Green Lawsuits are Here
Attorneys are looking more and more at the liabilities arising from environmental compliance and regulation. When we think of green cleaning, we think of saving the trees not killing the corporation down the street. Part of the legal process is advising and consulting with corporations facing a new spate of regulations. Law schools are offering classes in environmental law, torts, and health-related issues. The sudden rise of environmental attorneys sends a warning to businesses everywhere. Obviously, litigation is coming on a level as never seen before.
We already know about Sick Building Syndrome where employees are made sick, but there is a newer version of Sick Building Syndrome. It is known as Building Related Illness (BRI). SBS is a grave health condition when the building is characterized as hazardous to all employees inside. BRI is a rare event so far, but everyone now understands that Sick Building Syndrome is a major threat to every employee and employer. BRI does not require several sick people to come forth like SBS. It is "personalized," meaning that it now only takes ONE SICK PERSON to cause a legal claim, and force your company into court and a lengthy litigation battle.
When we think of environmental lawsuits, we imagine large scale polluting companies that do great harm to the environment. Yet, there are many more opportunities for an attorney to find a sick person from your company and make the claim that their condition was caused or exacerbated by a failure to protect their health. It would probably surprise you to realize how many people in your company are candidates for a BRI suit right now. The next question is, "What are you doing about it?"
No one wants a lawsuit, and no one thinks that it will happen to them anyway. Unfortunately, once the lawsuit starts, there is no affordable way to stop it, fix what went wrong, or just walk away. Civil lawsuits will not send you to jail, but they are seeking large cash settlements. They seem to be random in nature, and no one is exempt. No one is safe from a nasty lawsuit, and it could be you in the next legal fight. We cannot predict who will be the next company sued, but we can say for sure that many more suits are on the way.
It is suggested that all companies practice something called "Litigation Mitigation" This means that you start today eliminating the sources of known legal liabilities. You cannot afford to wait until something happens. It is also suggested that you demand that your cleaning service earn its Green Clean certification. Do not hire a company that plays at green practices by replaces old products for new green cleaners. A green janitorial service will embrace the techniques and products because they are the only way to get the job done correctly.
Every company should require a Green Practices Clause in the janitorial contract that requires that the janitorial service provide trained and certified Green Clean employees for your building. It is obvious that we will continue to see a growing wave of environmental lawsuits as this popular cause grows. It is time to be proactive and do the things that will protect your company and do not require a cost to you anyway.
Janitorial firms can earn their Green Clean certification from the Green Clean Institute. This certification is not expensive, difficult, or intrusive. It allows the company to make a cohesive transition to green products and green practices. It is an easy to prevent a preventable lawsuit from a person who suffers from environmental mistakes.
Article Source: http://www.search-raven.com
About the Author
Green Clean Institute offers the only federal trademark training for green clean certification for janitorial janitorial businesses. In this environmentally-conscious age, green clean janitorial businesses have become a big issue by corporations everywhere.
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by: MichaelRichmond
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