Mold is one of those things no one wants to be around. That’s why it’s important to know what to do if you encounter workplace mold. Knowing how to handle mold will help keep you and your workplace safe…
Workplace Mold: How To Handle It
Keep your distance
When you first discover workplace mold, you might want to give it a closer inspection. However, this could potentially be risky. While there are certain kinds of mold which aren’t hazardous, others like black mold can cause serious health issues.
Mold can enter your body through the air in as well as through contact with the skin. That’s why it’s important to keep your distance from any mold you discover. If you have to get near it, take precautions like wearing a face mask and gloves just in case.
Look for a source
Mold only needs moisture and oxygen exposure to be able to grow. This means it can show up in many places and in many different jobs. Still, there’s usually a moisture source which leads to the more aggressive and widespread workplace mold growth you might encounter.
That’s why it’s important to try and look for any obvious sources of moisture. For example, these could be leaky pipes, or wet or damp working materials. If you can’t find any obvious sources, then there may be something internal causing the mold, like internal water buildup or an issue with the building design.
Notify your boss
Once you spot workplace mold, it’s important to let you boss know as soon as you can. They’ll be the ones who will be best equipped to know handle the mold. When you tell them, let them know where you found it, how big it appeared to be, and if you saw any potential sources. While you can tell them in person, sending an email is also a good idea as you’ll have a record of notifying them.
Depending on the size and type of mold, your boss might call in a specialized cleaning group to handle it. However, if they still don’t act after you tell them, it might be time to get in touch with OSHA directly. After all, it’s up to your boss to address any potential health hazards in the workplace.