PENOYAR, J.
¶ 1 Marjorie Arnold and her son Daniel (the Arnolds)
¶ 2 Reuben Arnold worked as an insulator for over 30 years until he retired in 1987. For about one year during 1962 and 1963, Reuben performed insulation work on Alaska ferries at Lockheed's Harbor Island shipyard in Seattle. At the time, Reuben's employer was E.J. Bartells, a Lockheed contractor. Reuben also may have worked at Lockheed in 1967-68. In 1969, Reuben performed insulation work on Navy ships at Lockheed for another contractor, either Unicor, Incorporated, or Owens Corning.
¶ 3 Insulators at Lockheed's shipyard worked below deck sawing pieces of asbestos insulation and mixing insulation mud. The work created dust that coated the insulators' clothing. Reuben brought home dust on his clothes, which Marjorie shook out and laundered.
¶ 4 In 1979-80, Daniel worked at Lockheed's shipyard as an insulation assistant for an unspecified amount of time. Daniel wore a protective suit taped at the wrists and ankles, booties, two sets of gloves, and a respirator. Another worker checked to make sure he was "all covered up." Clerk's Papers (CP) at 3708. After a day's work, the insulation workers threw away all the protective gear except the respirator. Daniel worked sporadically as an insulator during the next 10 years.
¶ 5 Reuben developed mesothelioma
¶ 6 On August 4, 2008, the Arnolds filed a complaint in Pierce County Superior Court, asserting asbestos-related claims against Lockheed and about 30 other companies.
¶ 7 Lockheed, the only respondent in this appeal, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Lockheed Martin Corporation. Lockheed closed its Seattle shipyard in the late 1980s and no longer operates as a business. Lockheed's only employees are its current officers, none of whom are "directly knowledgeable about[ ] the operations of the Seattle shipyard before it closed." CP at 571.
¶ 8 The Arnolds and Lockheed engaged in discovery, exchanging interrogatories and requests for production. In December 2008, the parties also deposed several witnesses.
¶ 9 On December 26, 2008, Lockheed moved for summary judgment. On January 16, 2009, the Arnolds deposed Ildiko Songrady, Lockheed's designated Civil Rule (CR) 30(b)(6) witness. On January 27, the Arnolds filed a response to Lockheed's summary judgment motion and attached several exhibits, including the following deposition testimony.
¶ 10 John Tanner worked as a pipefitter at Lockheed during 1962-63 and 1967-69. Tanner did not know Reuben or Daniel, but he worked alongside insulators on Navy ships. When the insulators applied insulation to the pipes in the ships' engine and boiler rooms, "it was like snow in there." CP at 413.
¶ 11 According to Tanner, Lockheed's quality control personnel worked on the ships and wore white coveralls and blue hats. When workers completed their tasks in one of the ship's compartments, quality control personnel checked the work. If the workers encountered a problem, they informed their lead man, who contacted quality control personnel. A lead man supervised 7 to 15. men in a particular trade. A foreman supervised 5 to 8 lead men. A superintendent supervised the foremen and reported to Lockheed's on-board production manager.
¶ 12 Tanner stated that Lockheed personnel advised foremen about safety procedures. Tanner recalled that Lockheed employees "might tag something and say this was unsafe." CP at 416. Tanner could not recall a specific instance when Lockheed personnel tagged an unsafe area.
¶ 13 Michael Harris started working for Lockheed in 1966 as a pipefitter apprentice, and he worked his way up to a Lockheed superintendent. As a pipefitter, Harris worked alongside insulators, electricians, and painters every day in the ships' engine and boiler rooms. The conditions below deck involved "constant asbestos, fiberglass, dirt [and] dust." CP at 445. Harris washed his own work clothes, and he did not recall that contractors' employees had access to showers, lockers, or laundry facilities.
¶ 14 Harris became a Lockheed superintendent in 1973. As superintendent, he managed all the pipefitters on the ship and reported to Lockheed's production manager. The production manager was "responsible" to all crafts on the ship, including contractor craftsmen. CP at 461. As a superintendent, Harris had authority to tell contractors whose practices were unsafe to correct those practices and to instruct contractors as to proper safety practices.
¶ 15 Bruce Curtis worked alongside Reuben as an insulator for about two years, including 1968. Curtis stated that contractors
¶ 16 Ron Nickell, a general foreman for Unicor, worked with Reuben to insulate Navy ships in the summer of 1969. Nickell stated that a Lockheed supervisor provided the insulators with a release or written approval to insulate in a particular area because insulation work followed the steam fitters, pipe fitters, and sheet metal workers. Lockheed supervisors monitored "what that craft was doing and [gave] releases." CP at 643. They were "on the ship" most of the time and coordinated the work. CP at 643.
¶ 17 Tanner, Curtis, and Harris all stated that Lockheed did not inform them about the hazards of working with asbestos. Harris recalled that the asbestos fibers packed into "nice snowball[s]," which the workers threw at each other. CP at 450. Lockheed did not advise workers to wear respirators, prevent dust from settling on their clothes, or wash their coveralls on-site rather than at home. Lockheed also did not provide on-site laundry facilities, showers, disposable coveralls, or lockers to insulators.
¶ 18 Ildiko Songrady, Lockheed's corporate secretary and a paralegal at Lockheed Martin, testified as Lockheed's CR 30(b)(6) witness. She noted that Lockheed maintained approximately 13,000 boxes of records in a commercial storage center. She had only been Lockheed's corporate secretary for a "couple of months" and stated, "13,000 boxes is impossible to review in such a short time." CP at 494.
¶ 19 Songrady stated that Lockheed had contracts with the Navy in the 1960s that she "assum[ed]" exceeded $10,000. CP at 496. Lockheed learned that asbestos was hazardous before 1969, but it did not warn workers about these hazards or test for asbestos concentrations before 1980. Lockheed had a written asbestos control policy in the 1980s. Prior to 1980, Lockheed knew that changing rooms and separate clothing for asbestos workers was a recommended industrial hygiene practice, and Lockheed provided locker rooms, changing facilities, and showers.
¶ 20 During her deposition, Songrady could not answer several material questions about the relationship between Lockheed, its subcontractors, and its subcontractors' employees in the 1960s:
CP at 504-08.
¶ 21 At another point, Songrady stated, "I don't know if [Lockheed] had any agreement with [its] subcontractors or the contractors, but I'm sure that [it] took some sort of precautions for them as well. I'm just guessing. Since [it was] so concerned about [its] own employees, why wouldn't [it] be concerned about other employees?" CP at 487. Martin Ingwersen, a former Lockheed executive, stated that Lockheed sent safety manuals to its subcontractors.
¶ 22 In addition to this deposition testimony, the Arnolds submitted correspondence between the Navy and Lockheed. This correspondence revealed that, in 1969, the Navy asked Lockheed for information about its use of hazardous insulation materials at its Seattle shipyard. In a letter, Lockheed responded that it used asbestos insulation on steam piping, boilers, and diesel exhaust piping. Lockheed enclosed an engineering standard—which it had provided to at least one insulation subcontractor—that informed contractors about the proper use of insulation on piping and machinery. Lockheed's engineering branch retained control over interpretation of the standard, and quality control personnel were responsible for enforcing the standard. Lockheed also enclosed the Selikoff-Churg-Hammond study,
¶ 23 Additionally, the Arnolds submitted an excerpt of Lockheed's "General Procedures" dated July 20, 1981. The "Control of Asbestos Procedure" required workers to take precautions on the jobsite and noted that "a very rare form of lung cancer called mesothelioma" could occur "after prolonged exposure to asbestos fibers." CP at 620. The procedure ordered Lockheed's Director of Material to ensure that insulation contractors submitted an airborne asbestos control plan in compliance with Lockheed's procedures before removing asbestos. Songrady conceded that Lockheed's Director of Material "may have" had some control over Lockheed's subcontractors. CP at 489.
¶ 24 On February 9, 2009, the trial court granted summary judgment to Lockheed, stating:
RP at 31-32. The trial court denied the Arnolds' subsequent motion for reconsideration and granted Lockheed's motion to strike a number of exhibits and an expert's declaration that the Arnolds submitted with their motion.
¶ 25 The Arnolds contend that Lockheed owed them a duty to ensure a safe workplace as the general contractor at the Seattle shipyard and that it had a statutory obligation to provide a safe workplace. Further, the Arnolds argue that Lockheed is liable for their injuries because Reuben was an invitee on Lockheed's premises. We conclude that the Arnolds have presented a genuine issue of material fact with regard to whether Lockheed owed Reuben a duty both as a landowner and as a general contractor.
¶ 26 In an action for negligence, a plaintiff must prove the existence of a duty, breach of that duty, resulting injury, and proximate causation. Alhadeff v. Meridian on Bainbridge Island, LLC, 167 Wn.2d 601, 618, 220 P.3d 1214 (2009). Whether a duty exists in the negligence context is a question of law that we review de novo. Aba Sheikh v. Choe, 156 Wn.2d 441, 448, 128 P.3d 574 (2006).
¶ 27 We review summary judgment orders de novo. Lunsford v. Saberhagen Holdings, Inc., 166 Wn.2d 264, 270, 208 P.3d 1092 (2009). Summary judgment is appropriate only if "the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law." CR 56(c). We consider facts and reasonable inferences in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party. McNabb v. Dep't of Corrs., 163 Wn.2d 393, 397, 180 P.3d 1257 (2008). We are reluctant to grant summary judgment when "material facts are particularly within the knowledge of the moving party." Riley v. Andres, 107 Wn.App. 391, 395, 27 P.3d 618 (2001). In such cases, the matter should proceed to trial "in order that the opponent may be allowed to disprove such facts by cross-examination and by the demeanor of the moving party while testifying." Mich. Nat'l Bank v. Olson, 44 Wn.App. 898, 905, 723 P.2d 438 (1986).
¶ 28 We affirm the trial court's grant of summary judgment with respect to Daniel's primary exposure claim. Daniel fails to present a genuine issue of material fact that his occupational exposure at Lockheed contributed to his mesothelioma. While working at Lockheed in 1979-80, Daniel wore a protective suit taped at the wrists and ankles, booties, two sets of gloves, and a respirator. Another worker checked to make sure he was "all covered up." CP at 3708. After a day's work, the insulation workers threw away all the protective gear except the respirator. Dr. Hammar suggested that Daniel's protective clothing and respirator would protect him from the levels of asbestos exposure needed to cause mesothelioma. Therefore, we focus on Daniel's take-home exposure claim.
¶ 29 The parties appear to agree that Lockheed is a "premises owner," but they vigorously dispute whether Lockheed is a "general contractor." Viewed in a light most favorable to the Arnolds, the record supports the view that Lockheed acted as a general contractor. Lockheed constructed and outfitted naval ships at its Seattle shipyard in accordance with the Navy's specifications. Lockheed employed its own workers but also contracted out work to subcontractors. A 1968 contract between Lockheed and Washington State Ferries designates Lockheed as "Contractor" and states that Lockheed will complete work in accordance with stated specifications while providing all "materials, labor, carriage, tools, [and] implements ... for constructing and completing the work provided for in this contract." CP at 630. Under any general understating of the
¶ 30 An employer of an independent contractor is generally not liable for injuries to the independent contractor's employees. Kelley v. Howard S. Wright Constr. Co., 90 Wn.2d 323, 330, 582 P.2d 500 (1978). An exception exists where the employer retains control over some part of the contractor's work. Kelley, 90 Wash.2d at 330, 582 P.2d 500. An employer retains control if the employer retains "the right to direct the manner in which the work is performed." Kamla v. Space Needle Corp., 147 Wn.2d 114, 121, 52 P.3d 472 (2002). Actual exercise of control over the manner in which the contractor performs the work is not required. Kamla, 147 Wash.2d at 121, 52 P.3d 472. The employer does not retain control by controlling the timing or order of work, by retaining the right to order the work stopped, or by inspecting the contractor's work to ensure adequate progress. Kamla, 147 Wash.2d at 121, 52 P.3d 472 (citing Straw v. Esteem Constr. Co., 45 Wn.App. 869, 875, 728 P.2d 1052 (1986); Bozung v. Condo. Builders, Inc., 42 Wn.App. 442, 447, 711 P.2d 1090 (1985)).
¶ 31 In Kelley, our Supreme Court also articulated a rule that general contractors who maintain supervisory and coordinating authority over multiple contractors in a "common work area[]" are responsible for job safety in those common work areas. 90 Wash.2d at 331-32, 582 P.2d 500. In Kelley, a subcontractor's employee who installed metal decking on a Seattle building suffered brain damage after falling from his fourth floor platform. 90 Wash.2d at 326-27, 582 P.2d 500. The accident occurred in an area where "four different contractors had worked within a short period of time." Kelley, 90 Wash.2d at 332, 582 P.2d 500. Because the general contractor had "supervisory and coordinating authority" over the four contractors, our Supreme Court held that the general contractor "had a duty to see that proper safety precautions were taken in that area to provide the employees with a safe place of work." Kelley, 90 Wash.2d at 332, 582 P.2d 500.
¶ 32 The Kelley court relied on a Michigan Supreme Court case in its discussion of the common work area rule:
Kelley, 90 Wash.2d at 331, 582 P.2d 500. The Kelley court adopted the Funk court's rationale for making general contractors responsible for safety in common work areas:
Kelley, 90 Wash.2d at 331-32, 582 P.2d 500 (quoting Funk, 220 N.W.2d at 646).
¶ 33 We conclude that the Arnolds presented sufficient evidence to successfully resist summary judgment on their claims against Lockheed as a general contractor with control over the common work areas on the ships where Reuben worked. The Arnolds introduced evidence that, at the time of Reuben's employment, Lockheed owned and controlled access to the work site, was the general contractor, provided and enforced standards for installing insulation, monitored and coordinated the work of multiple subcontractors in close quarters below deck, and retained safety oversight over all workers, including subcontractors, on the ships that it constructed at its Harbor Island shipyard.
¶ 34 Furthermore, we note that many facts about the nature of Lockheed's control over the safety and work of its subcontractors remain within Lockheed's knowledge. Lockheed's representative, Songrady, was unable to answer questions about Lockheed's control over its subcontractors' employees, which is the central issue in this case. Rather, she acknowledged that the contents of 13,000 boxes in Lockheed's storage facility would confirm or undermine the Arnolds' claim that Lockheed retained control over its subcontractors. In short, the Arnolds' claim should be tried.
¶ 35 The Arnolds also contend that Lockheed breached its duty to Reuben as an invitee because Lockheed (1) knew of the risk of asbestos exposure when Reuben worked there; (2) should have expected that its subcontractors' employees would be unaware of the danger; and (3) failed to exercise reasonable care because it did not warn workers of the danger, did not provide respirators or showers, and did not require workers to change asbestos-laden clothes after
¶ 36 The employees of independent contractors hired by a landowner are invitees on the landowner's premises. Kamla, 147 Wash.2d at 125, 52 P.3d 472. Washington has adopted sections 343 and 343A of the Restatement (Second) of Torts, which define a landowner's duty to invitees. Kamla, 147 Wash.2d at 125, 52 P.3d 472. Section 343 reads:
RESTATEMENT (SECOND) OF TORTS § 343, at 215-216.
¶ 37 Section 343A clarifies that an invitee's awareness of a dangerous condition does not necessarily preclude landowner liability. Iwai v. State, 129 Wn.2d 84, 94, 915 P.2d 1089 (1996). That section states in relevant part:
RESTATEMENT (SECOND) OF TORTS § 343A, at 218.
¶ 38 As a threshold matter, Lockheed argues that "alleged hazards associated with construction activity" are not "condition[s] on the land" that trigger a landowner's duty to invitees.' Resp't's Br. at 38-39. In support, Lockheed cites a case in which the court held that a building collapse that killed a worker and that occurred "because the equipment being dismantled helped to anchor the walls of the building" was not "a condition on the land." Resp't's Br. at 38 (citing Morris v. Vaagen Bros. Lumber, Inc., 130 Wn.App. 243, 250, 125 P.3d 141 (2005)). However, Morris is distinguishable. Here, Lockheed invited insulators like Reuben onto its premises to work in hazardous environmental conditions. Asbestos was a regular presence at the shipyard and is thus properly considered a "condition on the land."
¶ 39 We conclude that the Arnolds presented a genuine issue of material fact with regard to whether Lockheed breached its duty to Reuben as an invitee. Lockheed knew that asbestos was hazardous to its workers by 1969, and some evidence in the record suggests that Lockheed may have known earlier. In contrast, several shipyard workers deposed for this litigation stated that they did not know of the dangers of asbestos in the 1960s. Harris formed the asbestos into snowballs and did not learn of the dangers of asbestos until after he left Lockheed in 1975 or 1976. Tanner did not begin wearing a respirator or dust mask until 1982 when the "safety people" raised concerns. CP at 421. Nickell wore a dust mask or respirator for the first time in the early 1970s.
¶ 40 Moreover, the record conflicts as to whether Lockheed exercised reasonable care to protect workers against asbestos. According to Songrady, Lockheed provided locker rooms, changing facilities, and showers to asbestos workers. However, Harris recalled that subcontractors' employees had no access to showers, lockers, or laundry facilities. Harris also stated that workers received no training about the risks of asbestos and that Lockheed did not require workers to wear a mask or respirator around the insulation. Tanner stated that Lockheed never advised workers to take precautions from being exposed
¶ 41 Questions remain about precisely when Lockheed knew about the dangers of asbestos, whether Lockheed should have expected that insulation workers would not realize that danger, and whether Lockheed failed to exercise reasonable care. Therefore, the trial court's grant of summary judgment was inappropriate at this time.
¶ 42 Finally, Lockheed relies on Strong v. Seattle Stevedore Co., 1 Wn.App. 898, 904, 466 P.2d 545 (1970), to argue that it is not liable because Reuben was an "expert insulator" who was more knowledgeable about asbestos risks than Lockheed.
¶ 43 The Arnolds argue that Lockheed owed duties of care to the Arnolds under the Washington Industrial Health and Safety Act (WISHA),
¶ 44 WISHA does not apply to the Arnolds' claims because the legislature enacted WISHA after Reuben's exposure to asbestos in the 1960s. See Laws of 1973, ch. 80. On remand, however, the Arnolds may assert that Lockheed breached its statutory duty under WISHA's predecessor statute, former RCW 49.16.030,
88 Wash.2d at 920, 568 P.2d 771 (citation omitted). Although the legislature's enactment of RCW 5.40.050,
¶ 45 Next, we conclude that the Walsh-Healey Act does not create a duty on the part of Lockheed that runs to the Arnolds. The Act requires parties who contract with the United States to manufacture or furnish materials, supplies, articles, or equipment in any amount exceeding $10,000 to agree to contract provisions that they will provide a safe workplace. 41 U.S.C. § 35(d). The Act gives the United States a cause of action for breach of contract, allowing it to seek liquidated damages and other statutory penalties. 41 U.S.C. § 36. Nowhere does the Act suggest that a third party may enforce a contractor's breach of the Act's workplace provisions through a negligence lawsuit. The primary case that the Arnolds rely on to assert that the Act gives rise to such a duty—Zimko v. American Cyanamid, 905 So.2d 465 (La.Ct.App.2005)—is unpersuasive. The Zimko court did not address the issue of third party enforcement, and it emphasized that a "no-duty defense" to a negligence claim is limited to exceptional situations under Louisiana law, which is not the case in Washington. 905 So.2d at 481-83.
¶ 46 We affirm the trial court's grant of summary judgment to Lockheed for Daniel's primary exposure claim, but we reverse the trial court's grant of summary judgment to Lockheed for all other claims.
¶ 47 Neither party requests attorney fees. We award reasonable costs to the Arnolds because they substantially prevail in this appeal. See RAP 14.2.
We concur: ARMSTRONG and VAN DEREN, JJ.
684 N.W.2d at 323.