Asbestos Dangers at Tacoma, Washington’s McNeil Island Prison

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In September 2008, the Washington Department of Labor and Industries levied fines against the McNeil Island Prison, located in Tacoma, Washington, for improper asbestos removal.

The fines were assessed after an investigation revealed that prison inmates removed asbestos containing materials (ACM), including floor tiles, without protective equipment or proper training. A total of 18 people, including inmates, prison employees and a flooring contractor’s crew were exposed to the dangerous carcinogen.

The Department of Corrections was fined $28,400 and cited the prison for willful and serious violations of the Puget Sound Clean Air Act.

The violations included:

• Not using wetting agents to control potentially deadly dust
• Sweeping up tile and sealant while dry
• Not using a vacuum with a HEPA filter
• No direct oversight by certified supervisor
• Offenders were not certified to remove asbestos
• Failure to provide written notice of the presence of asbestos to those working nearby
• Failure to use respirators
• No exposure assessment done before removal
• Tile mechanically removed outside of a “negative pressure” environment
• Tile was not removed intact
• “Critical barriers” were not used to prevent spread of dust

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