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The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently delivered one of the largest fines in recent history to Olivet Management, LLC, a real estate company responsible for the Harlem Valley Psychiatric Center. Potential investors were slated to visit the facility, so Olivet Management ordered a crew to renovate the facility, despite the presence of asbestos and lead.
“Olivet knew that asbestos and lead were present at this site, yet the company chose to ignore its responsibility to protect its own workers and contractors,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez. “The intolerable choice this company made put not only workers, but also their families, in danger.”
After spending hours removing lead and asbestos from the facility, poisonous debris remained on their clothes and in their hair, because Olivet did not require proper protective equipment. In addition, workers were not trained in the proper handling of toxic materials, and management never measured their exposure levels. Due to Olivet’s prior knowledge of the asbestos and lead, nearly all of their citations were willful violations. As such, the company received $2,352,000 in fines.
Have You Been Exposed To Lead And Need A Lawyer?
If you have been exposed to asbestos or lead at your workplace, contact a medical professional immediately. Asbestos exposure can lead to mesothelioma, an aggressive lung cancer, and lead poisoning can cause organ failure and permanent nervous system damage. Our workers compensation attorneys will take care of the complicated legal matters, so that you can focus on your health and recovery. For more information or free legal advice, give us a call.
Larrimer & Larrimer, LLC—Columbus Workers Comp Attorneys