Molds may be Hazardous to Workers and Occupants

by Bill Duncan

Some molds present in rotting wood-frame buildings may be hazardous to your health.

Although the majority of molds found in modern day structures are relatively harmless, exposure to some of the more toxigenic strains can lead to escalating medical complications and severe consequences.

One such mold, Stachybotrys Atra, associated with wet conditions and cellulose-derived material, such as the paper backing of drywall, can be toxic. These mold colonies can lurk within the cavities of concrete blocks, pipe wrappings, in-slab ducting, HVAC components and ceiling tiles. The safe removal of these substances requires expertise and money.

The spores of this microorganism are toxic and may cause respiratory illness, rashes and chronic fatigue.

In 1993, the New York City department of health recommended a protocol to deal with large scale remediations that is similar to that commonly used for asbestos removal.

Many rotten condominiums have very large areas contaminated by this organism yet at this time very few precautions are taken to protect the health of occupants or restoration workers.

As the leaky condo crisis continues, workers in the restoration industry are increasingly put at risk of exposure to molds. Workers who come into daily contact with concentrations of these pathogens can accrue a life-time of exposure in a very short time.

A generation ago, asbestos was thought to be harmless. Those who even dared to question the conventional wisdom of the times were dismissed as lunatic fringe. Nobody is laughing now!

In fact, the Workers Compensation Board is taking our inquiries very seriously. They have just announced funding approval for an innovative university research initiative proposed by the Carpenters Union and UBC’s Occupational Hygiene Department.

According to Chris van Netten, a researcher at UBC, there is presently no policy or guideline for educating construction workers regarding the hazards of exposure to molds and other fungi. The newly proclaimed Bill 14 Occupational Health & Safety Amendment Act gives the WCB the authority to make regulations to protect worker health and safety from harmful substances (including worker training and instruction), but no regulations have yet been adopted that deal with mold exposure.

Dr. van Netten says that a large number of fungal species have been identified from construction sites that have been associated with hypersensitivity pneumonitis, inflammatory lung disease and allergic reactions, but at present no local studies clearly demonstrate the type and level of occupational exposure to fungal contaminants. "Worker protection," he says, "is often non existent."

The union initiated study will test several building sites for fungal contamination and test the workers for lung function and other medical results of exposure to mold toxins.

Findings from the research will help provide a better understanding of the hazards posed by mold remediation and determine the type of protection required by workers in that industry.

Our first goal, of course, is to protect our workers from unnecessary risk of exposure to potentially hazardous substances. But after that, comes concern that already victimized leaky condo residents may face unknown health risks in re-occupying rebuilt apartments that have not had the mold problem controlled.

Union holds first mold remediation course

The Carpenters Union has just completed the delivery in Prince George of our first Occupational Health & Safety pilot course on mold remediation. The participants in the inaugural class were all from School Board Local 2106. The one-day seminar was delivered by The Sheltair Group and JL Hockman Consulting Ltd.

The trainers were consistently informative while speaking directly to the needs of those present. They established their credibility with the participants by dealing directly with the workers’ worksite observations.

After first explaining the basics of how mold, mildew and fungus occurs in the biomass, the instructors explained exactly why workers should care about risk of exposure from an occupational health and safety perspective. They then explained proper use of protective equipment, how to identify mold species and effective methods of treating mold as well as disposal of contaminated materials.

MIke Finnigan of Local 2106 said the course was made possible through the generous contributions of his Local, the BC Provincial Council of Carpenters and School District 57. He has a six-hour video tape of the proceedings he can make available to any Local interested for a modest cost. Call Local 2106 and leave a message at 250 564-2268 for further information.

The union hopes to be able to offer this or similar courses in other areas as the need arises, perhaps in conjunction with the Building Envelope Restoration course already developed.