Laborers-Employers Cooperation & Education Trust&

Laborers-AGC Education & Training Fund

MOLD IS GOLD

for: Lawyers Unqualified Contractors Workers Compensation Plaintiffs

(ABA Journal, December 2001)

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World Health Organization

30% of all new and remodeled buildings worldwide may be affected with in-door air quality problems

Mold can hide in many places in a home.

Case History

Delaware, 1999: $1 million verdict Brockovich lawsuit against the builder

of her California home Sacramento, CA jury verdict: $18.5

million CA: Ed McMahon sues insurance company for $20 million Rio Vista, CA jury verdict: $13.7 million Martin County, FL: $14 million judgment against construction

company Texas: Judge upholds $32 million judgment to Ballard against

Farmers.

Minimizing Exposure

Identify all possible causes Use accredited experts

Air quality experts Construction contractors

Just the facts (no generalization or opinions) Develop a work standard Use qualified contractors with a trained workforce

Laborers-AGC Education and Training Fund

Joint labor-management funded program

Develops and supports construction and environmental training for 425,000 members

Over 50 different courses in course catalog

Strength of training is hands-on skills training and instructor experience

Environmental Training

Hazardous Waste Worker Training Program Complies with OSHA 1910.120 80 hours (35 hours of hands-on) Supervisor training Development and delivery of

courses funded by EPA since 1987

Over 95,000 trained since program inception

Environmental Training

Asbestos Abatement Nationally recognized

program, training at 44 locations in all 10 EPA regions

Worker and Supervisor initial and refresher courses

50,000 trained since 1989

Environmental Training

Lead Abatement (in target housing and child occupied facilities) Nationally recognized program, training at 14

locations in 8 of the 10 EPA regions Worker and Supervisor initial and refresher courses 17,000 trained since 1991

Environmental Training

Anthrax Remediation Development of course funded

through DOL grant Peer-reviewed by OSHA, EPA,

NIEHS, and experts from the field of anthrax research

Environmental Training

Microbial Remediation Initial courses in Bio-remediation and Bird

and Bat Droppings developed in 1994 Current course material reviewed by

personnel from EPA, NYCDOH, CDC, OSHA, and NIEHS

24 hour course for workers with previous experience in lead or asbestos abatement

Microbial Remediation

24 hour course covers: Causes of indoor air pollution Health effects Work area sampling Hazard Communication Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Work area prep and remediation

techniques Decontamination Hands-on simulations