Federal Publication Provides Tips to Help Control Occupational Exposure to Mold after a Disaster

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Occupational and Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released a document to help workers and employers deal with mold issues. The publication, Mold: Worker and Employer Guide to Hazards and Recommended Controls, summarizes basic procedures for mold remediation after flooding and other natural disasters with an emphasis on worker protection. 
 
The document accurately states:
Water damage inside buildings after disasters contributes to the growth of mold. Workers exposed to mold during disaster recovery and cleanup may experience a variety of health problems. Removing mold growth and correcting the underlying source of water responsible for the mold contamination can help to reduce mold exposures and related health symptoms.
 
Some of the potential health effects listed that workers and building occupants could experience due to mold exposure include:

• Itchy, runny or stuffy nose
• Sneezing
• Itchy or watery eyes
• Itchy or sore throat
• Coughing and wheezing
• Severe allergic responses (e.g., rhinitis, asthma and hypersensitivity pneumonitis)
• Infections

“Hurricanes, floods and tornadoes are examples of events that are frequently associated with water damage and mold,” said Franco Seif, President of Clark Seif Clark (CSC). “However, mold issues can also be caused at any time due to plumbing leaks and related problems; ventilation issues that result in elevated humidity levels; and even from normal rain infiltrating roofs, walls, windows, crawlspaces and basements.”
 
The mold, water damage, indoor air quality (IAQ) and building science experts at CSC have decades of experience identifying and resolving all types of mold and moisture issues. They have successfully completed countless projects in single family homes, hotels, schools, hospitals, high-rise office buildings, multitenant complexes and industrial plants. CSC also recently sponsored an educational video about the Mold: Worker and Employer Guide to Hazards and Recommended Controls document that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/KYyd8puuBbs
 
To learn more about this or other building science, moisture, mold, indoor air quality, occupational, environmental, health and safety testing services, please visit www.csceng.com, email csc@csceng.com or call (800) 807-1118. 
 
About Clark Seif Clark
CSC was established in 1989 to help clients in both public and private sectors address indoor air quality, occupational, environmental, and health and safety (EH&S) issues. CSC is a leading provider of these services with multiple offices along the western seaboard and southwest. The company believes in science-based protocols and has a strong background in engineering, making them the preferred environmental consultants to industrial clients, healthcare facilities, architects, schools, builders, contractors, developers and real estate professionals.

Contact Information

Paul Cochrane

President

Cochrane & Associates, LLC

Contact via E-mail