Mold Removal Cautions
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Those of you who do
mold mitigation know that it’s not something that just anyone can take up at
random and hope that things will just magically turn out right. As master mold removal technicians, we’re trained
on safety precautions and the steps required to professionally complete the careful
procedure of mold remediation. But sometimes mistakes are made or bad
habits can creep into our methods. Here are some common errors to watch
out for.
• Scattering mold spores – With the generous use of air movers there needs to be caution. Don’t turn on until all the areas affected by mold have first been contained. What does that mean? It means blocking the contamination in so that none of the mold spores can escape into other areas of the home. Scattered mold spores can wreak havoc upon other porous services. You could end up with a more widespread cleanup or you may trigger health problems. • Breathe Proper Apparatus – Before anyone even walks into a mold contaminated structure they need to have proper respiratory protection. The very least you should be wearing is an N95 with eye protection, yet a half or full face with a HEPA filter is recommended. This will protect you and any of your laborers assisting you with the mold remediation project. Also, protective clothing should be worn without a doubt. If this job is to be done above board and according to EPA and IICRC standards, protective equipment is an absolute must. • Faulty HEPA filters – Just because a vacuum claims to have a HEPA filter doesn’t mean that it’s doing the job of a true HEPA. Heck, the vacuum cleaner I use at home has a “HEPA” filter but I sure wouldn’t use it on a mold remediation job. So make sure your vacuum is one designed for this work. NOTE: To be properly doing its job, the filter has to be seated snugly with no air leakage around the sides. Filters should be changed regularly as well. Not a good idea to use that same old filter from previous jobs. It is good to change it after each use. • Don’t eat, drink or look pretty - Eating, drinking, and using tobacco products and cosmetics where mold remediation is taking place should be avoided to prevent unnecessary contamination and/or ingestion of mold. As you may have noted, this list doesn’t have as much to do with the actual mold cleanup then it does with protecting the health of your techs and customers. There seems to be plenty of health issues out there that science hasn’t figured out how to avoid yet. But by taking the needed precautions we can eliminate any undue risks. |
