Mold exposure in the workplace can lead to serious health risks for anyone exposed to it. When unprotected daily to mold spores, it can cause several illnesses. As the symptoms are similar to allergies or the common cold, it is often difficult to determine the cause until significant damage is done healthwise. If your business has mold, here’s how mold remediation will make it safer for employees. Remediation can also save a business from costly litigation if employees get sick.
What health problems are caused by mold?
Exposure to mold in the workplace can depend on several factors. A person may not have any ill effects while others may be very sensitive to it. The consequences of mold exposure differ from eyes, nose, and throat irritation to more serious lung disorders like asthma, pneumonia, or pneumonitis. Mold spores also cause mycotoxins that affect the skin, lungs, and nervous system.
Can mold at work make you sick?
Mold at work can make employees sick when exposed over time. Symptoms of mold exposure include fatigue, eye or nasal passage annoyance, respiratory complaints, nausea, and dizziness.
Is it safe to work around black mold?
Workers can safely work around black mold until mold remediation takes place when wearing personal protective equipment (PPE). Because mold causes respiratory illnesses, employees need to always wear PPE masks, goggles, and gloves to reduce the exposure to any airborne spores.
Can you sue an employer for mold?
Negligent employers can be held liable with a worker’s compensation lawsuit for mold exposure if an employer is aware of the problem and fails to fix it. Employees cannot sue employers who perform actions like clean-up and mold remediation to alleviate the problem.
Is mold an OSHA violation?
Federal government agencies like OSHA, EPA, or NIOSH do not regulate mold nor set standards for companies to adhere to. OSHA and NIOSH do provide safety recommendations for mold to help property owners reduce airborne illnesses and contaminations that lead to health problems.
What do you do if you find mold in your workplace?
Anytime excess moisture is present in a workplace, you should expect to find some indoor mold growth. Your maintenance team or lead supervisor should regularly inspect for sources of moisture as well as mold. Employers should mandate that humidity levels stay below sixty percent, although the EPA suggests it should preferably remain between thirty and fifty perfect.
The usage of an HVAC system will help regulate indoor humidity levels. Employers should also take any health complaints by employees seriously. If not already in place, employers should also have an established policy and procedure for recording employee health complaints as well as following protocol for improving workplace conditions, such as cleaning or mold remediation.
While mold remediation occurs, employers should find alternative work stations outside of the mold growth area until proper clean-up can take place. Once mold remediation is completed, employers can then perform follow-up mold testing to ensure the issue is no longer dangerous. Employers can also encourage all workers to follow the advice of doctors regarding symptoms.
If you notice mold growth, call us immediately at 1-800-847-0114 or visit our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/RestorePro911/ to learn more about our mold remediation services.
