October 3rd, 2007
A building that is under demolition at Ground Zero is drawing attention from OSHA after a couple of accidents. It was also discovered that the building had asbestos removed by unlicensed, unprotected workers.
The Deutsche Bank building in New York City was one of the buildings damaged in the attacks of September 11th, 2001. Since then, the building has been falling apart, with debris falling off the building almost weekly. Workers have fallen from platforms, and recently large steel piping had dropped 35 stories to the ground below. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration stepped in to investigate, and found that unlicensed workers had illegally removed asbestos from the building without safety gear. Since contractors are on a deadline to complete the work, it is thought that corners are being cut to expedite the demolition.
Removing asbestos without safety gear, and by workers not licensed to handle the deadly material, could pose a health risk to the public. When asbestos is improperly removed, the material can beak apart and become airborne, posing a health risk. Breathing in asbestos particles can lead to respiratory diseases including mesothelioma and emphysema. One of the most deadly asbestos-related diseases, mesothelioma is a form of cancer in the lungs, which can take decades to manifest.
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