Asbestos in King County, WA

Apartment Complex Owner Cited for State Asbestos Violations

As in this case of a King County, WA property owner, those that own or manage commercial and residential properties are required to follow all federal, state and local regulations when performing building renovations that will cause asbestos-containing materials to be disturbed. Exposure to toxic asbestos dusts places all those in the area at risk to develop serious illnesses many decades after their exposure.

If your family is facing a loved one’s diagnosis with mesothelioma cancer, asbestos lung cancer or asbestosis, please complete the form on this page to request vital information about your family’s legal rights and options.

In September 2010, the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (DLI) announced that it had assessed potential asbestos violation fines of over $165,000 against a King County, WA apartment complex owner.

The renovations at the apartment complex included the removal of asbestos-containing materials (ACM) at 43 apartments.

The property owner was cited for several violations, including:

*Allegedly using untrained workers to remove asbestos-containing ceiling materials;
*Failing to have the building inspected prior to removing asbestos-containing materials; and
*Failure to hire a certified asbestos testing and removal company to remove the asbestos-contaminated debris.

Company Previously Fined for Violations
According to Seattle-area news reports, the property owner had been previously cited for similar violations, having been fined on two prior occasions for failing to ensure that asbestos-containing materials (ACM) were tested prior to their removal.

Serious Health Risks Caused by Improper Asbestos Removal
Countless national and international health agencies, including the U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have classified asbestos as a known carcinogen (a cancer causing substance).

Those that are not properly trained to remove asbestos are at risk to inhale microscopic asbestos fibers. Unlike other airborne irritants, asbestos cannot be easily expelled by coughing, sneezing or blowing one’s nose.

Instead, the asbestos fibers remain in the lungs and cause healthy lung tissue to scar. Over a period of 40 or more years (known as “asbestos latency periods), the scarring can cause chronic lung diseases such as asbestosis, emphysema, chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) or pleural plaques disease to develop.

Tragically, many other men and women exposed to asbestos suffer more serious consequences. In these cases, the asbestos causes the lungs to eventually begin to produce abnormal cells, which eventually form mesothelioma or asbestos lung cancer tumors.

How Weitz & Luxenberg Can Help
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, we may be able to help you to seek justice for your illness and file a lawsuit on your behalf.

Please complete the form on this page for a free and confidential review of your potential asbestos lawsuit or request a free copy of our asbestos sourcebook. A Weitz & Luxenberg representative will contact you as soon as possible.