InspectAPedia ^®

Canadian Mould Standards: Mould in Workplace Buildings, Alert 20: ISSN 1195-5228, Produced by Professional and Specialized Services, Issued: December 2000

Qualified service providers may be listed at this website at no fee.

© Copyright 2009 Daniel Friedman, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use the links at page left to navigate this document or to go to Other Website Topics. Green links at left show where you are in our document & website.

Mould in Workplace Buildings

Mould Hazard Summary:

Workers and the public may be exposed to mould on water-damaged building materials inside buildings, and during building maintenance and repair operations. The most common types of mould are generally not hazardous to healthy individuals–but some moulds may be hazardous to certain individuals.

People who have asthma, bronchitis, hay fever, other allergies, or have weakened immune systems are more likely to react to mould. The most common symptoms are runny nose, eye irritation, skin rash, cough, congestion and aggravation of asthma. Symptoms usually disappear after mould exposure stops. Most often, there are no known long-term consequences to workplace exposures.

Hazard Locations:

Moulds (fungi) are present everywhere–indoors and outdoors.

Any building may have mould. However, buildings with a history of water leaks, floods, fires and problems with indoor air quality (e.g. poor humidity control, lack of fresh air) should be considered at greater risk of mould growth. Water-damaged drywall, wood materials, jute, wallpaper, and cardboard are prone to fungal growth.

All moulds need water to grow. Mould can grow anywhere there is water damage, high humidity or dampness. Most often moulds are confined to areas near the source of water. When mouldy material becomes damaged or disturbed, mould spores can be released into the air. Exposure occurs if people inhale the spores.

Precautions:

The sustained and/or extensive growth of any visible mould on the interior surfaces of a building is unacceptable. Mould growth on the interior surfaces of buildings is a risk factor for health problems.

Moisture problems (flooding, leaks, water intrusion, condensation, etc.) in buildings are the primary reason for mould growth. These moisture problems should be the focus of assessment and control efforts, followed by clean-up, remediation of contaminated materials, periodic inspections, and preventive and remedial maintenance. The Internet resources below contain detailed information. If mould contamination is extensive, the employer should seek professional assistance from private sector consultants who specialize in mould and mould remediation.

Occupants of buildings contaminated with mould should be advised of the presence of the mould and given information on the health effects of mould.

Legal Requirements:

Employers are required by section 25(2)(h) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act to take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances for the protection of workers.

The Occupational Health and Safety Act places a responsibility on constructors (section 23), employers (section 25), and supervisors (section 27) to ensure the health and safety of workers. This includes protecting workers from mould in workplace buildings. Various sections of the Industrial, Construction, Mining or Health Care regulations may also apply to maintenance and remediation activities.

Resources on corrective measures, mould remediation and worker training are listed below.

Internet Resources:

Questions and Answers on Stachybotrys Chartarum and Other Molds. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Environmental Health. March 9, 2000.
www.cdc.gov/nceh/airpollution/mold/stachy.htm

Guidelines on Assessment and Remediation of Fungi in Indoor Environments. New York City Department of Health. April 2000.
www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/epi/moldrpt1.shtml

Facts About Mold. New York City Department of Health. February 2001.
www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/epi/epimold.shtml

Health Canada: Fungal Contamination in Public Buildings 
www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ewh-semt/pubs/air/fungal-fongique/index_e.html

Fighting Mold. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. 1999
www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/burema/gesein/abhose/abhose_ce08.cfm

After the Flood. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.
www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/burema/gesein/abhose/abhose_ce07.cfm

Moulds: Controlling Exposure is Essential. Construction Safety Association of Ontario.
www.csao.org/uploadfiles/magazine/vol10no2/moulds.htm

Share this Article      

...

Technical Reviewers & References

Search InspectAPedia

• Daniel Friedman - principal author/editor of the InspectAPedia^® Website
• InspectAPedia Bookstore lists recommended books, organized by topic & available for purchase. Most of our articles also list books on the specific article topic as well as other references, and information sources.
• Critique, contributions wanted: Contact Us to suggest corrections or additions to articles at this website, and if you wish, to receive online listing and credit as a contributor. Particular thanks are due to the many experts and also consumers who read and critique technical articles at InspectAPedia.com.
• Additional technical contributors & reference sources for this article are listed below.

Use links just below or at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.

• Mould in Workplace Buildings, Alert 20: ISSN 1195-5228, Produced by Professional and Specialized Services
  Issued: December 2000 Canada: Ontario Ministry of Labour, Health and Safety, Publications and Alerts, original web citation: www.labour.gov.on.ca/english/hs/alerts/a20.html

Listing submissions are welcome from websites whose content, services, or products are appropriate for our readers. To provide your link exchange information and our link exchange policy see InspectAPedia.com - Directory Listing & Link Exchange Instructions There are no listing fees & no conflicts of interest. We reserve the right to list or not list individuals or companies and to provide notice of consumer compliments or complaintsThe design and content found at InspectAPedia.com^® are © Copyright protected, All Rights Reserved. Contents of this website may not be copied in any form. Our main website topics listed at page left and page top provide in-depth, un-biased, expert information on building defect inspection, diagnosis, & repair.

Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair

• Books, Complete List of Environmental Inspection, Diagnosis, Cleanup, Air Quality & Design, Inspection, Repair Books at the InspectAPedia Bookstore
• Environmental Health & Investigation Bibliography - our own technical library on indoor air quality inspection, testing, laboratory procedures, forensic microscopy, etc.
• ...

More Information on Building Diagnostic Inspections and Repairs

...

InspectAPedia® Home & Site Map - Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, Repair, & Problem Prevention Advice: In-depth research & advice on diagnosing, testing, correcting, & preventing building defects & indoor environmental hazards. Unbiased information, no conflicts of interest.

The Mold Information Center: What to Do About Mold in Buildings, When and How to Inspect for Mold, Clean Up Mold, or Avoid Mold Problems

Use this simple, economical mold test kit by following our instructions on how to collect and mail mold samples to our lab

Environmental Inspection, Testing, & Diagnosis On-Site IAQ, Gas, Air Testing, Mold Investigation, Sick Building Diagnosis, Lab Services, & Remediation Plan Preparation - indoor air quality testing, problem source determination, supporting lab work, written remediation plan addressing removal of environmental and other hazards and prevention of their recurrence.

Building Inspection, Problem Diagnosis, Forensic Investigation & Testing, Repair Consulting

Contact Daniel Friedman for website content suggestions or for fee-paid consulting