force continues to man, pressed officials on whether site approaches. Michael Burton, DDC deputy § shrink, good people will continue to be debris itself was tested for hazards, claim­ executive commissioner, said the agency in demand,” says Vockley. “And contrac­ ing that thousands of gallons of polychlo­ received two proposals for a supported tors will have to compete to recruit them rinated biphenyls may have leaked when fabric structure over some or all of the and compete to keep them because, in a power conduit under WTC Seven was 500,000-sq-ft site, but it decided against this industry, the wolf is always at the cut. Said Silver: “We won’t rebuild lower the $5-million to $8-million project be­ door.” □ Manhattan unless we can assure citizens cause of required construction time. □ By Gary J. Tulacz that it’s safe to live and work there.” By Debra K. Rubin I DECEMBER 3, 2001/ENR 15

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