DEMOCRATIC FREEHOLDER CANDIDATES’ STATEMENT ON FORMICA/BERTINO UNSAFE WORKPLACE REPORT

(Absecon) Celeste Fernandez, Maureen Leidy, & Barbara Butterhof-Rheault, Democratic candidates for Atlantic County Freeholder, released the following statement after a published report about unsafe working conditions at Freeholder Chairman Frank Formica’s business, of which Freeholder Jim Bertino is the plant manager:

“The claim by Formica, that somehow the victims of unsafe workplace conditions were directly responsible for the amputation of their limbs, is heartless and irresponsible. Employers have a duty and obligation to provide a safe work environment. Ultimately Mr. Formica and Jim Bertino, as Plant Manager, are responsible for ensuring worker safety – and in these two cases they failed. The amputation of a limb isn’t something that a quick trip to UrgentCare or workman’s comp makes right. I hope that the injured receive restitution befitting the losses that they suffered.”
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OSHA violations: https://www.osha.gov/pls/imis/establishment.inspection_detail?id=1148208.015