Protecting Emergency Responders: Lessons Learned from Terrorist Attacks

• NCJ Number: 193878
• Author(s): Brian A. Jackson; D. J. Peterson; James T. Bartis; Tom LaTourrette; Irene Brahmakulam; Ari Houser; Jerry Sollinger
• Date Published: 2002
• Length: 102 pages
• Corporate Author: RAND
• Sale Source: RAND
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Conference Material
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Downloaded March 25, 2002

Annotation

This report summarized discussions from a 2001 conference that brought together individuals with experience in responding to acts of terrorism. With the intent to aid Federal managers and decision-makers in understanding the unique working an d safety environment associated with terrorist incidents, develop a comprehensive personal protection technology research agenda, and improve Federal education and training programs and activities geared toward the health and safety of emergency responders.

Abstract

In response to the 2001 attacks on the U.S. World Trade Center, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) held a conference in December 2001 in New York City to determine what could be learned about protecting the life and health of emergency workers who respond to terrorist attacks. The focus was on personal protective equipment (PPE). Input was provided by emergency workers involved in the September 11 attacks on the WTC and the Pentagon, the 1995 attack on the Federal building in Oklahoma City, and the anthrax incidents in 2001. This conference proceeding report summarized lessons learned about PPE during the events. In addition, discussions from individual professionals that took place during the conference were summarized. The report is organized into seven chapters with the first chapter offering an introduction to the conference and an outline and purpose of the report. The remaining six chapters cover: (1) the unique characteristics of the sites of major terrorist incidents; (2) the availability and performance of PPE at the terrorist sites; (3) the dissemination of information and training; (4) the problems associated with managing major terrorist attack sites and the enforcement of PPE; (5) the recommendations made for moving forward; and (6) concluding remarks, drawing out several strategic policy issues (i.e. guidelines, cost, research, development, and technology transfer, equipment standardization, and safety management). Appendices include organizing partners, conference participants and agenda, and summaries of plenary presentations.