TUMWATER, Wash. — A Washington state department that oversees workplace safety just handed out one of their biggest fines in several years, and they’re hoping you pay close attention for the sake of your own health.
The Department of Labor and Industries claims that Seattle Asbestos of Washington, a family-run asbestos removal company out of Lynnwood, knowingly exposed customers and workers to asbestos, a toxic building material that can make you sick.
"We know they know the rules," said Matt Ross, a public affairs manager for L&I.
The company is now appealing both citations, which total more than $790,000.
"These were repeat violations. Things that we've caught them doing over and over and over again, five times in the last few years," said Ross.
Seattle Asbestos of Washington's social pages says they specialize in popcorn ceiling removal.
But the Department of Labor and Industries, or L&I, is accusing the business of breaking multiple rules.
"We're pursuing the process we need to follow to revoke the certification for this specific company," said Ross.
In one example, L&I claims they haphazardly used duct tape over a hole in a plastic barrier in a home, letting airborne asbestos particles out.
In another instance, Ross said, "There was material in the homes, like appliances, that weren't sealed off."
L&I also claims that a negative air machine, designed to clean harmful particles from the air, was not working properly and that asbestos-containing wallboard was left uncovered in a living room.
"There is a significant risk that a worker could be injured or killed as a result of the violations," said Ross.
To learn more about asbestos' health effects, KING 5 spoke to Diana Ceballos, a University of Washington Assistant Professor of occupational health sciences.
"The reason why it can be so toxic is because it's very sharp. And so when it goes in your lungs, it can be-- kind of creates, like, scarring in your lungs, and so it cannot be cleared out," she said. "You can develop very debilitating asbestosis or even cancer mesothelioma."
Cancerous mesothelioma is an aggressive and deadly form of cancer.
Seattle Asbestos of Washington said they are not interested in speaking with KING 5.
Their website says, "Our company, Seattle Asbestos of Washington, removes asbestos in a timely fashion and safely disposes of the toxic material after we complete the job."
If you need a referral to get asbestos removed from your home, Ross says you can always check out L&I's online list of local companies they have certified for safety.