Mold Removal in the Workplace
When you own a commercial building, mold can be your worst nightmare. Mold exposure can cause serious health issues, and when it appears in the workplace, you may be held responsible for any damages experienced by employees.
While mold is a naturally occurring fungus, and it serves an important purpose in the ecosystem, inside buildings and homes it is a nuisance and can quickly become dangerous. It could start ruining building materials, including structural elements, and makes ceilings and walls look bad. It also creates significant health risks for employees in the building.
We’re sharing everything you need to know about mold in the workplace, including the causes of it, the dangers and risks, and how to remove it.
What Causes Mold in the Workplace?
Mold appears when there is a lot of moisture inside a building, whether from a leak or flooding. Mold can enter a building through windows, vents, doorways, and heating and air systems, and it grows when it has enough moisture to sustain it.
In buildings, when a lot of water accumulates and isn’t dealt with properly, mold spores come in and start growing. Mold can grow and live on wood, carpet, walls, ceiling tiles, paint, fabric, cardboard, and even dust. You can usually detect mold because of the appearance of a black substance or a foul smell in the interior spaces of the building.
It isn’t always easy to keep all outdoor elements from entering buildings. But dealing with any leaks or flood damage right away can help prevent mold from growing and taking over.
Risks of Mold in the Workplace
Sometimes, mold exposure has little to no effect, but some people are more sensitive to it than others. For example, those who suffer from allergies may experience symptoms when exposed to mold, including congestion, wheezing, or itchy skin, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
People with immune suppression, lung disease, or asthma may also have more severe reactions to mold. Other symptoms may be cough, shortness of breath, skin rashes, nosebleeds, headaches, body aches, and fever.
Beyond the health risks of mold at work, you may be sued if an employee experiences symptoms from mold exposure. You never want to get into an expensive legal battle because of a mold issue. That’s why you should always be looking for the root cause of mold to prevent it from occurring in the future, even if you think you’ve taken care of the issue for now.
How to Remove Mold
The best way to avoid issues with mold is to prevent it. Building owners should inspect properties regularly to watch for signs of mold, and if there is an incident like a leak or flood, water needs to be removed promptly and the site of the leak repaired so it doesn’t happen again.
You also need to be sure to keep humidity levels low and keep the building well ventilated.
Common areas where mold may appear include:
- Leaky pipes
- Windows
- Doors
- Basements
- Bathroom walls
- Sinks and toilets
- Kitchen walls
- Refrigerators
- Air and heating vent
- Indoor plants
- Carpet and upholstery
Watch these areas closely to ensure mold doesn’t accumulate.
If you are already dealing with a mold issue, there are a few ways to go about mold removal. Below are a few steps you can take:
Remove Items with Mold Right Away
Whenever you notice mold on a ceiling tile, wall, or carpet, remove the items if you can and replace them with dry materials. This is especially important if the mold has been there for a while or growth is substantial.
Clean Up Mold
Sometimes you can simply get rid of mold by cleaning the surface with soap and water or bleach, but make sure you remove all signs of the mold. A bleach solution can kill mold on many surfaces and is best for smaller areas.
Work with a Professional Asbestos Removal Company
If you have a serious mold problem or are unsure how to get rid of mold, you need the help of a mold removal expert, who can come in and take care of the issue safely. You need to get to the root cause of the mold issue, which can be hard to pinpoint, especially in large buildings and spaces.
Asbestos Project Management can help you eliminate mold in your commercial or residential property. We understand that moisture control is the best way to prevent and stop mold growth, and we know how to address the underlying cause.
Contact the professionals at Asbestos Project Management to get a free estimate and learn about our mold removal services.
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