What's up with the policenmen, firemen, etc.. suing over 911 recovery health problems?

Question

Watched a show in brief on this where some policemen, etc are experiencing health problems due to the dust in the aftermath of the 911 wreckage.

I have mixed feelings on this.

When a policeman gets shot and injured on duty, does he sue? No

When a fireman gets burned on duty, does he sue? No.

I don't mean to be heartless. Just wondering why on earth they are suing over this.

Am I missing some points or something with their argument?

Answer 1

It is a workers comp employers responsibility case.

New York claims it is Federal responsibility because the job workers were injured on is the result of an attack on America.

The Fed says no 911 was an attack on New York and therefore NY problem.

Go big Red Go

Answer 2

There were a lot of people who helped at 9/11. During the initial stages there were all kinds of people telling everyone to wear their respirators because no one was certain what was in ther air.

As the days wore on the air testing was completed and it was determined that there were no harmful compunds in the air that would cause injury. Unfortunately the tests were being conducted for known chemicals and compounds in the air and the dust that covered everything was also checked for toxins.

That dust was made of predictable chemcials, silica from the concrete, wood, paper, traces of asbestos, mercury from the florescent lights and balasts, all well below being a danger to health, but the use of repirators were advised. But what was not foreseen was the short and long term effects caused by the main component of the dust... glass.

The glass dust, technically categorized as fibers because they were three times longer than their width, accounted for over 40% of the dust at ground zero. It was smaller than asbestos fibers, meaning it was inhaled deeper causing greater damage to the respiratory system of the rescuers.

These guys are suing because they feel the EPA, OSHA and federal government didn't do their jobs by warning them of the hazards in the atmosphere, even though the air was repeatedly tested and found to not contain KNOWN hazardous agents.

Officials from OSHA said from the first day to the last day that they should wear respirators, but the emergency responders didn't do so, and couldn't be forced to by Federal OSHA because NY has a state OSHA program for state and municipal employees. OSHA made sure the construction workers were protected and there have been few complaints from the private sector about health problems.

The sad facts are that they chose not to wear protection and are unfortunately paying the price for it. The city and their union should have forced them to wear the respirators, but did not.

Answer 3

The reason for the lawsuit is there are some who say their lung problems did not come from the dust on that day and therefore they are not getting workman's comp. When a policeman gets shot or firefighter burned, those are definite workplace injuries and the person involved gets just compensation for that, or their family does. Where the problem is here is that you now have firefighters, paramedics, police, etc... who are missing work due to lung problems and unable to draw a check because it is not being tied to 9/11 and hence is not being looked at as a workplace problem.

That is the basis of the suit in a nutshell.

Answer 4

Well they had them work long hours is a place and smoke they were told was not dangerous, which turned out to be very toxic.

Did you know the victims of 911 sued the Bin Laden family and lost?
Do you know what Law firm represented the Bin Laden family?

James Baker, the Bush/Reagan/Bush main man and former Secretary of State

and I quote...............


Baker's law firm, Baker Botts, was founded by Baker's grandfather, James A. Baker, and has offices in Houston, Washington DC, and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Baker Botts is the legal council defending the Saudi Arabian government in a lawsuit filed by families of those killed and injured in the 9/11 attacks. Affidavits and copies of cancelled checks suggest that Saudi Arabian Defense Minister Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have funneled millions of dollars to assorted Islamic charities that U.S. officials and others suspect have covertly financed the operations of al Qaeda and other international terrorist groups

Answer 5

I think that they have every right to sue for the health problems that they are experiencing as a result of 9/11. they were unreasonably exposed to substances that they had no chance of avoiding. they were not offered the protection that they should have been. The same way that police are given bullet proof vests, the 9/11 servicemen should have been offered breathing apparatus'

Answer 6

I think it is because the danger was not properly addressed. The cleanup subjected them to a situation where masks and protective suits were necessary, but they weren't given this. It would be like having a fireman fight fires without a helmet. You would agree that he could sue if he got hit in the head after he was not given a helmet when he obviously needed on.

Answer 7

They don't sue because they are automatically compensated in those cases BB. Or at least in most situations they are, perhaps not enough but an amount determined beforehand. It is understood that they were damaged on the job and health care etc. kicks in. In this situation no one is even acknowledging that they were injured yet they are suffering. I think legal action is wise.

Answer 8

They think the dirt that can kill you was covered up. If they'd known, they'd have taken precautions. It's like being told you're going to write a little old lady a speeding ticket, leaving your bullet proof vest at home, then finding out later you were dealing with America's Most Armed and Dangerous.

They are angry over what they were not told.

Answer 9

These people aren't getting compensated for this and there are people dieing from the the health problems form 9-11. I live on Long Island and know people who have been affected by this. It's terrible what these people are going through health wise.

Answer 10

you are approaching this from the wrong belief. and comparing apples to oranges

the dust that settled on New York that day, contained deadly and poisounous fragments of matter, includ asbestos and cancer causing materials found in normal contrsuction work.

they were told that day, during all their rescue efforts that the air was clean, werne't advised to wear appropriate gear to protect themselves from these dust and debris.

They should be compensated, since they were lead to belive it was safe to breathe the air there.

Yes, you are missing points in their argument,