Feds: Deutsche Bank demolition came close to disaster
The Deutsche Bank demolition job is a nightmare of safety violations and near disasters, with subcontractor John Galt Corp. repeatedly misleading regulators, documents charge.
Weeks before the Aug. 18 blaze that killed two firefighters, Galt workers accidentally set a safety net afire and dropped molten steel on some scaffolding. Galt workers doused the fire without calling the Fire Department.
Galt also assured the state that a crucial standpipe that failed during the fatal fire was tested and in "working condition" in April 2006. After the fire, inspectors discovered a piece of the pipe had been cut and removed.
The Manhattan district attorney and the state attorney general are investigating the cause of the fire and trying to determine responsibility.
An increasing number of incidents leading up to the fire are found in internal reports by inspectors for the federal Environmental Protection Agency and an EPA consultant, CH2M Hill of New Jersey, from March 21, 2006, through this Aug. 16 - two days before the fire.
The records show regulators were constantly citing Galt for numerous problems. At times, Galt appeared to be trying to deceive its overseers.
For instance, on June 9, 2006, the subcontractor claimed a pile of debris had been cleaned of toxic dust and passed air and wipe tests deeming it safe for disposal.
Galt couldn't provide documentation, so the EPA decided to check it out.
On the 35th floor, the EPA discovered the material was still filthy with toxic dust. After complaining that Galt was wasting their time, regulators confronted Galt executive Don Adler.
"Adler stated something to the effect that this building isn't subject to any regulations, so what standard could it possibly fail?" EPA inspector Bob Fitzpatrick wrote.
Another Galt executive, Mitch Alvo, made several excuses. Fitzpatrick noted: "He seemed to know that the material wouldn't pass the regulators' inspection
and was trying to justify it."
Galt executives did not return a call seeking comment.
More than a year later, on July 5, Fitzpatrick noted two containers with "large amounts of dust and debris" that were reported to have been cleaned.
"This is a constant and recurring problem," he wrote.
It wasn't just dust. Eight days later, inspectors watched as workers dumped contaminated water through a hole in the 20th floor.
The pervasiveness of problems appears to have led a key safety inspector to simply throw up his hands. In a March 1 visit, regulators said they confronted Bovis Lend Lease site safety manager Jeff Melofchik about numerous workers without proper hardhats or other protective gear.
The report says Melofchik "stated he was aware of the problem but didn't think it was going to be fixed."
A Bovis spokeswoman said Melofchik denies making such a statement and insists he tried to correct the problems "immediately."
One of the worst days came on July 31, weeks before the blaze that killed Firefighters Robert Beddia and Joseph Graffagnino.
That day, CH2M Hill said Galt workers cutting steel on the 28th floor set afire safety netting hanging outside the building. Galt workers doused the blaze with extinguishers and a water hose.
Inspectors on the 23rd floor saw "pieces of molten metal" falling from above and landing on outside scaffolding.
Finally, they asked a Galt "management specialist" to identify the contents of drums of toxic waste that were to be transported from the building.
"After 15 minutes, it becomes apparent that the specialist is not really sure what is in each drum," the consultant wrote.
Two days later, the city Buildings Department ordered all burning work halted, issuing a violation for unsafe storage of combustible materials, records show.
A Fire Department spokesman declined to comment.
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