Transcript n c e , T e c h n o l o g y a n d M e d i c i n e O f f i c e o f S c i e n c e a n d T e c h n o l o g y A s s e s s m e n t U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration Directorate of Science, Technology and Medicine Office of Science and Technology Assessment A Brief Guide.

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U.S. Department of Labor
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Directorate of Science, Technology and Medicine
Office of Science and Technology Assessment
A Brief Guide to Mold in the Workplace
Safety and Health Information Bulletins
• Visible mold growth
• On structural materials
• That will be disrupted – cut, drilled,
removed
Health effects of air-borne mold on
healthy persons
•
•
•
•
Respiratory irritation
Allergies
Asthma
Rarely, allergic lung disease
Mold and mold spores are part
of our everyday environment
• There are many types of mold. Most
typical indoor air exposures to mold
do not present a risk of adverse health
effects. Molds can cause adverse
effects by producing allergens
(substances that can cause allergic
reactions).
• Molds may cause localized skin or
mucosal infections but, in general, do
not cause systemic infections in
humans, except for persons with
impaired immunity, AIDS,
uncontrolled diabetes, or those taking
immune suppressive drugs.
• Molds can also cause asthma attacks in
some individuals who are allergic to mold.
In addition, exposure to mold can irritate
the eyes, skin, nose and throat in certain
individuals. Symptoms other than allergic
and irritant types are not commonly
reported as a result of inhaling mold in the
indoor environment.
Current scientific evidence does not
support the proposition that human
health has been adversely affected by
inhaled mycotoxins in home, school,
or office environments.
ACOEM 2003
Toxic Mold =
Moldy food or agricultural product
Toxic if eaten!
Farmer’s lung
Or
Hypersensitivity
pneumonitis
OSHA
Level I: Small Isolated Areas
(10 sq. ft or less) – e.g., ceiling tiles, small areas on walls
• Remediation can be conducted by the
regular building maintenance staff
• N-95 disposable respirator
• The work area should be unoccupied
• Should be cleaned
• Dust suppression recommended
• Containment is not necessary
Level II: Mid-Sized Isolated Areas
(10-30 sq. ft.) – e.g., individual wallboard panels
• Remediation can be conducted by the regular building
maintenance staff
• N-95 disposable respirator
• The work area should be unoccupied. Removing
people from spaces adjacent to the work area is not
necessary but is recommended for infants (less than 12
months old), chronic inflammatory lung diseases (e.g.,
asthma, hypersensitivity, pneumonitis, and severe
allergies).
• Dust suppression methods, such as misting (not
soaking) surfaces prior to remediation, are
recommended.
• Containment recommended
Level III: Large Isolated Areas
(30-100 sq ft) – e.g., several wallboard panels
•
•
•
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Industrial hygienists or other environmental health and safety professionals with experience
performing microbial investigations and/or mold remediation should be consulted prior to
remediation activities to provide oversight for the project.
The following procedures may be implemented depending upon the severity of the contamination:
It is recommended that personnel be trained in the handling of hazardous materials and equipped
with respiratory protection (e.g., N-95 disposable respirator). Respirators must be used in accordance
with the OSHA respiratory protection standard (29 CFR 1910.134). Gloves and eye protection should
be worn.
Surfaces in the work area and areas directly adjacent that could become decontaminated should be
covered with a secured plastic sheet(s) before remediation to contain dust/ debris and prevent further
contamination.
Seal ventilation ducts/grills in the work area and areas directly adjacent with plastic sheeting.
The work area and areas directly adjacent should be unoccupied. Removing people from spaces near
the work area is recommended for infants, persons having undergone recent surgery,
immunesuppressed people, or people with chronic inflammatory lung diseases. (e.g., asthma,
hypersensitivity pneumonitis, and severe allergies).
Dust suppression methods, such as misting (not soaking) surfaces prior to mediation, are
recommended.
Contaminated materials that cannot be cleaned should be removed from the building in sealed
impermeable plastic bags. These materials may be disposed of as ordinary waste.
The work area and surrounding areas should be HEPA vacuumed and cleaned with a damp cloth or
mop and a detergent solution.
All areas should be left dry and visibly free from contamination and debris.
Note: If abatement procedures are expected to generate a lot of dust (e.g., abrasive cleaning of
contaminated surfaces, demolition of plaster walls) or the visible concentration of the mold is heavy
(blanket coverage as opposed to patchy), it is recommended that the remediation procedures for
Level IV be followed.
Personal Protective Equipment
(PPE)
• Minimum: Gloves, N-95 respirator,
goggles/eye protection
• Limited: Gloves, N-95 respirator or
half-face respirator with HEPA filter,
disposable overalls, goggles/eye
protection
• Full: Gloves, disposable full body
clothing, head gear, foot coverings
full-face respirator with HEPA filter
+ work gloves
I & II
III & over
Containment
• Limited: Use polyethylene sheeting ceiling to
floor around affected area with a slit entry and
covering flap; maintain area under negative
pressure with HEPA filtered fan unit. Block
supply and return air vents within containment
area.
• Full: Use two layers of fire-retardant polyethylene
sheeting with one airlock chamber. Maintain area
under negative pressure with HEPA filtered fan
exhausted outside of building. Block supply and
return air vents within containment area.
Use N-95 mask to prevent
• Aggravate allergies
• Aggravate asthma
• Sinus infection if diabetes out of
control or immune suppressed
• Systemic infection if immune
suppressed
• Rare allergic lung reactions
• Rare fungal growth in scarred
lungs/cortisone drug use
Use full mask and protective suit for
extensive work > 30 ft sq in a single
contagious area with dust containment
and industrial hygiene oversight of
“outside contractor?”
Minor surface
cleaning which
does not disrupt
structural
material does
not require
protective
equipment.
Toxic Mold Media Hype?