As an explosives expert, this employee put her life on the line every day. But bombs weren’t the biggest job hazard she had to deal with.

Patricia Howard, former Army reservist with USA Environmental, is suing after the company broke policy and federal law by exposing her to thousands of pounds of avian excrement. Howard joined the Reserves in 1994 and quickly made her way up the explosives-expert-ranks, eventually becoming a supervisor with the company.

When it was contracted to dismantle and handle explosives in Iraq, Howard went overseas and handled hundred of tons of explosives and ammunition daily. But the real problem was the poor sanitary conditions of the warehouses and gymnasiums used for storage. Most were littered with bird nests, animal carcasses and mounds of feces.

USA Environmental only provided workers with surgical face masks for protection. After months in the conditions, Howard was able to get washing facilities, jumpsuits, better masks, etc. — but supervisors refused to let her work, for fear of further complaints. She resigned days later, when a safety supervisor allegedly attacked her for speaking up about the conditions.

Howard’s lawsuit asks for a portion of the $120 million USA Environmental earned through its contract, but the U.S. government could recoup between 70% and 80% of the contract under the False Claims Act.

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Tags: Company policy, Iraq, Job hazard, Job safety