This February, we saw a federal judge crack down on the reckless and negligent handling of asbestos removal by a Pillsbury plant owner based in Springfield, Illinois. Joseph J. Chernis IV was sentenced to 3 years and 1 month in prison for the illegal removal of asbestos at his plant.
Placing the Public at Risk of Asbestos Exposure
Placing workers and the public in danger, Chernis first violated federal clean air regulations when he let untrained workers remove asbestos from a former Pillsbury mill. The asbestos was then stored in uncovered containers, along with plastic bags and cardboard boxes. When a different lawsuit was filed by the state of Illinois regarding these violations, Chernis allegedly lied about the removal and storage of asbestos at the mill. The presence of asbestos at the Pillsbury mill endangered not only the disposal workers but the community at large.
Springfield’s Fire Marshal Chris Richmond stated:
“The site has a significant past history, other than the ownership, of folks in the community breaking into or trespassing in that facility for a variety of purposes. In some cases, it’s been young folks, juveniles, curious about an old factory complex.”