Mold Remediation Workers
Mold remediation means removing mold growth and fixing the water problem that caused it. The work itself spreads spores and dust, so the goal is to keep mold out of your lungs and out of the rest of the building.
- Construction
- Restoration
- Maintenance
- Florida
- Louisiana
- New York
- Texas
Fix the water first
Mold grows wherever there is moisture. If the leak, flooding or condensation isn’t fixed, the mold will come back. Most guidelines say wet materials should be dried within 24 to 48 hours to prevent growth.
Size the job
| Area of mold | Typical approach (based on EPA guidance) |
|---|---|
| Under about 10 square feet | Trained maintenance staff can usually clean it with an N95 respirator, gloves and goggles. |
| 10 to 100 square feet | Limited containment with plastic sheeting, better respirators, HEPA cleanup. |
| Over 100 square feet, or in HVAC systems | Full containment with negative air, trained remediation workers, often a plan written by an industrial hygienist. |
Many contractors follow the IICRC S520 standard for professional mold remediation.
Protect yourself
- Respirator: at least an N95 for small jobs; a half- or full-face respirator with P100 filters for larger ones. You need fit testing and a medical evaluation. See Respiratory Protection.
- Gloves: long nitrile or rubber gloves, especially when using cleaners.
- Eyes: goggles without vent holes.
- Body: disposable coveralls with hoods and shoe covers on larger jobs.
- Talk to your doctor if you have asthma, allergies or a weak immune system. Mold can trigger serious reactions.
Doing the work
- Turn off the HVAC system and seal vents in the work area.
- Build containment with 6-mil plastic and use a HEPA air scrubber to keep the area under negative pressure.
- Mist moldy materials lightly to keep spores down.
- Remove and bag porous materials that are moldy, such as drywall, ceiling tiles, insulation and carpet. They usually can’t be cleaned.
- Scrub hard surfaces with detergent and water, then dry them completely.
- HEPA vacuum everything when done, then wipe surfaces.
- Don’t rely on bleach. It doesn’t soak into porous materials, and its fumes are a hazard. Never mix bleach with ammonia or other cleaners.
- Don’t paint or caulk over mold.
- Don’t dry sweep or use fans that blow dust into clean areas.
Before you leave the containment
- Waste bags sealed and wiped
- Coveralls removed inside the decon area and bagged
- Air scrubber still running and containment intact
- Tools HEPA-vacuumed and wiped
- Hands and face washed
Licensing
There’s no federal mold license. A few states, including Texas, Florida, New York and Louisiana, license mold assessors or remediators. Check your state’s rules before you take the work.
Standards & references
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