Safety Tidbit 4.07 - Mold

Safety Tidbit 4.07 – Mold

 

Reference:      OSHA Mold Hazards Disaster Cleanup

Okay, enough with the waterworks already. I am so tired of rain. As a homeowner, with rain comes the chance of water coming into my home where I don’t want it. Mold is a type of fungi as you well know. Most molds reproduce by forming spores which are released into the air. When spores land on a suitable moist surface they begin to grow, can penetrate porous materials (e.g., carpeting, drywall, wood, in other words, pretty much most things in our homes) and release chemicals. Most molds are harmless. However, some can cause infections, allergy symptoms and produce toxins. But let’s not forget that we need molds and fungi to breakdown all the leaves that are falling outside.

What do you do when the water brings mold into your home, and it takes over? The first rule in mold cleanup is to control the source of moisture. Drying can involve the use of fans, blowers and/or dehumidifiers. However, the more humid the air, the less effective the blowers will be. It is often more cost-effective to remove and replace the building materials than to dry and clean mold-contaminated materials.

While cleaning up mold affected areas use engineering controls, work practices, and personal protective equipment (PPE). Sounds a bit like the use of the hierarchy of controls (e.g., Elimination, Substitution, Engineering Controls, Warnings, Administrative Controls, Personal Protective Equipment). Inhalation is the route of exposure of most concern to cleanup workers. OSHA gives a few suggestions:

Engineering Controls

•       Re-wetting materials with a mist of water to suppress spores, dust and debris.

•       Wrap and seal the items that will be discarded in plastic bags or sheets to reduce the spread of spores.

•       Provide natural or local exhaust ventilation during all cleaning steps.

Work Practices

•       Avoid breathing dust.

•       After an area has been cleaned and is completely dry, vacuum the area with a HEPA vacuum.

•       HEPA vacuums are also recommended for cleaning up dust that may have settled on surfaces outside the work area.

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I’m a little confused though, OSHA has a very generic work practice to “avoid breathing dust” (are we to hold our breath?).  I like that they recommend moistening the affected areas during remediation to avoid creating dust. Also, putting debris in sealed or plastic bags makes good sense. All of their recommendations are examples of good old-fashioned industrial hygiene practices and engineer out the hazard if possible (wet it and/or vacuum it).

Hope this was helpful and thank you for reading my Safety Tidbits! Comments and questions are always welcome. ~ Bryan

P.S. If you have an interesting safety or health question please let me know.