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| Planned demolition of Deutsche Bank near Ground Zero may become unplanned |
| 2006-09-08 |
| Officials have raised concerns about a possible massive floor collapse during the planned demolition [i.e. manual deconstruction work] of the Deutsche Bank building near Ground Zero, the Daily News has learned. In comments to the state agency overseeing the tearing down of the 40-story tower, federal regulators demanded that workers now removing toxic dust from the interior be evacuated before any demolition starts. Occupational Safety & Health Administration officials warned, "An unexpected collapse could very well pancake the floors quicker than employees below could evacuate." OSHA joined state Department of Labor inspectors, who also demanded a total evacuation in the early stages of the demolition until conditions are deemed safe for workers inside the tower. Both agencies expressed concerns about unforeseen factors, including the possibility that vibrations from equipment used in the demolition could cause a sudden collapse. "It could be that there are additional static or dynamic loads or vibrations that have not been considered," OSHA wrote. Residents of the area around Ground Zero long have expressed fears that demolition of the building could be dangerous. David Newman of the New York Council on Occupational Safety & Health, a nonprofit worker safety group, said OSHA's warning "is the first time we've seen there may be serious concerns about the demolition. "If they're concerned about the possibility of a structural failure, this obviously has ramifications far beyond workers," he said. "This has ramifications for people passing by on the street." State labor officials first confronted the company doing the demolition, John Galt Corp., about the issue last month. The Lower Manhattan Development Corp. rejected the suggestion, saying workers would be safe removing toxic dust as long as there is a four-floor buffer. LMDC spokeswoman Kori-Ann Taylor said yesterday the demolition would be overseen by the engineering company of Thornton-Tomasetti, which would "ensure that all deconstruction activities maintain the building's stability throughout the process." The agency had said it would begin demolition in the fall, but other officials say they have no idea when the work at 130 Liberty St. will begin. |
| Posted by:Dar |