"One year ago, on a picture-perfect September morning, the landscape of our nation was altered. An act of cowardice and evil that was meant to destroy and demoralize us, in fact emboldened a proud nation to stand even taller," said Henshaw.
He noted that firefighters and police officers, recovery workers, construction workers and tradesmen and women in New York City, at the Pentagon and in Pennsylvania "were the most visible symbols of the strongest and most capable labor force in the world," adding, "Teachers, clergy, emergency medical and military personnel, and thousands of other men and women operated behind the scenes to keep America working."
More than 1,000 OSHA employees from around the country descended on New York City to work around the clock for nearly 10 months to protect workers involved in the cleanup and recovery efforts at the World Trade Center disaster site.
"Our goal was to ensure the continued safety of the thousands of heroes at the disaster sites, and to make certain that no more lives were lost. None were, and that was no small feat," said Henshaw. "Injury rates were very low, and none was life threatening." That is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the many professionals not only from OSHA, but also from other government agencies, construction contractors, labor organizations and New York, he added.
"Today, as we pause to remember the innocent lives lost a year ago, let us also pay tribute to the working heroes of this country who helped us recover with strength and dignity and allowed a proud nation to stand even taller," Henshaw said.
OSHA's special tribute in remembrance of September 11, 2001 can be viewed at www.osha.gov/as/opa/911/index.html.