N. Hollywood Lab Closed as Unsafe

A North Hollywood laboratory that helps companies comply with hazardous-waste laws was ordered closed by fire officials Tuesday after being raided by an environmental task force, a spokesman for the city attorney’s office said.

The morning raid by city, county and state officials came at the recommendation of the Los Angeles city Fire Department, which said Ensotech Inc. had failed to eliminate unsafe conditions discovered during a routine inspection March 7.

Ensotech, at 11550 Vanowen St., tests the waste discharge of manufacturers to make sure they comply with laws regulating the dumping of hazardous materials into sewers, said Ted Goldstein, a spokesman for the city attorney’s office.

During the March 7 inspection, fire officials found that the laboratory was storing potentially volatile ethyl ether in a standard household refrigerator instead of an explosion-proof refrigerator, Goldstein said.

No Fire Wall

The department also found that no fire wall separated the laboratory from four residential units on the second floor of the 55-by-60-foot wood-frame and stucco building, Goldstein said.

“These four units were conceivably sitting on a powder keg,” he said.

The residents received a notice that the Fire Department considered the building in violation of fire and safety standards.

After checking the building, fire officials ordered Ensotech’s owner, Inderjit Sabherwal, to correct the problems immediately, Goldstein said. When the company did not comply, the city attorney’s office obtained a warrant to search the business, and fire officials ordered it closed, he said.

Sabherwal could not be reached for comment.