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| 9/11 Changed the World Forever |
On September 11, 2001, four coordinated attacks by the terrorist organization al-Qaeda brought much of the world to its knees and ushered in a new-normal sense of security, where no one is above suspicion.
The Attack
On that surreal day, 19 al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked four large passenger jets with one unimaginable purpose in mind—inflicting as much death, mayhem and fear on the American public as possible.
Two of the hijacked jets were deliberately flown into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center and a third plane was purposely crashed into the Pentagon. A fourth plane presumably targeted at the Capitol Building or the White House crashed into a field near Shankesville, PA, after some of the passengers fought back against the hijackers on board and attempted to regain control of the jet.
The attacks on the World Trade Center killed, 2,753 people, including more than 400 firefighters and police officers. The injured numbered more than 6,000.
Had the burning towers collapsed sooner or perhaps fallen sideways, the carnage could have been much worse. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) estimated that 17,400 people were in the Twin Towers when the terrorists struck.
Thousands of tons of toxic dust entered the atmosphere when the towers fell and numerous deaths have since been linked to exposure to these materials.
Ten Years Later
The world breathed a collective sigh of relief with the news that al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden had been shot dead by US forces in May, 2011, but it would be naïve to believe that al-Qaeda no longer poses a threat to the US and other countries which have fought against extremists since 9/11.
The threat of another attack very much remains, as does the need for people to watch for and report any behavior that seems suspicious, both at work and in their neighborhoods.
Many of us live with a false sense of security. We think crime happens to other people and terrorism happens in other countries. Unfortunately, that’s not true. Workers need to prepare for all possible emergencies, even those as unlikely as terrorist attacks. In some workplaces, this threat is considered more possible than in others. These include power plants, large governmental agencies and places that make or use nuclear, biological or chemical materials. Other possible targets are waste treatment facilities, important bridges or tunnels, well-known buildings and national landmarks. Safety Smart has resources to help you protect your workers, such as this Safety Talk on terrorism, this article on safe commuting and this article for supervisors on how to enhance office security.
Need access to additional resources on this topic? Try SafetySmart today and get immediate access to safety talks, presentations and more. Sign up for a free 14-day trial now. |
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| Safety Training - Fast with SafetySmart! |
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Need accurate, reliable safety training resources for your regular safety meetings? With SafetySmart you will get immediate access to dozens of talks, presentations and more. You will save time and money on putting together your safety meetings, guaranteed!
Join thousands of safety professionals who rely on SafetySmart, sign up now for your 14-day no cost trial and enter to win an iPad2! |
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| *Offer expires on September 30th, 2011 |
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| While eating dinner in a restaurant in Tuxpan, Mexico, safety trainer Bill Bunner observed this painter working between 20 and 30 feet (six to nine meters) above ground without any form of fall protection. Bunner says the worker was painting trim along the edge of an overhang with traffic moving below. And what about all those wires in the photo? (Photo courtesy Bill Bunner) |
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| How to Minimize OHS Risk when Using Contractors |
Frequently, companies, their managers and administrators misunderstand critical OHS obligations and legal liabilities when using contractors. Worse still, existing OHS programs and policies in many organizations often don't adequately provide either the required oversight for contracted employees… or the necessary legal protections to the organization.
Read more on this topic at OHS Insider.com.
(Note: subscription is required; to get instant access , simply sign up for a No-Obligation Trial of OHSInsider.com. Sign up now and you will be entered into a drawing to win an iPad!)
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| Oncology Nurses Face Potential Exposure to Toxic Drugs |
A new study of 1,339 oncology (cancer treatment) nurses working in outpatient settings in Michigan has found that nearly 17 percent of them have suffered accidental exposure to toxic chemotherapy drugs through their eyes or skin.
Researchers from the University of Michigan’s School of Nursing say that nurses who have been exposed to the toxic drugs also tended to report that their workplaces had limited staffing and resources.
Unintentional exposure to chemotherapy drugs can increase the risk of a person developing blood cancer, along with potentially causing damage to the nervous system and impairing the human reproductive system.
Such exposures can be as dangerous to a nurse’s health as being stuck by a contaminated needle.
“This research shows that paying attention to the workload, the health of an organization and the quality of working conditions pays off,” says lead researcher Christopher Friese, an assistant professor at the university’s school of nursing. |
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Related story: One in Three Nurses Reports On-the-Job Abuse
(Note: Subscription is required. To get instant access, simply sign up for a No-Cost Trial of Safe Supervisor.)
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| Upcoming Events: |
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| Webinar - Sep 8, 12:00 EST (9 a.m. PST) |
| Workplace Drug & Alcohol Testing |
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| Webinar - Sep 22, 12:00 EST (9 a.m. PST) |
| Psychological Safety and the Law in the Canadian Workplace |
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| Webinar - Sep 29, 12:00 EST (9 a.m. PST) |
| How to Minimize OHS Risk when Using Contractors |
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| Due Diligence: Defining, Establishing & Demonstrating Your Record of Compliance |
Oct 24th & 25th
Hyatt Regency,
Toronto, ON |
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