New York Task Force to Review Long-Term Exposure Risks for 9/11 Response Workers
New York’s September 11th Worker Protection Task Force will meet Feb. 18 to review long-term health impacts tied to hazardous exposures during Ground Zero rescue, recovery and cleanup operations, with a focus on medical surveillance and future emergency response protections.
- By Stasia DeMarco
- Feb 12, 2026
New York’s September 11th Worker Protection Task Force is scheduled to convene Feb. 18 in New York City and Albany to review long-term health impacts linked to hazardous exposures faced by rescue, recovery, and cleanup workers responding to the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, state labor officials said.
The task force, established in 2005, was created to evaluate data on chronic illnesses associated with exposure to airborne contaminants, dust, and other hazardous conditions present during Ground Zero response and recovery operations. Members are expected to review updated health information and discuss ongoing monitoring efforts to identify exposure-related disease trends among workers and volunteers.
The group will also examine how state and federal agencies coordinate medical surveillance and reporting systems to improve long-term tracking and support for individuals who may have been exposed during emergency operations.
The meeting is open to the public and will be livestreamed.
The September 11th Worker Protection Task Force Act has been extended several times since its creation and was updated through state legislation that expands its scope and requires biannual meetings through 2030.
Members include representatives from government agencies, labor unions, and public health organizations who review evidence of exposure-related health outcomes and recommend improvements to occupational health policy and protective measures for future emergency response efforts.
About the Author
Stasia DeMarco brings a strong and varied journalism background to her role at Occupational Health & Safety, having previously served as a multimedia editor, broadcast journalist, professor and reviewer across major news organizations. As Content Editor, she writes news and feature articles, hosts sponsor and editorial webinars, co-hosts the SafetyPod worker health and safety podcast, and manages the brand’s digital and social media presence. She is committed to informing and engaging the safety community through compelling reporting and conversations that support safer, healthier workplaces.