FERNDALE, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – A Lynwood asbestos removal company faces stiff fines for exposing homeowners and its workers to extremely dangerous conditions.

The Department of Labor and Industries took the action after inspecting Seattle Asbestos of Washington job sites at a home in Ferndale and another in Mountlake Terrace.

Among the dangers inspectors found were plastic barriers with holes in them, no plastic drop clothes on floors and appliances and workers’ respirators that were exposed to asbestos particles.

Asbestos is an extremely hazardous substance that can cause fatal diseases such as asbestosis, mesothelioma, and lung cancer. It can only be removed by a certified contractor that follows specific safety and health rules.

L&I found that the company knew the rules but “did not prioritize the safety or the health of workers or customers,”

The company has been ordered to stop work and must pay an almost $800,000 fine.