Supervisor of Washington Prison Asbestos Program Fired

Washington state’s Department of Corrections has fired the supervisor in charge of an inmate work crew that used unsafe practices in cleaning up asbestos.

The agency last year closed down the 23-year-old program that sent prisoners to clean up cancer-causing asbestos. In April, it agreed to pay state labor regulators more than $70,000 in fines to settle an investigation into asbestos cleanup practices.

The News Tribune, citing a letter obtained through a public records request, says Gary Baldwin, who was head of the asbestos removal program, was dismissed in April.

Baldwin is appealing the decision. Attempts to reach him last week were unsuccessful.