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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Website
Updated:
November 1st, 2005
OTHER INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Website
Updated:
September
20, 2005
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HURRICANE & FLOODING INFORMATION
The dangers are not over just because the water may have
receded.
Flood hazards such as exposed wires, contaminated floodwater,
black mold, or structural deterioration are not always obvious but can be
life-threatening.
We urge those going back to their homes in the areas hit by
Hurricane Katrina to be very careful.
Before Entering A Building:
Check the outside of the building:
Call the utility company immediately if you find downed power lines or
detect gas leaks. (Gas leaks will emit an odor of rotten eggs.)
Look for external damage:
Examine the foundation for cracks or other damage. Inspect porch roofs and
overhangs to be sure they are adequately supported. If any portion of the
foundation has been undermined, it may not be safe to enter the building.
For obvious damage, ask a building inspector to check the house before you
go inside.
Enter the building carefully:
If the door sticks at the top as it opens, it could mean the ceiling is
ready to cave in. If you decide to force the door open, stand outside the
doorway to avoid being hit by falling debris.
After Entering A Building:
Look before you step:
Floors and stairs may be covered with debris and be very slippery. Watch out
for broken bottles, nails and other hazards.
Be alert for gas leaks:
Do not strike a match or use an open flame when entering a building unless
you know the gas has been turned off and the area has been ventilated. Use a
flashlight to inspect for damage.
Turn off the electricity:
Even if the power company has turned off electricity to the area, be sure to
disconnect your house's power supply. Do not use appliances or motors that
have gotten wet unless they have been taken apart, cleaned and dried.
Replace exposed wires:
Electrical wires that have been exposed to salt water should be considered
recyclable junk and be replaced.
Watch for animals, especially snakes:
Small animals that have been flooded out of their homes may seek shelter in
yours. Scare them away by poking a stick into likely hiding places.
Carbon monoxide exhaust kills:
Do not use generators or other gasoline-powered machines indoors. All
cooking on camp stoves and charcoal grills should be done outside. Gas and
charcoal fumes can be deadly.
Drain the basement carefully and slowly:
Groundwater creates hydrostatic pressure on basement walls and floors. Drain
the basement no more than one foot per day to minimize further structural
damage.
Hose the house:
Many health hazards are found in mud and silt which floodwaters leave
behind. Shovel as much mud as possible out of the house, then hose it down,
inside and out.
Bleach should NOT be used to eradicate mold – it will only
cause additional air quality issues including additional mold growth.
Be aware of health hazards:
Floodwaters pick up sewage and chemicals from roads, farms, factories and
storage buildings. Many flooded items, such as wallboard and mattresses,
will hold mud and contamination forever. Spoiled food, water-logged
cosmetics and medicine are also health hazards. When in doubt, throw them
out.
Beware of mold problems:
All molds - including black mold - have the potential to cause adverse
health effects and significant, ongoing structural damage to buildings.
Molds also can produce allergens that can trigger allergic reactions or even
asthma attacks in people allergic to mold. Do not touch mold or moldy items
with bare hands, avoid getting mold in your eyes and avoid breathing mold or
mold spores. Black mold in buildings should be treated aggressively to
prevent rapid spread and deterioration.
Bleach should NOT be used to eradicate mold – it will only
cause additional air quality issues including additional mold growth.
++++++++++++++++++++
Mold
Remediation/Cleanup Methods
The purpose of mold
remediation is to correct the moisture problem and to remove moldy and
contaminated materials to prevent human exposure and further damage to
building materials and furnishings. Porous materials that are wet and have
mold growing on them may have to be discarded because molds can infiltrate
porous substances and grow on or fill in empty spaces or crevices. This mold
can be difficult or impossible to remove completely.
As a general rule, simply
killing the mold, for example, with biocide is not enough. The mold must be
removed, since the chemicals and proteins, which can cause a reaction in
humans, are present even in dead mold.
A variety of cleanup
methods are available for remediating damage to building materials and
furnishings caused by moisture control problems and mold growth. The
specific method or group of methods used will depend on the type of material
affected. Some methods that may be used include the following:
Wet Vacuum
Wet vacuums are vacuum
cleaners designed to collect water. They can be used to remove water from
floors, carpets, and hard surfaces where water has accumulated. They should
not be used to vacuum porous materials, such as gypsum board. Wet vacuums
should be used only on wet materials, as spores may be exhausted into the
indoor environment if insufficient liquid is present. The tanks, hoses, and
attachments of these vacuums should be thoroughly cleaned and dried after
use since mold and mold spores may adhere to equipment surfaces.
Damp Wipe
Mold can generally be
removed from nonporous surfaces by wiping or scrubbing with water and
detergent. It is important to dry these surfaces quickly and thoroughly to
discourage further mold growth. Instructions for cleaning surfaces, as
listed on product labels, should always be read and followed.
HEPA Vacuum
HEPA (High-Efficiency
Particulate Air) vacuums are recommended for final cleanup of remediation
areas after materials have been thoroughly dried and contaminated materials
removed. HEPA vacuums also are recommended for cleanup of dust that may have
settled on surfaces outside the remediation area. Care must be taken to
assure that the filter is properly seated in the vacuum so that all the air
passes through the filter. When changing the vacuum filter, remediators
should wear respirators, appropriate personal protective clothing, gloves,
and eye protection to prevent exposure to any captured mold and other
contaminants. The filter and contents of the HEPA vacuum must be disposed of
in impermeable bags or containers in such a way as to prevent release of the
debris.
Disposal of Damaged Materials
Building materials and furnishings contaminated with mold growth that are
not salvageable should be placed in sealed impermeable bags or closed
containers while in the remediation area. These materials can usually be
discarded as ordinary construction waste. It is important to package
mold-contaminated materials in this fashion to minimize the dispersion of
mold spores. Large items with heavy mold growth should be covered with
polyethylene sheeting and sealed with duct tape before being removed from
the remediation area. Some jobs may require the use of dust-tight chutes to
move large quantities of debris to a dumpster strategically placed outside a
window in the remediation area.
+++++++++++++++++++++
Level III:
Large Isolated Areas
(30 –100 square feet) –
e.g., several wallboard panels.
Industrial hygienists or
other environmental health and safety professionals with experience
performing microbial investigations and/or mold remediation should be
consulted prior to remediation activities to provide oversight for the
project.
The following procedures
may be implemented depending upon the severity of the contamination:
-
It is recommended that
personnel be trained in the handling of hazardous materials and equipped
with respiratory protection (e.g., N-95 disposable respirator).
Respirators must be used in accordance with the OSHA respiratory
protection standard (29 CFR 1910.134). Gloves and eye protection should be
worn.
-
Surfaces in the work area
and areas directly adjacent that could become decontaminated should be
covered with a secured plastic sheet(s) before remediation to contain
dust/ debris and prevent further contamination.
-
Seal ventilation
ducts/grills in the work area and areas directly adjacent with plastic
sheeting.
-
The work area and areas
directly adjacent should be unoccupied. Removing people from spaces near
the work area is recommended for infants, persons having undergone recent
surgery, immunesuppressed people, or people with chronic inflammatory lung
diseases. (e.g., asthma, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, and severe
allergies).
-
Dust suppression methods,
such as misting (not soaking) surfaces prior to
mediation, are recommended.
-
Contaminated materials
that cannot be cleaned should be removed from the building in sealed
impermeable plastic bags. These materials may be disposed of as ordinary
waste.
-
The work area and
surrounding areas should be HEPA vacuumed and cleaned with a damp cloth or
mop and a detergent solution.
-
All areas should be left
dry and visibly free from contamination and debris.
Note: If
abatement procedures are expected to generate a lot of dust (e.g., abrasive
cleaning of contaminated surfaces, demolition of plaster walls) or the
visible concentration of the mold is heavy (blanket coverage as opposed to
patchy), it is recommended that the remediation procedures for Level IV be
followed.
Level IV: Extensive Contamination
(greater than 100 contiguous square feet in an area).
Industrial hygienists or
other environmental health and safety professionals with experience
performing microbial investigations and/or mold remediation should be
consulted prior to remediation activities to provide oversight for the
project.
The following procedures
may be implemented depending upon the severity of the contamination:
-
Personnel trained in the
handling of hazardous materials and equipped with:
-
Full face piece
respirators with HEPA cartridges;
-
Disposable protective
clothing covering entire body including both head and shoes; and
-
Gloves.
-
Containment of the
affected area:
-
Complete isolation of
work area from occupied spaces using plastic sheeting sealed with duct
tape (including ventilation ducts/grills, fixtures, and other openings);
-
The use of an exhaust
fan with a HEPA filter to generate negative pressurization; and
-
Airlocks and
decontamination room.
-
If contaminant practices
effectively prevent mold from migrating from affected areas, it may not be
necessary to remove people from surrounding work areas. However, removal
is still recommended for infants, persons having undergone recent surgery,
immune- suppressed people, or people with chronic inflammatory lung
diseases. (e.g., asthma, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, and severe
allergies).
-
Contaminated materials
that cannot be cleaned should be removed from the building in sealed
impermeable plastic bags. The outside of the bags should be cleaned with a
damp cloth and a detergent solution or HEPA vacuumed in the
decontamination chamber prior to their transport to uncontaminated areas
of the building. These materials may be disposed of as ordinary waste.
-
The contained area and
decontamination room should be HEPA vacuumed and cleaned with a damp cloth
or mopped with a detergent solution and be visibly clean prior to the
removal of isolation barriers.
Personal
Protective Equipment (PPE)
Any remediation work that
disturbs mold and causes mold spores to become airborne increases the degree
of respiratory exposure. Actions that tend to disperse mold include:
breaking apart moldy porous materials such as wallboard; destructive
invasive procedures to examine or remediate mold growth in a wall cavity;
removal of contaminated wallpaper by stripping or peeling; using fans to dry
items or ventilate areas.
The primary function of
personal protective equipment is to prevent the inhalation and ingestion of
mold and mold spores and to avoid mold contact with the skin or eyes. The
following sections discuss the various types of PPE that may be used during
remediation activities.
Skin and Eye Protection
Gloves protect the skin
from contact with mold, as well as from potentially irritating cleaning
solutions. Long gloves that extend to the middle of the forearm are
recommended. The glove material should be selected based on the type of
substance/ chemical being handled. If you are using a biocide such as
chlorine bleach, or a strong cleaning solution, you should select gloves
made from natural rubber, neoprene, nitrile, polyurethane, or PVC. If you
are using a mild detergent or plain water, ordinary household rubber gloves
may be used.
To protect your eyes, use
properly fitted goggles or a full face piece respirator. Goggles must be
designed to prevent the entry of dust and small particles. Safety glasses or
goggles with open vent holes are not appropriate in mold remediation.
Respiratory Protection
Respirators protect
cleanup workers from inhaling airborne mold, contaminated dust, and other
particulates that are released during the remediation process. Either a half
mask or full face piece air-purifying respirator can be used. A full face
piece respirator provides both respiratory and eye protection. Please refer
to the discussion of the different levels of remediation to ascertain the
type of respiratory protection recommended. Respirators used to provide
protection from mold and mold spores must be certified by the National
Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). More protective
respirators may have to be selected and used if toxic contaminants such as
asbestos or lead are encountered during remediation.
As specified by OSHA in 29
CFR 1910.134 individuals who use respirators must be properly trained, have
medical clearance, and be properly fit tested before they begin using a
respirator. In addition, use of respirators requires the employer to develop
and implement a written respiratory protection program, with
worksite-specific procedures and elements.
Protective
Clothing
(PPE)
While conducting building
inspections and remediation work, individuals may encounter hazardous
biological agents as well as chemical and physical hazards. Consequently,
appropriate personal protective clothing (i.e., reusable or disposable) is
recommended to minimize cross-contamination between work areas and clean
areas, to prevent the transfer and spread of mold and other contaminants to
street clothing, and to eliminate skin contact with mold and potential
chemical exposures.
Disposable PPE should be discarded after it is used. They should be placed
into impermeable bags, and usually can be discarded as ordinary construction
waste. Appropriate precautions and protective equipment for biocide
applicators should be selected based on the product manufacturer’s warnings
and recommendations (e.g., goggles or face shield, aprons or other
protective clothing, gloves, and respiratory protection).
+++++++++++++++
How Do You
Know When You Have Finished Remediation/Cleanup?
-
You must have identified
and completely corrected the source of the water or moisture problem.
-
Mold removal should be
complete. Visible mold, mold-damaged materials, and moldy odors should no
longer be present.
-
Sampling, if conducted,
should show that the level and types of mold and mold spores inside the
building are similar to those found outside.
-
You should revisit the
site(s) after remediation, and it should show no signs of moldy or musty
odors, water damage, or mold growth.
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