Tumwater, Washington – The L&I (Labor and Industries) Department has cited two companies for alleged violation of safety rules by exposing workers to hazardous asbestos during a building demolition project. Asbestos is a dangerous mineral known to cause cancer.
An investigation conducted by the L&I into a Seattle apartment demolition project discovered 19 serious and willful violations, according to the department. The businesses were issued a fine of $379100 in total.
Federal Way-based Partners Construction Incorporated was cited for 14 violations and issued a fine of $291950 in total. Bonney Lake-based Asbestos Construction Management Incorporated was issued a fine of $87150 for 5 violations.
The citations were for exposing workers to asbestos and leaving asbestos debris on site, in addition to other breaches occurred at the time of demolition of a 3-story, 5-unit apartment building in Fremont neighborhood. It was originally built with a white asbestos-containing substance known as “popcorn” ceilings and vinyl flooring containing asbestos.
Asbestos is a very dangerous mineral which could cause potentially deadly diseases such as lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis. Renovation and demolition works at buildings containing asbestos should be carried out by a licensed contractor. Improper handling of asbestos products could cause workers and the general public to be exposed to cancer-causing fibers of asbestos. Prior to the renovation or demolition, all asbestos materials should be removed and disposed of properly.
The building owner hired Partners Construction Incorporated, a licensed abatement contractor, for removing the asbestos prior to the demolition of the apartment building. After a few weeks, the company provided the owner with a completion letter which indicated that all asbestos materials had been properly removed. However, the L&I inspectors later found that the asbestos removal hadn’t been completed and nearly 5400 sq. ft. popcorn ceiling remained throughout.
The contractor returned to complete the asbestos abatement work. But, because of its history of willful violations, the L&I decided to revoke the company’s certification for handling asbestos removal works. Partners Construction is no longer a licensed asbestos abatement contractor.
Asbestos Construction Management Incorporated, a company owned by one of the family members of the Partners Construction owner, continued the job using almost the same employees, the same equipment, and the same licensed asbestos supervisor. A subsequent inspection by the L&I inspectors found a number of similar violations. The agency then decided to take decertification action against Asbestos Construction Management as well. The companies have fifteen business days to appeal the citations.
