By James Fanelli

They work every day in public, private and residential buildings - buildings that are considered high profile targets for terrorists and vulnerable infrastructures that could have deadly consequences in the event of a natural disaster or terrorist attacks.  They're the members of the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE), Local 30, and they are the first responders to an emergency.

"We are in your schools, hospitals, office buildings and power plants," said John T. Ahern, business manager of IUOE's Local 30, touting the ubiquity of operating engineers throughout the city, at a recent homeland security seminar held to teach members how to detect, and react, against terrorist attacks and natural disasters.  It also served as a showcase for federal, state and city agencies, as well as elected officials, to discuss the importance regarding communication and training.

Working to encourage the interaction and discussion of security and preparedness among agencies at all levels and civic groups, with the cooperation of Mayor Michael Bloomberg's Community Assistance Unit (CAU), Local 30 put together a seminar, last Thursday, that included presenters from the Office of Emergency Management, NYPD's Anti-Terrorist Task Force, FDNY and the federal government.

The presenters instructed IUOE members on how to protect and fortify vulnerable critical infrastructure - everything from buildings, to nuclear power plants, waterfronts and hospitals in the event of a terrorist attack or natural disaster.  Seminar coordinators also trained members on how to handle chemical, biological and radiological attacks, as well as treatment for other chemical solvents.

The informative sessions were attended by more than 700 members of Local 30, invited members of city agencies and the district managers of community boards.  The federal government provided a military consultant who taught protection against chemical and biological terrorism specific to the HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning) system that the members operate within their facilities.

Also on hand to lead seminar discussions was NYS Senator Michael Balboni, chair of the Senate Homeland Security Committee; Commissioner John Odermatt, Office of Emergency Management; Eliud Pagan, Governor Pataki's deputy director for Homeland Security; as well as Don Carson representing Frank Hanley, the general president of the IUOE; State Senators Malcolm Smith and Serphin Maltese; Assemblymembers Anthony Seminerio and Audrey Pheffer; and Councilmember Joseph P. Addabbo who awarded Ahern with Proclamations to commend his commitment to educating his membership.  Their participation was testimony to the power of synergy between agencies on all levels to prevent another terrorist attack.

The Local 30 seminar was part of the IUOE's continuing effort, since the September 11th attacks, to prepare for potential terrorist incidents in the future.  In July 2001, IUOE President Frank Hanley established the union's Homeland Security Division and the National Emergency Response Center.

Since its creation, the program, which works with the US Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge, has trained its union members to be first responders in emergency situations.  Local 30's Apprenticeship Training Director Ralph A. Pascarella stated, "Thanks to Business Manager Ahern's ongoing commitment to education and training, Local 30 will continue to provide its members with the latest in training for the detection, prevention and misconceptions regarding chemical, biological and radiological weapons.  The apprentices go through approximately 900 hours of schooling, while journeymen continue to take classes to keep them updated on the latest safety and security techniques."

Reflecting on why there is a necessity for IUOE workers to be prepared for emergencies, Ahern said, "We are the first to turn generators on, and to start the evacuation of the buildings."  Local 30, which covers the five boroughs, all of Long Island, all of Westchester, Dutchess and Putnam Counties, and the whole state of Connecticut, tallies 3,500 members.

Operating engineers have, in the past, responded to emergencies throughout the country, including San Francisco and Los Angeles earthquakes in 1989, 1991, 1992 and 1994, the Mississippi River flood in 1993, the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995 and the World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks.  The union lost seven men when the two towers collapsed.  Most recently, the union members were the first to start generators after this past August's blackout, which affected most of the northeast.  They were instrumental in ensuring people trapped in powerless buildings got out safely.

"What is learned here today, and in the future, on how operating engineers implement this newly acquired knowledge could make a world of difference between an incident and a catastrophe," said Ahern.