Unilab Accused of Illegal Dumping
The state’s largest medical testing lab has been charged with illegally dumping hazardous alcohol into the Los Angeles sewer system.
In a nine-count complaint filed Monday against Tarzana-based Unilab, the city attorney’s office alleges company Vice President Robert Moverley and night supervisor Johnson Okunnuga violated state and city hazardous waste regulations.
Inspectors from the Los Angeles County Fire Department’s Health Hazmat Division first found last February that Unilab was instructing its lab employees to dump into sinks alcohol solutions used in Pap smears and other tests, Assistant City Atty. Vince Sato said.
Unilab general counsel David Gee said Tuesday that the company was surprised that the city attorney filed charges, since the lab has cooperated with fire inspectors to correct its procedures.
“As a company, we are very committed to properly and safely disposing of any of the liquids and materials that we use in providing the health services that we do,” Gee said.
Unilab reported revenue of $323 million in 2002. The company plans to merge with Quest Diagnostics of New Jersey.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
