Brooklyn, NY - New Legislation Prohibits Demolition in Asbestos Abatement Buildings |
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News Source: MAA Center
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Brooklyn, NY - New York, city council members have passed a new piece of asbestos legislation, the last in a 12 part series of bills to overhaul the regulations regarding asbestos, construction, and demolition.
This latest piece of legislation prohibits simultaneous demolition and asbestos abatement activities in Brooklyn’s buildings, and will take effect in 180 days.
The bill was passed in an effort to protect firefighters, as their access to a building that is undergoing both demolition and asbestos abatement was limited.
In 2007, a fire at Deutsche Bank killed two New York City firefighters who were trapped in the building, which was undergoing both abatement and preparations for demolition.
Exposure to asbestos is linked to mesothelioma, a rare but aggressive cancer of the heart, lungs, or abdomen which can kill within months of being diagnosed. While some treatments can help patients, the majority perish within 2 years of being diagnosed.
“Taken together, these 12 measures represent a significant overhaul of the City’s demolition and asbestos abatement procedures,” said Council Speaker Christine Quinn.
“Working together with the administration and the construction industry, we will continue to raise the standard for construction safety across our ever-growing city in the most responsible and vigilant way possible.”
“This law was generated from expert testimony at hearings of the Council’s Lower Manhattan Redevelopment Committee, proving once again that the legislative branch of government has a role to play in making sure that livability and safety come first in the rebuilding of downtown,” said Council Member Alan J. Gerson, sponsor of the bill. “In fact, the whole city gains from our experience.”
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Read Comments (5) — Post Yours »
1
Dec 26, 2009 at 10:12 PM moishe Says:Report as Inappropriate
I don't know how much harm asbestos released during demolition presents. I would guess that close to 1000 older homes, most with asbestos, were demolished in Boro Park during the last 25-30 years. I never saw any indication that any measures were taken to contain the asbestos. Yet there is no epidemic of asbestos related illness in BP.
2
Dec 26, 2009 at 11:45 PM OMG Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ I don't know how much harm asbestos released during demolition presents. I would guess that close to 1000 older homes, most with asbestos, were demolished in Boro Park during the last 25-30 years. I never saw any indication that any measures were taken to contain the asbestos. Yet there is no epidemic of asbestos related illness in BP. ”
The issue is with asbestos is related to the workers in the building they are the ones who are at risk, not the surrounding population and you probably don’t have any contact with construction demolition worker to make a valid assessment if there are issues. Finally there is total agreement in the science community that inhaling asbestos will lead to long cancer.
3
Dec 26, 2009 at 11:52 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ I don't know how much harm asbestos released during demolition presents. I would guess that close to 1000 older homes, most with asbestos, were demolished in Boro Park during the last 25-30 years. I never saw any indication that any measures were taken to contain the asbestos. Yet there is no epidemic of asbestos related illness in BP. ”
1) How do you know people aren't sick from asbestos? Have you reviewed any studies? Have you spoken to any local doctors? Have you considered that asbestos-related disease can take many years to develop?
2) You wouldn't see any indication of asbestos abatement in a house demolition. Basically, an abatement company would come for a day, remove the pipe covers and whatever else, and take it away in special bags. What exactly would you expect to see?
3) The asbestos in a private house is slight. Some pipe covers and perhaps a boiler housing. Commercial structures like old factories can have tons of the stuff--machinery, floor and ceiling tiles, miles of insulated pipes, etc.
4
Dec 27, 2009 at 07:15 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
I think it takes 15 years for the cancer to develop. By that time the person has no idea where he got it from. Nebech on those mexican guys who just do it for the 7 dollars an hour.
5
Dec 27, 2009 at 10:01 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ I don't know how much harm asbestos released during demolition presents. I would guess that close to 1000 older homes, most with asbestos, were demolished in Boro Park during the last 25-30 years. I never saw any indication that any measures were taken to contain the asbestos. Yet there is no epidemic of asbestos related illness in BP. ”
Asbestosis and other various asbestos-related illnesses can have a 20-year latency period. This means that the results of exposure remain unknown for a generation.