LNI fines Whatcom County Medical Examiner’s Office for several safety violations
Whatcom County was cited this week by the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries for safety violations in the Medical Examiner’s Office, which has been under scrutiny since a Bellingham Herald investigation into the mishandling of bodies nearly two years ago.
A series of violations amounting to $11,016 were issued during an inspection Monday — some serious and some minor — allege a lack of training at the county morgue and ignorance of safety standards that could cause death or severe injuries, including blindness.
Jed Holmes, a spokesman for the County Executive’s Office, told The Bellingham Herald in an email that officials have “already taken steps to address those deficiencies.”
Corrections are due by May 2. Whatcom County officials hadn’t responded to the citations by Thursday afternoon, LNI spokesman Matt Ross told The Herald in an email.
“This inspection was initiated by a complaint alleging that employees weren’t receiving any fit-testing for respirators worn during autopsies and handling decedents in the field,” Ross said.
Fit-testing of people who wear respirators ensures an airtight seal between the mask and the user’s face so that airborne contaminants are filtered or kept out entirely. For example, fire departments must conduct annual fit-testing of the masks used for their breathing apparatus and also the filtered masks they wear when a patient has a contagious disease.
Holmes said that a private contractor, Forensic Pathology Services, is continuing to provide services in the Medical Examiner’s Office during the ongoing search for a permanent medical examiner. County Executive Satpal Sidhu fired Dr. Aldo Fusaro as medical examiner in January after 14 months on the job. In addition to the medical examiner position, two death investigator positions are open, according to the county’s website.
Fusaro, who was a county employee, replaced the previous medical examiner, Dr. Alison Hunt, who was a private contractor.
Hunt’s tenure was marked by a scandal involving bodies that were stored without refrigeration at the Moles funeral home at Bayview Cemetery. Hunt became medical examiner in January 2022 following the retirement of Dr. Gary Goldfogel, who held the position for more than 30 years.
A state Department of Licensing investigation into improper storage of bodies cleared Moles Farewell Tributes of any wrongdoing in that 2024 incident, instead placing blame on the Medical Examiner’s Office, spokesman Thomas Charlson told The Herald in an email.
In Monday’s inspection, a total of 13 violation notices were issued at the Whatcom County morgue, 1500 N. State St. Suite 200, according to the LNI website. Seven are considered “serious,” meaning that they could cause “serious injury, illness, or death,” according to the list. Six were considered “general” violations.
Among the more serious violations were for lack of personal protective equipment such as goggles and face shields by employees who conduct autopsies.
“The employer did not ensure that employees utilize appropriate eye and face protection. Three employees perform autopsies using corrosive 10% neutral buffered formalin that contains 4% formaldehyde without chemical splash goggles in case of splashes to the eyes,” according to the notice of violation.
In addition, an emergency eyewash or shower is not available for use within 10 seconds’ reach of where employees are working when the possibility of corrosive chemicals exists.
Other violations that were considered less serious involved a lack of communication about and documentation of hazards in the morgue.
