British developer working on statler towers accused of asbestos exposure

BUFFALO, New York â€" Among the charges being leveled against a British developer who is renovating the Statler Towers are allegations of forcing workers to remove asbestos without protective gear, training or proper supervision. OSHA’s National Labor Relations Board is looking into allegations that BS Construction, Ltd., a London development company controlled by Bashar Issa, has endangered workers at the $118 million Statler Towers renovation in a variety of ways, including exposing workers to both asbestos and toxic lead paint without providing proper training or equipment. The news comes amid reports from overseas that Issa may face criminal charges in the death of a construction worker at a site in Manchester in the UK. According to the reports, Britain’s Health and Safety Executive is jointly probing the death last August of a construction worker who was killed when his head was crushed by a steel beam being hoisted on a makeshift pulley at a site being renovated by Issa’s company. The development company is also being investigated for numerous violations of the British Health and Safety at Work Act â€" nineteen notices of non-compliance in 2007. Workers at the Statler site have unionized over what they call unsafe and dangerous working conditions and substandard wages. Issa claims that the safety and labor issues on the Statler site are “distractions” whose only purpose is to force his company into signing a contract. Issa said that labor costs will determine whether or not he can move ahead on a second development project at South Elmwood Avenue â€" a $361 million 40 story mixed-use tower. On the Buffalo project, Issa’s U.S. BSC Development Buffalo LLC is facing allegations of trying to block union organizing efforts, and of having workers remove asbestos and lead paint without proper gear. OSHA has filed seven citations against the construction arm of BSC in connection with lead paint and asbestos violations. Both lead paint removal and asbestos removal are closely regulated, and subject to oversight by OSHA because the substances are toxic. OSHA regulations set out specific procedures and conditions for workers who are exposed to the toxic substances. Lead causes a wide range of illnesses when it is ingested or inhaled. Asbestos also is a toxic substance which causes many forms of cancer, including mesothelioma, a rare form of malignant cancer that affects the pleura and other organ linings. Among the charges leveled in sworn statements from demolition and construction laborers are affidavits contending that workers were ordered to remove sections of walls and ceilings, exposing asbestos. They were not provided with protective suits, breathing apparatus or any training about proper removal and containment techniques. In addition, the workers charge that BSC retaliated against union activity by firing about twenty workers. Two workers also claim that they were fired for attending a seminar on handling asbestos. The workers on the project joined Local 122 last year, and are demanding a raise in wages from the $8 an hour being paid for “unskilled laborers” by Issa. At least one columnist has questioned whether it is worth being exposed to life-threatening conditions for $8 an hour. Issa states that paying the $23 an hour that workers are demanding is akin to “paying doctor’s rates for laborer’s jobs”. It just doesn’t make sense, he said. (Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News)