Phone: (516) 487-8207
Earlier this month, a Brooklyn company was cited by OSHA for illegally compromising its employees' health and for not putting in place corrective measures.
Renaissance Equity Holdings, which controls the Flatbush Gardens apartment complex, has earned 20 "violations of workplace safety and health standards affecting maintenance workers." Workers' complaints had initially prompted OSHA's (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) investigation.
OSHA cited what they considered simple violations, which could have easily been remedied with a regular and sustained focus on health standards. Major infractions included the buildup of raw sewage in basements after a rain storm. The cleaning crew was not afforded protective equipment. Asbestos in pipes was left undiscovered, employees went unaware of it, and workers were not given asbestos awareness training. A lead assessment was not conducted, and employees were also not trained in the dangers of lead while stripping paint or replacing drywall. They were also not trained in the hazards of other chemicals they were exposed to. Additionally, basement windows were not adequately sealed to prevent rodents from entering. OSHA also found a broken ladder, exposed floor holes, and faulty wiring. Smaller citations were written for Renaissance's inability to properly document injuries and illnesses.
The entire bill for these infractions came out to $51,100.
In this case, as OSHA pointed out, all of the violations could have been avoided had there been a standard of responsibility over health and injuries on a regular basis at Flatbush Gardens. If you have experienced related problems, I urge you to pick up the phone and call me at 516-487-8207 or by e-mail at lawmed10@yahoo.com to answer your questions. That's what I do every day. I welcome your call.
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