An asbestos-removal contractor faces over $200,000 in fines for knowingly exposing its workers to hazardous materials even though it told state workplace inspectors that a heavily contaminated jobsite was safe.
Seattle Environmental Services was cited in late January for violating more than a dozen rules regarding the safe handling of asbestos, putting workers at serious risk of harm.
Inspectors with the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries checked on a Belleview home demolition project in September and were told that asbestos was not present, meaning respiratory safety equipment wasn’t necessary for the company’s workers. But because no evidence of a negative asbestos test was presented to the inspectors, they issued a stop-work order…