Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, October 1, 1993 TAG: 9310010251
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
David Van Blaricom said an independent engineer who is monitoring the asbestos removal has assured him the contractor is complying with the rules.
The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating complaints by three workers that they have been exposed to asbestos, which has been linked with cancer.
The workers have also charged they were fired because they took their concerns to OSHA.
"The working conditions are not good there," said Lisa Altizer, one of the workers.
Altizer said she took a bad fall on the job because there was water on steps of the hotel.
"It is a bad situation and we felt that something should be done," she said.
The safety and health agency has inspected the site and its investigation is continuing, said Harry Carver, a spokesman. He would not discuss the probe or say when it will be finished.
State law permits the agency to take up to six months to complete the investigation. Carver said the agency does not comment on investigations until they are completed.
Carver declined to say how many workers have complained, but Altizer said there were three.
Van Blaricom works for Henry Faison, the Charlotte, N.C., developer who is overseeing construction of the hotel project for Virginia Tech.
Van Blaricom said he has discussed the complaints with the contractor and the independent engineer hired by Faison to monitor the construction.
"They felt that nothing was wrong. There was nothing to be concerned about," he said.
A Richmond company, Insulated Specialities Inc., is removing the asbestos. Company officials were not available for comment Thursday.
Blaricom said he has been told that the complaints were filed by workers who quit and then wanted to return to their jobs. When the contractor refused to rehire them, they complained to OSHA, he said.
But Altizer disputed that, saying the workers were fired after they complained to OSHA.
by CNB