Ground zero volunteers felt sadness, anger

Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2001 | 9:19 a.m.

Gregory Drew's first sight of the rubble that was once the World Trade Center was blurred by tears.

Fellow Nevadan John Hutchison was overcome with emotion as well.

"Just seeing it on TV does not do justice compared to the first time you walk on the site," he said. "You feel sadness and anger. All the emotions come to you at once."

Drew and Hutchison were two of 12 volunteers for the Nevada Division of Industrial Relations who worked at the site in New York from Nov. 5 through Saturday. Their job was to make sure that individuals working in the thick smoke and burning debris of ground zero were properly fitted for their respirators and knew how to use them.

They described their duties at a press conference Tuesday at the state division's office at 1301 N. Green Valley Parkway in Henderson.

The Nevadans helped fit nearly 600 people, including public safety personnel, U.S. Customs agents, crane operators and VIPs. In addition to respirators, the Nevadans distributed safety glasses and hard hats from a trailer near ground zero.

"We weren't sure what we were in for when we went out there," Hutchison said. "There are still three fires burning. The steel was red hot from being in the fires. It was real thick with smoke in the air so respirators were definitely an important part of the process."

Drew said the most difficult task was convincing people to be clean shaven when they were wearing their respirators to help ensure a proper fit.

"Of the almost 600 people we fit-tested, only one could not be fitted," Drew said. "This one individual had his nose broken several times, so he could not get a good seal."

The Nevadans, seven from Henderson and five from Reno, came from the state's Occupational Safety and Health Enforcement Section and from the Safety Consultation and Training Section.

Gov. Kenny Guinn declared last week as Nevada OSHA Appreciation Week in their honor.

Tom Czehowski, state occupational safety chief, said the 12 volunteers were selected from among 20 Nevada employees who wanted to participate. He said the request for state safety volunteers came from Labor Secretary Elaine Chao.