Washington Fines and Moves to Bar Asbestos Removers From Working in State

Two Washington asbestos removal contractors face losing the ability to legally do future asbestos removal work, plus nearly a half-million dollars in fines, for allegedly knowingly exposing workers to extremely hazardous conditions.

The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries cited ACKS Demo and Abatement LLC of Stanwood and DHC Construction LLC of Burien for reportedly ignoring dozens of safety rules concerning asbestos removal putting workers and the public at risk.

L&I is in the process of revoking the certifications of both companies, preventing the companies from performing asbestos removal in the state.

Rules that certified asbestos removal companies must follow when performing this hazardous work break down into three categories:

• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) – workers must wear the appropriate respirator and protective clothing;
• Work practices – material containing asbestos must be cleaned up, bagged, and disposed of properly; and,
• Engineering controls – A sealed enclosure with negative pressure to prevent the spread of asbestos fibers. There must also be a decontamination shower for workers as they leave the enclosure.

Both ACKS and DHC reportedly violated nearly all of the rules, falsified documents and lied to inspectors and their own workers.

ACKS was hired to clean up asbestos following a house fire in Lynnwood. The job included removing wall texture and joint compound, popcorn ceilings and vinyl flooring—all containing asbestos.

Inspectors reportedly found large holes in the plastic barriers around the home, workers not wearing proper respirators or protective clothing and a failure to use a decontamination shower when exiting the jobsite.

According to inspectors, pieces of popcorn ceiling, drywall, and flooring were photographed littering the driveway, flowerbeds and down the street. Insulation mixed with popcorn ceiling was found in the vents, window tracks and piled high on the floor. L&I also photographed a trailer in the driveway holding about 40 bags of waste containing asbestos. ACKS dumped bags like this as regular garbage, putting other workers and the public at risk.

L&I ordered the company to stop work until it fixed the problems.

In addition to starting the process to take the company’s certification, L&I fined ACKS $261,924 and cited the company for 26 violations. The company is appealing.

DHC is also facing decertification. The Oyster Bay Inn in Bremerton hired the company to remove the popcorn ceiling in May.

A video shows a worker scraping the ceiling while asbestos-containing particles fall over his face. He is reportedly not wearing required respiratory protection or full-body protective clothing and he did not use a decontamination shower when leaving the sealed enclosure.

L&I cited DHC for 11 willful serious and two willful general violations resulting in $221,048 in fines. The company is appealing.