Protecting Employees from Mold Growth
Many hazards in a construction site are obvious. However, there are some that are even more insidious that may not be seen by the naked eye initially. Although mold is useful for the environment and can help break down matter into fertilizer, the wrong types of mold in workplaces can lead to a series of problems for people who work and occupy those buildings. Apart from the sensory issues they bring, such as the smell and unpleasant sight, mold is detrimental to health of workers as they may trigger asthma attacks or allergies. Mold can also produce mycotoxins, which are suspected to be able to trigger various medical conditions. Mold can also shorten the lifespan of wood-framed buildings.
In this post, we will talk about how employers can avoid mold in the workplace. If you are currently already facing problems of mold in your jobsite, you should consider calling experts for mold remediation.
Planning for Mold Remediation
In order to plan for mold remediation, you must ensure that employees are not unnecessarily exposed to airborne mold that result from cleaning up. You should also remove visible mold and damage caused by it. Lastly, you need to determine that an underlying problem will not eventually lead to mold’s recurrence.
Work should be scheduled when places undergoing cleanup are not occupied. However, if that is not possible, you need to think about how to limit your employees’ exposure to mold and other contaminants. If possible, workers should dress in PPE, or at least have protection on their hands, eyes and lungs. It is important for employers to take note of anyone who has mold allergies, weak auto immune system or asthma and ensure that they are not in the areas undergoing cleanup.
If mold in your workplace is widespread, your best approach would be engaging contractors that have the expertise in mold remediation.
Mold Remediation: Using Chemicals
The first thing that comes to mind when facing a mold problem may be to apply biocide to affected areas. However, that may not be a good idea as even if the mold has been gotten rid of, they may trigger allergies in people. Furthermore, even if the biocide used is highly effective, it will not get rid of all mold spores and if the root problem is not solved, the mold problem will recur again. Biocide may also be toxic when used in large amounts.
You may also think of using a fungicide since mold is a type of fungus, but fungicides are designed for application outdoors, and by applying them indoors you may create a toxic environment.
Important Procedures for Cleanup and Remediation
Before you start the cleanup process, you should ensure that surfaces which may potentially be contaminated by airborne mold should be sealed with plastic. You may also want to consider covering up ventilation ducts and grilles unless they are an important source of ventilation for the cleanup.
Methods of cleanup is highly dependent on the extent and nature of contamination. Once remediation work is done, you can use a high efficiency particulate air vacuum to remove dust, and clean surfaces with a wet cloth and detergent.
Preventing Contamination in the Future
Once the mold has been cleared and the area is dry, the place can be occupied again. Regular maintenance is recommended to prevent recurrence of mold. You can also check the humidity of your work place and ensure it does not get too high as a humid environment promotes mold growth.
If you are dealing with a mold problem in your workplace and are unsure how to deal with it, feel free to contact us and get your quote on our mold remediation services.