Memorandum from the Commissioner regarding building inspections and safety measures for employees returning to work.
NYC-WTC_000150513–000150514Folder label: “NYC DOH”
OCR status: ok · source: pdftotext
NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document , p^ine Phjdhdmme -air quality letter bets edits/db^ Pagel
I
TO: All DOH Employees
FROM: Neal L. Cohen, M.D. Commissioner
DATE: Octobers, 2001
SUBJECT: Health and Safety Issues for Returning to DOH Buildings in the Downtown Area
Beginning the week of September 24, Department of Health employees were asked to return to work in downtown buildings that had been evacuated following the World Trade Center disaster on September 11, 2001. I would like to inform you of the steps which have been taken to ensure the health and safety for employees returning to work In the downtown area.
The City has required that buildings located In the secured areas following September 11 be subject to a comprehensive inspection. This inspection included: assessment of building stability; safe functioning of building utilities (e.g. gas, water, steam and electric, heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems); and clean-up of interior dust and debris, followed by testing for hazardous materials such as asbestos.
Based on the results of these inspections, it was determined that all downtown DOH buildings (including both City-owned and leased) were found to be safe for re-occupancy and the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) worked with the DOH to coordinate clean-up efforts. Currently, the DOH Bureau of Operations is in the process of replacing filters on window air conditioning units in buildings that do not have centralized heating and air conditioning systems. Window air conditioners should not be turned on until the filters have been changed. Centralized heating and air conditioning systems (HVAC) filters are also being vacuumed before being turned on. it is also recommended that windows be kept closed if visible smoke or dust is near the building.
From a health perspective, the substances of concern that may have been released into the air include asbestos and fine airborne particles. Therefore, I tests to date have focused primarily on assessing these substances.
Concerns have been expressed regarding the potential for asbestos to be
NYC-WTC_000150513
OCR can misread numbers and units. Confirm readings against the page image before using them.
Ranked by indexed similarity. Reasons describe shared subjects and filing context; check the source records.
NYC-WTC_000150069
Overview of multi-agency air, water, and dust sampling efforts in Lower Manhattan to assess pollutant levels after the disaster.
9 shared non-person entities · 1 shared topics · Same agency, volume and box · similarity 0.939
machine-extracted · confidence unavailable · Check page ↗NYC-WTC_000153311
Memorandum from the Commissioner of Health regarding steps taken to ensure employee safety upon return to downtown buildings after September 11.
11 shared non-person entities · 1 shared topics · similarity 0.994
machine-extracted · confidence unavailable · Check page ↗NYC-WTC_000142730
Guidance document explaining requirements for HVAC cleaning and asbestos abatement regulations for building owners.
6 shared non-person entities · 1 shared topics · similarity 0.952
machine-extracted · confidence unavailable · Check page ↗NYC-WTC_000142741
Guidance document explaining requirements for HVAC cleaning and asbestos abatement regulations for building owners.
6 shared non-person entities · 1 shared topics · similarity 0.952
machine-extracted · confidence unavailable · Check page ↗6 shared non-person entities · 1 shared topics · similarity 0.951
machine-extracted · confidence unavailable · Check page ↗6 shared non-person entities · 1 shared topics · similarity 0.950
machine-extracted · confidence unavailable · Check page ↗NYC-WTC_000142697
Report detailing air quality monitoring efforts and health precautions for residents regarding dust and smoke exposure.
6 shared non-person entities · 1 shared topics · similarity 0.949
machine-extracted · confidence unavailable · Check page ↗NYC-WTC_000142699
Q&A document advising landlords on HVAC filter changes and asbestos assessment requirements following the disaster.
6 shared non-person entities · 1 shared topics · similarity 0.948
machine-extracted · confidence unavailable · Check page ↗6 shared non-person entities · 1 shared topics · similarity 0.940
machine-extracted · confidence unavailable · Check page ↗NYC-WTC_000149199
Department of Environmental Protection advisory letter dated October 25, 2001, addressed to residents of Lower Manhattan.
10 shared non-person entities · 1 shared topics · similarity 0.940
machine-extracted · confidence unavailable · Check page ↗NYC-WTC_000147467
Internal discussion regarding claims in a press release about ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel legislation and EPA waivers.
5 shared non-person entities · 1 shared topics · similarity 0.939
machine-extracted · confidence unavailable · Check page ↗NYC-WTC_000148115
Frequently asked questions and updates regarding disaster assistance, road reopenings, and victim support funds issued in October 2001.
10 shared non-person entities · 1 shared topics · similarity 0.939
machine-extracted · confidence unavailable · Check page ↗Similar subjects in other documents. Similarity does not establish the same event, measurement or conclusion.
Page similarity is temporarily unavailable or this page has no indexed vector.
Machine-extracted building matches; verify each source. Buildings, never households.
Readers open these alongside this record — through an Ask answer, the same folder, or indexed similarity. Not a claim they are about the same event.
NYC-WTC_000141740
Press release from the NYC Department of Health presenting findings from indoor air sampling in Lower Manhattan.
Cited alongside this record in an Ask answer
NYC-WTC_000142665
News report discussing physician assessments of asbestos-related disease risks for residents following the collapse of the towers.
Cited alongside this record in an Ask answer
NYC-WTC_000142687
Fact sheet answering public questions about prolonged fires at the World Trade Center site and potential health impacts.
Cited alongside this record in an Ask answer
New York Times summary of a federal study linking glass and cement dust exposure at Ground Zero to respiratory illness and mesothelioma risk.
Cited alongside this record in an Ask answer
Memo describing health support for the Mayor's task force and a new public database of building data.
Cited alongside this record in an Ask answer