Fired worker sues Ecolab, alleges racial bias behind safety violations

In March 2024, a chemical spill released 6,800 kilograms of chemicals over approximately seven hours. Watts was suspended. He alleges he was never advised to run the relevant machinery on manual mode only, and that the carelessness and recklessness of other employees caused the spill. He further states that had he been in the area at the time, the chemical fumes — in a space with little or no ventilation — could have seriously harmed or killed him.

The incident that triggered his termination came on November 21, 2024. Watts says he was sent a pallet carrying three empty drums and one full drum — none labeled — and he was not told they were improperly loaded. According to the filing, a white co-worker, Matt Beasley, told Watts he had warned another employee not to send the pallet down, but the employee did so anyway. Watts alone was disciplined. Beasley and the other employee, both white, received no punishment or write-ups.

The filing also notes that Beasley once caused a derailment for which he was never written up and has since been promoted.

Beyond the individual incidents, Watts alleges he witnessed Caucasian employees go unreported after spilling product on multiple occasions. He also says he was subjected to hate and discriminatory speech from white co-workers throughout his employment, including on an employee’s Facebook page.

Watts filed a charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in August 2025 and received his right-to-sue notice in January 2026.