In January 2020, thirteen employees informed Ed about an air quality issue. Ronnie, the company's chief maintenance officer, insisted in keeping open all of the windows in Pine Tree's main building.Due to Ronnie's open-windows policy, formaldehyde fumes from the lumber processing plant routinely wafted into the first floor of Pine Tree's main building.One employee, Ursula, made her complaint in person. She told Ed that she had developed typical formaldehyde exposure symptoms, including a recurring skin rash, eye irritation, and pain in her nose and throat.Ed ignored her.The other twelve employees registered their formaldehyde concerns via email, but Ed never opened or recorded their emails.The formaldehyde problem was never resolved.

Discuss the formaldehyde scenario. Identify any potential legal liability faced by Pine Tree, and how the actions of Ed and Ronnie may affect Pine Tree's legal exposure. Describe at least one change that you would make to Pine Tree's policies and procedures to reduce the likelihood of future legal liability.