Washington L&I Fines Business Owners for Asbestos Removal Violations
Two Vancouver house flippers face $116,300 in fines for improper asbestos removal during a renovation project.
- By Robert Yaniz Jr.
- Jan 16, 2025
Two Vancouver-based business owners have been fined a total of $116,300 by the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) for mishandling asbestos removal at a house renovation site.
According to a recent release, the penalties were issued following a referral from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that alleged the falsification of lab results to improperly dispose of hazardous materials. Asbestos exposure is linked to serious health risks, such as lung cancer and mesothelioma. Washington state regulations require certified asbestos abatement professionals to perform any removal work.
The owner of NW Quality Flooring LLC received fines totaling $108,200 for four willful serious violations after presenting a falsified asbestos test result to a local disposal facility and misleading L&I inspectors. According to officials, he altered test results from a previous job to claim the current property was asbestos-free.
"[The owner of NW Quality Flooring] put anyone who walks into this house at risk, including other contractors and the next homeowner. We’re always going to take that very seriously,” Cari Anderson, deputy assistant director for L&I’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health, said in a statement.
Russ Tile Work LLC, the partner company in the home-flipping project, was fined $8,100 for four serious violations. Inspectors found no evidence that the company's owner was aware of the fraudulent actions by his business partner.
Despite the appeals filed by both companies, NW Quality Flooring has since hired a certified contractor to safely complete the asbestos cleanup. L&I has referred the case to the state Attorney General’s Environmental Protection Division for possible criminal prosecution.
About the Author
Robert Yaniz Jr. is the Content Editor of Occupational Health & Safety.