Fear of malignant mesothelioma is a known concern for auto mechanics, who often risk asbestos exposure from contaminated parts. But in Spokane, Washington, employees of a U-Haul franchise were put at risk from asbestos-containing floor tiles and glue in the facility where they were working, and this has led to their employer being ordered to pay a $231,000 fine.
Washington State Fines U-Haul For Knowingly Exposing Workers to Mesothelioma Risk
According to a statement issued by the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries, U-Haul of Spokane knowingly exposed auto mechanics working on rental trucks to asbestos and the risk of mesothelioma by ordering them to work in a building tiled with contaminated vinyl flooring. The company purchased a sixty-year-old building that had previously been a K-Mart and began renovations without testing for asbestos. Once testing was conducted, it revealed almost 90,000 square feet of vinyl floor tiles and glue containing asbestos.
After the discovery of the materials known to be a mesothelioma risk, U-Haul was fined by the Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency and instructed to renovate following safety regulations. The company coated some of the tiles with epoxy and had others removed by a certified asbestos abatement company, but opened the service center without the job being completed.
Vibrations from Jack Stands Lead to Breakdown of Asbestos-Containing Tiles
According to U-Haul’s mechanics, tiles began popping up as soon as vehicles were brought into the center, disturbed by the weight of the trucks and the use of jackhammers. Instead of being warned away from the building, U-Haul management instructed them to throw the tiles away in the regular trash without informing them of the risk of mesothelioma. The workers used shovels, putty knives, and a torch to remove the tiles without any protective equipment.
According to Craig Blackwood, assistant director for L&I’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health, this is not the first time that the U-Haul facility has exposed its employees to mesothelioma risk. The company was fined in 2019 after instructing employees to use demolition equipment to remove asbestos-containing flooring in a K-Mart building it had purchased in Santa Barbara County. The money the company is required to pay will be placed in the workers’ compensation supplemental pension fund.
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos, the Patient Advocates at Mesothelioma.net can help. Contact us today at 1-800-692-8608 to learn more.
