you might have mold
TRANSCRIPT
You Might Have MoldFinding Mold in Any Workspace
4 Common Molds and Where They Live
Meet Your Moderator:
James Ciccone
During This Webinar All lines will be muted. Communicate via the questions tab in your
webinar panel. Unanswered questions will be personally after the
webinar. Webinar recording and slides will be emailed to
you tomorrow.
Meet Your PresenterPatrick DoyleResearch Assistant at Boston [email protected]
Triumvirate EH&S Blog Contributor
Our Key MessageMold is an issue that’s hard to pin
down, but understanding and finding it is essential
to remediation.
Who Is This For?
Facilities Managers
To manage liability
What Will You Learn?Common types of mold
Where to seek out mold
What the presence of mold means for you
How to begin pre-remediation
Some Perspective on MoldMold is everywhere, and it’s nearly impossible to completely eliminate
You don’t need to completely get rid of mold in order to have a safe working environment
There are no federal regulations, such as PELs or TLVs for types of mold, or mold in general
If you give mold a place to grow, it will certainly grow
AgendaCommon Types of Mold
Potential Sources of Mold
Your Mold Danger Level
Case Study
Mold is a Double-Edged SwordHyphae
Accounts for visible mold growth
Rarely harmful, only if ingested
Releases spores into the air
Spores
Responsible for illness
Ubiquitous in the air
Easily measured
• Huge variety• Very common• Don’t cause visible
mold growth• Can still affect
sensitive individuals
Basidiospores
• Commonly found in plant matter, compost
• Keep an eye out if you work with a terrarium or have a compost pile!
Cladosporium
• Most prevalent during humid periods
• Includes dermatophytes
Ascospores
Penicillium/Aspergillus
Aspergillus fumigatus
Aspergillosis
P. marneffei
Penicillium/Aspergillus
Habitats, life cycles, and health effects of
various molds are very nuanced
Potential Sources of MoldCommon Types of Mold
Potential Sources of Mold
Your Mold Danger Level
Case Study
Primary:Use all five of your senses to assess your indoor air quality
Secondary:Persistent employee illness is a possible cause for concern
Signs of Mold Contamination
Where to Look• Plumbing• HVAC System
• Including exhaust vents• Fans• Building
Envelope/Damp Spots
How concerned are you that you might have a mold problem?
Your Mold Danger LevelCommon Types of Mold
Potential Sources of Mold
Your Mold Danger Level
Case Study
Several Factors Influence Your Mold
Danger Level
You Should Be Especially Vigilant If…
You work with children, the elderly, sick people
Your building has a history of mold or water damage
Your building’s HVAC or plumbing systems are outdated
Have a large spill of liquids that penetrates/wets walls, floors, ceilings
Reasons for High Mold Danger Levels
SummaryCommon Types of Mold
Potential Sources of Mold
Your Mold Danger Level
Case Study
Our Key MessageMold is an issue that’s hard to pin
down, but understanding and finding it is essential to remediation
Case Study: Spot Cleaning Gone Wrong
Case Study: Spot Cleaning Gone Wrong
What?
• A small, isolated mold incident at a local university
Where?
• A classroom, consistently occupied during school hours
What was done?
• Mold was quantified, assessed, remediated in a timely manner consistent with danger level and extent of contamination
Action PlanUse your senses to inspect your workplace
Create your our own mold danger level
When in doubt, seek professional assistance
Use our checklist!
QUESTIONS?
Thank You For Attending!You Will Receive: • A recording of this presentation and
a copy of this presentation• A link to a short survey• A gift to help ensure that your
building is safe from harmful mold contamination
Attend Future Events:• http://www.triumvirate.com/training/events