Home Renovation Companies Fined over $750,000 for Improper and Unsafe Asbestos Removal at Residential Flip

Recently, the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) announced that two business owners and their companies are facing numerous citations and $789,200 in fines from the agency. The owners and companies have been cited for 11 willful and serious violations. The fines were the result of a home-flipping project in the Seattle area, that L&I say put workers and neighbors at risk.

The agency reports an investigation was started when a neighbor complained about workers improperly removing exterior tiles that contained asbestos. L&I released a statement about the investigation and reason for the fines and shared the following:

The violations included using uncertified workers to remove asbestos; not using a certified asbestos supervisor; and not obtaining an asbestos good faith survey prior to beginning work. They were also cited for not using water and not keeping the shingles intact during removal (the workers were breaking the tiles with hammers); for the lack of proper personal protective equipment for workers; not monitoring the air during removal; and for not having a written accident prevention program.

“Due to the fact that exposure to asbestos is known to cause lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis, there are specific regulations and protocols that require companies to safely remove asbestos prior to any renovation or demolition activities,” said Joe Frasca, Senior Vice President of Marketing at EMSL Analytical, Inc. “These not only help protect workers and future building occupants from potential exposure risks, they are also important to protect neighbors and the public that could be exposed to asbestos fibers in the air they breathe. This incident highlights the high cost for non-compliance.”

The indoor environmental quality (IEQ) experts at EMSL Analytical, Inc. analyze for asbestos in buildings, which can benefit workers and future building occupants to better avoid exposure risks. EMSL has laboratories in Washington and across the United States and Canada that offer a wide range of air quality, surface and material testing services for asbestos and other potentially hazardous materials. They provide all of the sampling supplies necessary and even carry a line of test kits and personal protective equipment (PPE) to safeguard against asbestos hazards.

To learn more about EMSL’s air quality, industrial hygiene, occupational and environmental testing services and PPE, please visit www.EMSL.com, call (800) 220-3675 or email  info@EMSL.com . For access to test kits, please visit www.EMSLTestKits.com.


About EMSL Analytical, Inc.
EMSL Analytical is one of the leading testing laboratories with over 46 locations throughout the United States and Canada. EMSL is a nationally recognized and locally focused provider specializing in fast laboratory results for mold, bacteria, Legionella, USP 797, pathogens, asbestos, lead, soot, char & ash from fires, VOC’s, odors, radon, formaldehyde, indoor air quality, microbiology, environmental, industrial hygiene, radiological, food, beverage & consumer products and material testing services for the identification of unknown substances. EMSL services both professionals and the general public. EMSL maintains an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations as well as state and federal regulating bodies including, but not limited to A2LA, AIHA LAP, LLC. (AIHA EMLAP, AIHA IHLAP, AIHA ELLAP), NVLAP, CDC ELITE, CPSC, CA ELAP, NY ELAP, TX DOH, NJDEP and multiple other state accrediting agencies. Please visit our website at www.EMSL.com for a complete listing of accreditations. In addition, EMSL carries a wide range of Sampling Equipment and Investigative Products for environmental professionals.

Contact Information

Joseph Frasca

Senior Vice President of Marketing

EMSL Analytical, Inc.

(1) 856-303-2503

Contact via E-mail