Mold Contamination Levels And Appropriate Mold Remediation Response
http://www.homesaaz.net/articles/6514/1/Mold-Contamination-Levels-And-Appropriate-Mold-Remediation-Response/Page1.html
Luana Pershing
Luana Pershing is an advocate for water damage safety for freeze drying wet documens and New York Document Freeze Drying By Luana Pershing
Published on 10/26/2008
With mold remediation, the level of contamination determines the level of worker safety. There are four levels of contamination and, hence, four levels of worker safety procedure. Each level requires appropriate clean-up method and treatment of contamination. Every recommended action has been studied as the best way to contain mold contamination and to eliminate mold and mold spores.
With mold remediation, the level of contamination determines the level of worker safety. There are four levels of contamination and, hence, four levels of worker safety procedure. Each level requires appropriate clean-up method and treatment of contamination. Every recommended action has been studied as the best way to contain mold contamination and to eliminate mold and mold spores.
Level I
Level I action prescribes mold remediation for a very small affected area, approximately 10 sq ft and even less. With the first level, wearing of respirator, gloves, and goggles is regarded as vital. For level I contamination, evacuating areas near the affected area is not needed. However, infants and individuals with poor respiratory conditions and those convalescing from recent hospitalizations would serve well to stay away from mold remediation areas. There's no need also to contain the area. However, dust suppression should be practiced to ensure that dead and living molds don't spread around.
Contaminated materials that are hard or impossible to clean should be should be bagged and discarded. Workers' entrance and exit areas should be cleaned with bleach solution and water.
Workers should leave area only when it is completely dry.
Level II
Level II action prescribes mold remediation for mid-sized affected area, approximately up to 30 sq ft but no less than 10 sq ft. Remediation workers should also wear protective suits like those of Level I workers. Contaminated surfaces are to be covered with plastic sheets before starting mold remediation process. This is in order to avoid further spread of contamination.
Areas used by worker for entry and exit should be thoroughly cleaned with detergent/bleach solution, then HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) vacuumed.
Workers should leave area only when completely dry already.
Level III
Level III places are those with area size of around 30 - 100 sq ft that require mold remediation. This level requires microbial investigation from industrial hygienists or other health and safety experts. This is to done before remediation process is started. It is strongly advised that remediation personnel must wear N-95 disposable respirator. They should also wear protective gloves and goggles.
Contaminated and adjacent areas have to be covered with plastic sheets before start of mold remediation process in order to prevent further spread of dust and debris. Grills and ventilation outlets should also be covered with plastic sheets. Remediation areas should be vacated, but abandoning adjacent areas is not necessary. However, infants less than a year old and individuals convalescing from surgery and those with weak immune system should leave adjacent areas.
Misting and other dust suppression method should be applied to surface before start of remediation process. Disposable contaminated materials should be put inside impermeable plastic bags, which are to be sealed, then discarded. Again, workers' entry and exit areas should be cleaned with soap, HEPA vacuumed, then let dry.
Level IV
Level IV is contaminated area exceeding 100 sq ft. In this case, mold remediation workers should wear disposable protective suits covering entire body as well as respirators with HEPA cartridges. All contaminated area, ventilation ducts, and grills should be covered with plastic sheets. Again, disposable contaminated areas should be disposed of in sealed plastic bags. Decontamination room and exhaust fan with HEPA filter are to be used in the remediation process. Both decontamination area and contaminated area are to be cleaned with detergent mixture then HEPA vacuumed.
The purpose of mold remediation is to check and resolve moisture problems of a contaminated area as well as to eliminate mold growths. After remediation, the area has to be resurveyed in order to assess the success of remediation process. Process is successful if there are no more mold growths as well as mold smell.
Level I
Level I action prescribes mold remediation for a very small affected area, approximately 10 sq ft and even less. With the first level, wearing of respirator, gloves, and goggles is regarded as vital. For level I contamination, evacuating areas near the affected area is not needed. However, infants and individuals with poor respiratory conditions and those convalescing from recent hospitalizations would serve well to stay away from mold remediation areas. There's no need also to contain the area. However, dust suppression should be practiced to ensure that dead and living molds don't spread around.
Contaminated materials that are hard or impossible to clean should be should be bagged and discarded. Workers' entrance and exit areas should be cleaned with bleach solution and water.
Workers should leave area only when it is completely dry.
Level II
Level II action prescribes mold remediation for mid-sized affected area, approximately up to 30 sq ft but no less than 10 sq ft. Remediation workers should also wear protective suits like those of Level I workers. Contaminated surfaces are to be covered with plastic sheets before starting mold remediation process. This is in order to avoid further spread of contamination.
Areas used by worker for entry and exit should be thoroughly cleaned with detergent/bleach solution, then HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) vacuumed.
Workers should leave area only when completely dry already.
Level III
Level III places are those with area size of around 30 - 100 sq ft that require mold remediation. This level requires microbial investigation from industrial hygienists or other health and safety experts. This is to done before remediation process is started. It is strongly advised that remediation personnel must wear N-95 disposable respirator. They should also wear protective gloves and goggles.
Contaminated and adjacent areas have to be covered with plastic sheets before start of mold remediation process in order to prevent further spread of dust and debris. Grills and ventilation outlets should also be covered with plastic sheets. Remediation areas should be vacated, but abandoning adjacent areas is not necessary. However, infants less than a year old and individuals convalescing from surgery and those with weak immune system should leave adjacent areas.
Misting and other dust suppression method should be applied to surface before start of remediation process. Disposable contaminated materials should be put inside impermeable plastic bags, which are to be sealed, then discarded. Again, workers' entry and exit areas should be cleaned with soap, HEPA vacuumed, then let dry.
Level IV
Level IV is contaminated area exceeding 100 sq ft. In this case, mold remediation workers should wear disposable protective suits covering entire body as well as respirators with HEPA cartridges. All contaminated area, ventilation ducts, and grills should be covered with plastic sheets. Again, disposable contaminated areas should be disposed of in sealed plastic bags. Decontamination room and exhaust fan with HEPA filter are to be used in the remediation process. Both decontamination area and contaminated area are to be cleaned with detergent mixture then HEPA vacuumed.
The purpose of mold remediation is to check and resolve moisture problems of a contaminated area as well as to eliminate mold growths. After remediation, the area has to be resurveyed in order to assess the success of remediation process. Process is successful if there are no more mold growths as well as mold smell.