The Last Mimzy release The blue-green tinted, 40-story U.N. Headquarters building along Manhattan’s East River is undergoing a $2 billion renovation project intended to make the 60-year-old building more comfortable and greener.
However, many workers at the headquarters worry about security risks and exposure to asbestos during the renovation. Removal of the cancer-causing asbestos lining the ceiling tiles of the building is one of the most sensitive aspects of the renovation.
The project’s manager, New York architect Michael Adlerstein, has assured U.N. staff that there is nothing to worry about. “There are very stringent requirements for asbestos procedures, and those will be followed by the contractors,” his website says. But Stephen Kisambira, president of the United Nations staff union, is not convinced.
One of the problems, he said, was that contractors removing the asbestos cannot be sued because of the special legal status of the United Nations, which is technically not U.S. territory. Because of the lack of liability, he said, many staff are worried that the contractors will be less careful than usual.
Tags: Asbestos, asbstos exposure