Two Construction Workers Trapped When Ceiling Collapses In Mineola

MINEOLA, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Two construction workers were injured Friday after part of a ceiling collapsed on Long Island.

The collapse happened inside the old Social Services building, which is now being turned into a family court in Mineola, CBS 2's Jennifer McLogan reported.

Asbestos went flying and a 30x50 piece of concrete with metal reinforcing rods fell on two workers, McLogan reported.

"There was an environmental cleaning company from Queens prepping this building for asbestos removal," said Nassau County Police Inspector Kenneth Lack. "During that preparation, some portion of the ceiling collapsed. There were 19 people in the building at the time from the contractor. Two of them were trapped inside the debris. They were removed by police department personnel for non life-threatening injuries. The other 17 people are accounted for and at this time they are being decontaminated for asbestos and will be transported to a local hospital."

Law requires asbestos elimination. A Queens removal company, PAL Environmental Services, was prepping for the remediation when the ceiling gave way.

The trapped workers were taken to the hospital for observation and treatment. They are now alert and conscious, McLogan reported.

McLogan reported 17 other workers managed to escape the falling chunks of collapsed ceiling.

The cause of the collapse is under investigation.

CBS 2 has also learned that OSHA, U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, has launched an investigation into the incident.

Nassau County Police Det. Vincent Garcia said engineers will check the structural integrity of the three-story building at 101 County Road Drive, which has been vacant for years, 1010 WINS' Al Jones reported.

During his swearing in, Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano had heralded the building's renovation among the "challenges and opportunities," of his administration.

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