Unsafe Concrete Could Lead to NYC Freedom Tower Construction Accidents
The criminal "racketeering" type charges against a major New York concrete company "shook the foundation of the city's construction industry".
According to an AP News story yesterday, Testwell Laboratories, Inc. and three of it's executives go on trial today for "enterprise corruption" for allegedly faking concrete strength tests at Ground Zero, the new Yankee Stadium, the Jet Blue Terminal at Kennedy Airport, the Second Avenue Subway and almost 100 major construction projects throughout NYC.
"The charges of faking test results cast doubt on a technical but important part of building in a city of subways and skyscrapers. Despite its bland look, concrete is carefully tailored for different uses and sensitive to variations in ingredients, storage and other factors, making testing a necessity, said Christian Meyer, a Columbia University civil engineering professor who specializes in concrete technology."
Every day New York City construction workers are hurt due to defects in concrete on the work-site. Let's hope that the failure of Testwell to do the right thing does not result in future injuries or death on some of New York's' biggest construction projects, including the current building of the Freedom Tower on the World Trade Center site.
Be careful out there!
