The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) cited Seattle Environmental Services LLC Jan. 26 for ignoring more than a dozen safety rules concerning asbestos removal, putting workers at serious risk.

Asbestos is extremely hazardous and can cause fatal diseases like asbestosis, mesothelioma, and lung cancer. That’s why only certified abatement contractors who follow safety and health rules may remove and dispose of asbestos-containing building materials.

When L&I inspectors were called to a Bellevue home in September, the company owner told L&I inspectors the job was just a general demolition project, that samples taken all tested negative for asbestos, and therefore, respiratory protection was optional. But Seattle Environmental Services couldn’t immediately provide evidence they’d actually tested the material they were tearing out of the home for asbestos — a fundamental first step to understanding what types of abatement measures have to be in place to keep workers safe. So, inspectors posted an Order of Immediate Restraint (OIR) to stop work.

Believe what you see, not what you hear
Evidence at the jobsite showed the contractor was treating it like an asbestos removal project. Inspectors photographed multiple yellow bags specifically designed for asbestos waste filled with wallboard debris in the house. A negative air machine was operating on the main floor with exhaust tubing running through the sliding door. When the contractor produced the test results hours later, it was confirmed: almost 3,000 square feet of walls and ceilings contained asbestos.

By that time, three workers had removed all of the toxic material without wearing proper respirators and without taking decontamination showers.

“The contractor told workers they didn’t have to wear respirators, then told L&I there wasn’t any asbestos in the house, and they were wrong on both counts.” said Craig Blackwood, assistant director for L&I’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health. “This employer was cutting corners on safety.”

Employer backtracked on his story
The employer eventually changed his story, saying he mixed up this abatement job with another. He then worked with inspectors to ensure the asbestos debris was properly removed. L&I allowed work on the site to restart on Sept. 29. 

Seattle Environmental Services was cited for 10 willful serious, six serious, and four general violations for ignoring asbestos removal rules and providing inaccurate information to L&I. Violations are considered “willful” when the company knew or should have known the requirements, but still failed to meet them. They are classified as serious when the hazard could lead to serious injury or death.

The company has until midnight Feb. 20, 2026, to file an appeal. 

L&I encourages homeowners to protect themselves by reviewing L&I’s certified contractors list before hiring an asbestos removal company.