Dyno Battery Fined $224,320 for Lead Violations

L&I halted production at battery manufacturer, issued fines after workers exposed to toxic lead

April 9, 2026 #26-05 TUKWILA – A Seattle manufacturer of batteries for trains, boats, forklifts, and golf carts is facing nearly $225,000 in fines from the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) after knowingly exposing workers to lead levels more than four times the safe limit and not fixing the problem.

The new fines came from a follow-up inspection L&I conducted to see if more than a dozen safety violations found last July at Dyno Battery, Inc. had been fixed as required. Despite repeated reminders and deadline extensions, the company initially ignored L&I’s attempts to get them to fix any of the hazards.

Among the violations inspectors photographed was an inch of lead dust built up in air cleaning devices known as air showers. These devices, meant to clean the lead out of the air, were actually blowing the toxic dust onto workers. Inspectors also found lead buildup on lunchroom tables even after they had been cleaned.

Exposure to high concentrations of lead dust can lead to neurological damage, kidney disease, high blood pressure, and reproductive problems.

Company ordered to stop work immediately
On Oct. 8, when they found the violations had not been fixed and workers were still being exposed to lead, L&I inspectors placed an Order of Immediate Restraint (OIR) to stop all work in the battery assembly area.

“It’s rare, but if it’s necessary to protect worker health and safety from an immediate risk, we can and do close down operations at a business until the hazards are fixed,” said Craig Blackwood, assistant director for L&I’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health.

“At Dyno Battery, we’re seeing what can happen when a company refuses to fix ongoing issues.”

L&I lifted the stop-work order in February only after all of the violations were corrected.

On March 9, L&I issued a $224,320 fine for 16 violations. Nine of the 16 were for their failure to fix those earlier problems. The company is appealing.

Money collected from fines goes into the workers’ compensation supplemental pension fund, helping workers and families of those who have died on the job.

For media information: Dina Lorraine, L&I Public Affairs, 360-972-4868.

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L&I photo shows a worker in the battery production area. Stacks of lead plates can be seen in the background.

An air shower that was supposed to clean the lead out of the air was instead blowing even more toxic dust onto the workers.

Communication Services | www.Lni.wa.gov/news-events

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