One of the fastest-growing concerns for employers is toxic mold in the workplace. According to the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), toxic mold can affect indoor air quality and cause serious health conditions. These problems are fueling an increase in litigation over the presence of mold, and big-money settlements and judgments in the six- and seven-figure range are becoming common. The burgeoning concern over toxic mold recently led OSHA to release a safety and health bulletin with recommendations for preventing and cleaning mold in the workplace.To help you avoid problems and keep your workers safe, we’ll take a practical look at what you can do to prevent toxic mold.
Join us this fall in San Francisco for the California Employment Law Update conference, a 3-day event that will teach you everything you need to know about new laws and regulations, and your compliance obligations, for the year ahead—it’s one-stop shopping at its best.
Health Dangers from Mold
Although rare, strains of toxic mold may present some serious health risks. Exposure to toxic mold has been linked to pulmonary hemorrhage and memory loss as well as to less debilitating allergylike reactions similar to hay fever attacks.
Stachybotrys chartarum (also known as Stachybotrys atra) is considered the biggest culprit. This greenish-black mold can grow on material with a high cellulose and low nitrogen content, including fiberboard, gypsum board, paper, dust, and lint. Additionally, strains of the aspergillus, chaetomium, and penicillium molds also can harbor hazardous organic compounds.
Water—the Usual Culprit
Because moisture can lead to mold, you should be on the alert for conditions that allow water to accumulate. Water may find its way into your facility because of floods, leaky roofs, or pipe leaks. Plus, moisture that results from condensation or prolonged periods of relative humidity above 60 percent can cause mold to form.
7 Tips for Preventing Mold Growth
With legal claims for mold-related health problems mounting, adopting preventive practices is becoming more critical than ever. The key to mold control is moisture control. Here’s what you can do:
- Fix sources of moisture as soon as possible. This includes repairing leaky plumbing as well as watching for condensation and wet spots.
- Clean and completely dry wet or damp spots within 24 to 48 hours.
- Increase surface temperature to reduce condensation. To increase surface temperature, insulate the area or increase air circulation.
- Reduce the moisture level in the air to limit condensation. You can do this by repairing leaks, increasing ventilation if the outside air is cold and dry, or dehumidifying if the outside air is warm and humid. To avoid problems from humidity, maintain indoor levels at below 60 percent relative humidity, and ideally between 30 percent and 50 percent relative humidity.
- Perform regular building as well as heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) inspections and maintenance as scheduled. Also be sure HVAC drip pans are clean, flowing properly, and unobstructed.
- Vent moisture-generating appliances, such as dryers, to the outside.
- Don’t let foundations stay wet. Provide drainage, and slope the ground away from the foundation.