Mold

Scope

Affects individuals who may be exposed to mold during work processes, and clean-up efforts. Mold also affects individuals with allergies, asthma, sinusitis, or other respiratory conditions, as well as infants and children, elderly people, and pregnant women. In addition, individuals with a weakened immune system are at risk.

Regulatory citations

• 29 USC 654 — Duties of employers and employees (including Pub. L. 91–596 “OSH Act of 1970” 5(a)(1), the “General Duty Clause”)

The General Duty Clause of the OSH Act requires employers to provide safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. If a situation involving mold contamination presents a serious hazard, OSHA could use the General Duty Clause to cite employers.

Key definitions

• Allergic rhinitis: An allergic reaction to airborne allergens, possibly including mold, that include red or bloodshot eyes, a runny nose, watery eyes, and thickened nasal mucous membranes.
• Allergic asthma: A chronic lung disease that is caused by breathing in allergens (sensitizers) such as molds, resulting in tightness of the chest, shortness of breath, coughing, and wheezing.
• Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP): An allergic lung diseases caused by the inhalation of antigens contained in a wide variety of organic dusts. Symptoms can include chest tightness, difficulty breathing, fever, chills, cough, and muscle aches. If exposure to the antigen is repeated frequently, scars can form on the lungs, resulting in a disabling condition known as fibrosis.
• Mycotoxins: The metabolic by-products produced by some molds that can cause toxic reactions in humans or animals. Mycotoxins may be hazardous through ingestion, inhalation, or skin contact. The most well-known and studied mycotoxin is aflatoxin.
• Ventilation pneumonitis, or air-conditioner lung, humidifier lung, or humidifier fever: Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) that is due to fungal and microbial growth in ventilation and air conditioning systems.

Summary of requirements

• Ensure that employees do not eat, drink or smoke in work areas where decontamination takes place.
• Ensure that working areas are well ventilated.
• Identify problem areas and create a mold remediation plan that includes a decontamination area.
• Instruct employees to use ventilation including fans to assist in the drying process of mold removal and remediation.
• Maintain indoor air relative humidity below 60% (50% where cold surfaces are in contact with room air).
• Reassign personnel that have been affected by mold exposure.
• Remove and discard porous organic materials that are contaminated (e.g., damp insulation in ventilation system, moldy ceiling tiles, and mildewed carpets).
• Require employees to wear protective equipment including respiratory, hand and eye (non-vented goggles), and protective clothing during mold remediation processes.