Now, their employer must pay a $231,000 fine from the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) for knowingly exposing the workers to asbestos.
U-Haul of Spokane purchased a former K-Mart in 2019 and began renovations—without getting the nearly 60 year old building tested for asbestos. When it was tested, during an investigation by the Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency (SRCAA), all of the nearly 90,000 square feet of vinyl floor tiles and glue contained asbestos. SRCAA cited and fined U-Haul then for the work they had already started, and advised the business how to safely proceed with the renovation.
Asbestos is extremely hazardous when disturbed and can cause fatal diseases like asbestosis, mesothelioma and lung cancer. Only a certified abatement contractor that follows asbestos-related safety and health rules may remove and dispose of asbestos-containing building materials.

Problems quickly pop up
U-Haul coated some of the tiles with epoxy, and had others removed by a certified asbestos company. However, about 7,400 square feet of the tiles remained when the service center opened in March 2023.
Mechanics told L&I inspectors the vinyl tiles started popping up almost immediately due to use of jack stands and the weight of the vehicles on the flooring. They were instructed by management to throw them away in the regular trash (see photos below). Workers threw away 200-300 square feet of tiles, never realizing they were handling asbestos.
Workers in other areas of the building used shovels, putty knives, and a torch to remove the tiles. They did not wear respirators or any other personal protective equipment (PPE) besides disposable gloves and safety glasses—gear that was not protective enough for the job. None of the workers were trained or certified to remove asbestos.
“Not only did U-Haul management know this dangerous practice was happening, they encouraged it,” said Craig Blackwood, assistant director for L&I’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health. “And to make matters worse, this isn’t the first time they’ve had issues with handling this deadly material. We hope the fine moves U-Haul to create safer workplaces for its employees.”

Repeating the past
In addition the Spokane air protection fines and warnings, California OSHA cited and fined the same U-Haul franchise owner in 2019 after employees used demolition equipment to remove asbestos-containing flooring from a K-Mart building it purchased in Santa Barbara County.
L&I’s citation in late 2024 lists 16 serious asbestos-related violations, some of them willful. Violations are considered “willful” when the company knew or should have known the requirements, but still failed to meet them. They include not having certified workers remove the tile and for not informing workers about the presence of asbestos and where it was located.
U-Haul of Spokane did not appeal the citation and fine. Penalty money is placed in the workers' compensation supplemental pension fund, helping injured workers and families of those who have died on the job.