Re: Remediation Guidelines

[Guest guest]

Marcie,

Since OSHA got involved and found stachy, I would think you could sue for

lost wages and health expenses. Just my thoughts.

----- Original Message -----

From: " Marcie McGovern " <marcie1029@...>

> Please.........contact OSHA in your state and if they do not do anything,

> contact OSHA in Washington. They listened and got it done. I have a copy

> of my tests results from the samples I took and the testing the company

> did in Jan.2005.

> Good Luck,

> Marcie

[Guest guest]

,

Good news, bad news. There are guidelines and industry consensus

standards but no laws or regulations to make anybody do anything. The

closest to an enforceable regulation is, as Marcie said, the OSHA

General Duty Clause. OSHA regulates the workplace only and the

question of whether or not OSHA considers mold a hazard that requires

compliance with the law is still open. Various queries to them that

I've heard of have failed to produce a definitive response and each

person asked seems to provide a different interpretation.

However, if OSHA in your area brings pressure on the responsible

parties, whether they formally cite the General Duty Clause or not,

then so much the better. If they do then they will most likely

recommend the area be closed off with plastic " walls " with a

procedure called containment. Hopefully they will also have HEPA

blowers pulling air from the work areas and through the filter to the

outside air. The purpose is to contain the mold, dust, fumes, odors

and other " stuff " to inside the work area, preventing it from

spreading around and contaminating the rest of the building.

Hopefully they will also have the work verified by an independent

consultant - definitely not the remediation contractor! and not

necessarily a CIH unless they have specialized trainging - BEFORE the

air flow control and containment plastic " walls " are removed.

Hopefully, they will agree ahead of time on what the final

verification criteria will be.

Hopefully, they will be cognizant of and successfully remediate to

the performance goal of stopping occupant complaint as suggested in

the ACGIH book, Bioaerosols: Assessment and Control, section 8.6.3

and 15.5.

EPA has a free download of Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial

Buildings at http://www.epa.gov/mold/mold_remediation.html

The IICRC S520 Standard and Reference Guide for Professional Mold

Remediation and their S500 Standard and Reference Guide for

Professional Water Damage Restoration are available for puchase at

their web site: www.iicrc.org. They also have a referral program for

their AMRT certified technicians for remediation.

The mission of the Indoor Air Quality Association (IAQA) at

www.iaqa.org includes protecting the public and can assist in

locating their trained and certified CIE consultants and CMR

remediators

The American Indoor Air Quality Council (AmIAQ) at www.indoor-air-

quality.org has similar programs. In fact, they and IAQA have

announced plans to unify and consolidate their efforts in the next

few months with a goal of creating an independent board certification

program.

As for the mold test results, just comparing indoor to outdoor is

usually NOT representative of the true conditions. They can both

have, for example, Penicillium but different species in each. It's

like comparing outdoor felines to indoor felines when the man-eating

tiger is inside!

There is no single, definitive test for mold to determine if there is

a problem or not. It is just one " tool " in the consultants tool box,

so to speak. Building history, on-site inspection, lots of questions,

water damage, musty odors, occupant reports, building science and

professional judgement are much more definitive and descriptive of

mold conditions than simply collecting samples.

Unfortunately, the industry is still mired in the historical roots of

industrial hygiene and not the comtemporary and more applicable

indoor environment that is non-industrial. So they do things like

simply compare indoors to outdoors only, or look for regulated

substances for OSHA compliance while ignoring the lower level long

term exposures that are making more people ill. This despite the

admonition to the contrary and the direct statement of, " We were

wrong... " in the Foreword of Bioaerosols.

But mostly, you need an advocate the understands the issues from the

non-industrial view that also includes the individuality of

experience. Not all people react to the same things in the same way

at the same levels of exposure.

Get your support and ideas from this group and if you want more

technical info and perhaps a name from your area, try the group

IEQuality.

Carl Grimes

Healthy Habitats LLC

----------

> I have read about remediation and it sounds as if the area should be

> closed off with plastic before the clean up process begins. Is that

> correct? If so, if that regulated by the EPA or OSHA or anyone?

>

> My previous employer has been forced to remediate but nothing is

> closed off and everyone is allowed to continue working (and attend

> class). To the best of my knowledge the company carrying out the

> remediation is a construction company that is tearing out the walls

> and rebuilding.

>

> They posted a letter yesterday that the mold testing outside the

> building had higher mold spores than inside but they won't release the

> lab report. I think it would be interesting to see what is actually

> inside of the building.

>

> What are the standards?

>

> I appreciate your knowledge on this subject group!

>

> J. in NE

>

>

> ---------------------------------

> Start your day with - make it your home page

>

>

[Guest guest]

Wow, wow and WOW! Carl this information is great! I appreciate your time

typing this up for me and I will check that group out! I am so GRATEFUL for

this group and the resources that you provide!

I originally contacted OSHA a few weeks back and they did put pressure on the

employer to clean it up and I contacted them again today to let them know about

my concerns.

OSHA hasn't received the air quality report yet but even when they do, they

won't release it to me. They told me to ask the employer for it. Well, they

aren't going to give me anything now...I opened a major can of worms with this

stuff and they are not too happy with me.

The most unfortunate thing here is, my past co-workers will read the posted

response to OSHA and take it as " gospel " that since outside tested worse than

inside then everything is just fine. Very bothersome!

Can any of you tell me if mold has been in the news in Nebraska? This is a

subject that has just started affecting my life in the last 6 months so, sadly,

I didn't pay much attention until recently.

J.

" Carl E. Grimes " <grimes@...> wrote:

,

Good news, bad news. There are guidelines and industry consensus

standards but no laws or regulations to make anybody do anything. The

closest to an enforceable regulation is, as Marcie said, the OSHA

General Duty Clause. OSHA regulates the workplace only and the

question of whether or not OSHA considers mold a hazard that requires

compliance with the law is still open. Various queries to them that

I've heard of have failed to produce a definitive response and each

person asked seems to provide a different interpretation.

However, if OSHA in your area brings pressure on the responsible

parties, whether they formally cite the General Duty Clause or not,

then so much the better. If they do then they will most likely

recommend the area be closed off with plastic " walls " with a

procedure called containment. Hopefully they will also have HEPA

blowers pulling air from the work areas and through the filter to the

outside air. The purpose is to contain the mold, dust, fumes, odors

and other " stuff " to inside the work area, preventing it from

spreading around and contaminating the rest of the building.

Hopefully they will also have the work verified by an independent

consultant - definitely not the remediation contractor! and not

necessarily a CIH unless they have specialized trainging - BEFORE the

air flow control and containment plastic " walls " are removed.

Hopefully, they will agree ahead of time on what the final

verification criteria will be.

Hopefully, they will be cognizant of and successfully remediate to

the performance goal of stopping occupant complaint as suggested in

the ACGIH book, Bioaerosols: Assessment and Control, section 8.6.3

and 15.5.

EPA has a free download of Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial

Buildings at http://www.epa.gov/mold/mold_remediation.html

The IICRC S520 Standard and Reference Guide for Professional Mold

Remediation and their S500 Standard and Reference Guide for

Professional Water Damage Restoration are available for puchase at

their web site: www.iicrc.org. They also have a referral program for

their AMRT certified technicians for remediation.

The mission of the Indoor Air Quality Association (IAQA) at

www.iaqa.org includes protecting the public and can assist in

locating their trained and certified CIE consultants and CMR

remediators

The American Indoor Air Quality Council (AmIAQ) at www.indoor-air-

quality.org has similar programs. In fact, they and IAQA have

announced plans to unify and consolidate their efforts in the next

few months with a goal of creating an independent board certification

program.

As for the mold test results, just comparing indoor to outdoor is

usually NOT representative of the true conditions. They can both

have, for example, Penicillium but different species in each. It's

like comparing outdoor felines to indoor felines when the man-eating

tiger is inside!

There is no single, definitive test for mold to determine if there is

a problem or not. It is just one " tool " in the consultants tool box,

so to speak. Building history, on-site inspection, lots of questions,

water damage, musty odors, occupant reports, building science and

professional judgement are much more definitive and descriptive of

mold conditions than simply collecting samples.

Unfortunately, the industry is still mired in the historical roots of

industrial hygiene and not the comtemporary and more applicable

indoor environment that is non-industrial. So they do things like

simply compare indoors to outdoors only, or look for regulated

substances for OSHA compliance while ignoring the lower level long

term exposures that are making more people ill. This despite the

admonition to the contrary and the direct statement of, " We were

wrong... " in the Foreword of Bioaerosols.

But mostly, you need an advocate the understands the issues from the

non-industrial view that also includes the individuality of

experience. Not all people react to the same things in the same way

at the same levels of exposure.

Get your support and ideas from this group and if you want more

technical info and perhaps a name from your area, try the group

IEQuality.

Carl Grimes

Healthy Habitats LLC

----------

> I have read about remediation and it sounds as if the area should be

> closed off with plastic before the clean up process begins. Is that

> correct? If so, if that regulated by the EPA or OSHA or anyone?

>

> My previous employer has been forced to remediate but nothing is

> closed off and everyone is allowed to continue working (and attend

> class). To the best of my knowledge the company carrying out the

> remediation is a construction company that is tearing out the walls

> and rebuilding.

>

> They posted a letter yesterday that the mold testing outside the

> building had higher mold spores than inside but they won't release the

> lab report. I think it would be interesting to see what is actually

> inside of the building.

>

> What are the standards?

>

> I appreciate your knowledge on this subject group!

>

> J. in NE

>

>

> ---------------------------------

> Start your day with - make it your home page

>

>

[Guest guest]

,

OSHA should have gone out there!!! Did they? If you made the complaint, they

have to go there. When I first contacted the OSHA here in Texas, they did

not...then I contacted Washington, DC OSHA Office. Then OSHA in Texas contacted

me again. Talked for over an hour. They went out there the next week for 2 days.

OSHA can get the results for you. Also now you are protected the the " Whistle

Blowers Act " .

I got the same reaction from my work place after I made the complaint about the

mold.

Hang in there....remember you did not do anything wrong but they will try to

make you feel like you did.

Sincerely,

Marcie

* Thanks Carl :-)

Jensen <carrie_j00@...> wrote:

Wow, wow and WOW! Carl this information is great! I appreciate your time

typing this up for me and I will check that group out! I am so GRATEFUL for

this group and the resources that you provide!

I originally contacted OSHA a few weeks back and they did put pressure on the

employer to clean it up and I contacted them again today to let them know about

my concerns.

OSHA hasn't received the air quality report yet but even when they do, they

won't release it to me. They told me to ask the employer for it. Well, they

aren't going to give me anything now...I opened a major can of worms with this

stuff and they are not too happy with me.

The most unfortunate thing here is, my past co-workers will read the posted

response to OSHA and take it as " gospel " that since outside tested worse than

inside then everything is just fine. Very bothersome!

Can any of you tell me if mold has been in the news in Nebraska? This is a

subject that has just started affecting my life in the last 6 months so, sadly,

I didn't pay much attention until recently.

J.

" Carl E. Grimes " <grimes@...> wrote:

,

Good news, bad news. There are guidelines and industry consensus

standards but no laws or regulations to make anybody do anything. The

closest to an enforceable regulation is, as Marcie said, the OSHA

General Duty Clause. OSHA regulates the workplace only and the

question of whether or not OSHA considers mold a hazard that requires

compliance with the law is still open. Various queries to them that

I've heard of have failed to produce a definitive response and each

person asked seems to provide a different interpretation.

However, if OSHA in your area brings pressure on the responsible

parties, whether they formally cite the General Duty Clause or not,

then so much the better. If they do then they will most likely

recommend the area be closed off with plastic " walls " with a

procedure called containment. Hopefully they will also have HEPA

blowers pulling air from the work areas and through the filter to the

outside air. The purpose is to contain the mold, dust, fumes, odors

and other " stuff " to inside the work area, preventing it from

spreading around and contaminating the rest of the building.

Hopefully they will also have the work verified by an independent

consultant - definitely not the remediation contractor! and not

necessarily a CIH unless they have specialized trainging - BEFORE the

air flow control and containment plastic " walls " are removed.

Hopefully, they will agree ahead of time on what the final

verification criteria will be.

Hopefully, they will be cognizant of and successfully remediate to

the performance goal of stopping occupant complaint as suggested in

the ACGIH book, Bioaerosols: Assessment and Control, section 8.6.3

and 15.5.

EPA has a free download of Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial

Buildings at http://www.epa.gov/mold/mold_remediation.html

The IICRC S520 Standard and Reference Guide for Professional Mold

Remediation and their S500 Standard and Reference Guide for

Professional Water Damage Restoration are available for puchase at

their web site: www.iicrc.org. They also have a referral program for

their AMRT certified technicians for remediation.

The mission of the Indoor Air Quality Association (IAQA) at

www.iaqa.org includes protecting the public and can assist in

locating their trained and certified CIE consultants and CMR

remediators

The American Indoor Air Quality Council (AmIAQ) at www.indoor-air-

quality.org has similar programs. In fact, they and IAQA have

announced plans to unify and consolidate their efforts in the next

few months with a goal of creating an independent board certification

program.

As for the mold test results, just comparing indoor to outdoor is

usually NOT representative of the true conditions. They can both

have, for example, Penicillium but different species in each. It's

like comparing outdoor felines to indoor felines when the man-eating

tiger is inside!

There is no single, definitive test for mold to determine if there is

a problem or not. It is just one " tool " in the consultants tool box,

so to speak. Building history, on-site inspection, lots of questions,

water damage, musty odors, occupant reports, building science and

professional judgement are much more definitive and descriptive of

mold conditions than simply collecting samples.

Unfortunately, the industry is still mired in the historical roots of

industrial hygiene and not the comtemporary and more applicable

indoor environment that is non-industrial. So they do things like

simply compare indoors to outdoors only, or look for regulated

substances for OSHA compliance while ignoring the lower level long

term exposures that are making more people ill. This despite the

admonition to the contrary and the direct statement of, " We were

wrong... " in the Foreword of Bioaerosols.

But mostly, you need an advocate the understands the issues from the

non-industrial view that also includes the individuality of

experience. Not all people react to the same things in the same way

at the same levels of exposure.

Get your support and ideas from this group and if you want more

technical info and perhaps a name from your area, try the group

IEQuality.

Carl Grimes

Healthy Habitats LLC

----------

> I have read about remediation and it sounds as if the area should be

> closed off with plastic before the clean up process begins. Is that

> correct? If so, if that regulated by the EPA or OSHA or anyone?

>

> My previous employer has been forced to remediate but nothing is

> closed off and everyone is allowed to continue working (and attend

> class). To the best of my knowledge the company carrying out the

> remediation is a construction company that is tearing out the walls

> and rebuilding.

>

> They posted a letter yesterday that the mold testing outside the

> building had higher mold spores than inside but they won't release the

> lab report. I think it would be interesting to see what is actually

> inside of the building.

>

> What are the standards?

>

> I appreciate your knowledge on this subject group!

>

> J. in NE

>

>

> ---------------------------------

> Start your day with - make it your home page

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks Marcie. I'm not sure if they went out there or not but I did contact

them about my concerns. I know they sent the letter to my previous employer

giving them a due date to have it cleaned up. I'll find out early in the week.

Since I have left the employer I don't think they have to give me anything.

Does OSHA have to disclose the report to me?

J.

Marcie McGovern <marcie1029@...> wrote:

,

OSHA should have gone out there!!! Did they? If you made the complaint, they

have to go there. When I first contacted the OSHA here in Texas, they did

not...then I contacted Washington, DC OSHA Office. Then OSHA in Texas contacted

me again. Talked for over an hour. They went out there the next week for 2 days.

OSHA can get the results for you. Also now you are protected the the " Whistle

Blowers Act " .

I got the same reaction from my work place after I made the complaint about the

mold.

Hang in there....remember you did not do anything wrong but they will try to

make you feel like you did.

Sincerely,

Marcie

* Thanks Carl :-)

Jensen <carrie_j00@...> wrote:

Wow, wow and WOW! Carl this information is great! I appreciate your time

typing this up for me and I will check that group out! I am so GRATEFUL for

this group and the resources that you provide!

I originally contacted OSHA a few weeks back and they did put pressure on the

employer to clean it up and I contacted them again today to let them know about

my concerns.

OSHA hasn't received the air quality report yet but even when they do, they

won't release it to me. They told me to ask the employer for it. Well, they

aren't going to give me anything now...I opened a major can of worms with this

stuff and they are not too happy with me.

The most unfortunate thing here is, my past co-workers will read the posted

response to OSHA and take it as " gospel " that since outside tested worse than

inside then everything is just fine. Very bothersome!

Can any of you tell me if mold has been in the news in Nebraska? This is a

subject that has just started affecting my life in the last 6 months so, sadly,

I didn't pay much attention until recently.

J.

" Carl E. Grimes " <grimes@...> wrote:

,

Good news, bad news. There are guidelines and industry consensus

standards but no laws or regulations to make anybody do anything. The

closest to an enforceable regulation is, as Marcie said, the OSHA

General Duty Clause. OSHA regulates the workplace only and the

question of whether or not OSHA considers mold a hazard that requires

compliance with the law is still open. Various queries to them that

I've heard of have failed to produce a definitive response and each

person asked seems to provide a different interpretation.

However, if OSHA in your area brings pressure on the responsible

parties, whether they formally cite the General Duty Clause or not,

then so much the better. If they do then they will most likely

recommend the area be closed off with plastic " walls " with a

procedure called containment. Hopefully they will also have HEPA

blowers pulling air from the work areas and through the filter to the

outside air. The purpose is to contain the mold, dust, fumes, odors

and other " stuff " to inside the work area, preventing it from

spreading around and contaminating the rest of the building.

Hopefully they will also have the work verified by an independent

consultant - definitely not the remediation contractor! and not

necessarily a CIH unless they have specialized trainging - BEFORE the

air flow control and containment plastic " walls " are removed.

Hopefully, they will agree ahead of time on what the final

verification criteria will be.

Hopefully, they will be cognizant of and successfully remediate to

the performance goal of stopping occupant complaint as suggested in

the ACGIH book, Bioaerosols: Assessment and Control, section 8.6.3

and 15.5.

EPA has a free download of Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial

Buildings at http://www.epa.gov/mold/mold_remediation.html

The IICRC S520 Standard and Reference Guide for Professional Mold

Remediation and their S500 Standard and Reference Guide for

Professional Water Damage Restoration are available for puchase at

their web site: www.iicrc.org. They also have a referral program for

their AMRT certified technicians for remediation.

The mission of the Indoor Air Quality Association (IAQA) at

www.iaqa.org includes protecting the public and can assist in

locating their trained and certified CIE consultants and CMR

remediators

The American Indoor Air Quality Council (AmIAQ) at www.indoor-air-

quality.org has similar programs. In fact, they and IAQA have

announced plans to unify and consolidate their efforts in the next

few months with a goal of creating an independent board certification

program.

As for the mold test results, just comparing indoor to outdoor is

usually NOT representative of the true conditions. They can both

have, for example, Penicillium but different species in each. It's

like comparing outdoor felines to indoor felines when the man-eating

tiger is inside!

There is no single, definitive test for mold to determine if there is

a problem or not. It is just one " tool " in the consultants tool box,

so to speak. Building history, on-site inspection, lots of questions,

water damage, musty odors, occupant reports, building science and

professional judgement are much more definitive and descriptive of

mold conditions than simply collecting samples.

Unfortunately, the industry is still mired in the historical roots of

industrial hygiene and not the comtemporary and more applicable

indoor environment that is non-industrial. So they do things like

simply compare indoors to outdoors only, or look for regulated

substances for OSHA compliance while ignoring the lower level long

term exposures that are making more people ill. This despite the

admonition to the contrary and the direct statement of, " We were

wrong... " in the Foreword of Bioaerosols.

But mostly, you need an advocate the understands the issues from the

non-industrial view that also includes the individuality of

experience. Not all people react to the same things in the same way

at the same levels of exposure.

Get your support and ideas from this group and if you want more

technical info and perhaps a name from your area, try the group

IEQuality.

Carl Grimes

Healthy Habitats LLC

----------

> I have read about remediation and it sounds as if the area should be

> closed off with plastic before the clean up process begins. Is that

> correct? If so, if that regulated by the EPA or OSHA or anyone?

>

> My previous employer has been forced to remediate but nothing is

> closed off and everyone is allowed to continue working (and attend

> class). To the best of my knowledge the company carrying out the

> remediation is a construction company that is tearing out the walls

> and rebuilding.

>

> They posted a letter yesterday that the mold testing outside the

> building had higher mold spores than inside but they won't release the

> lab report. I think it would be interesting to see what is actually

> inside of the building.

>

> What are the standards?

>

> I appreciate your knowledge on this subject group!

>

> J. in NE

>

>

> ---------------------------------

> Start your day with - make it your home page

>

>

[Guest guest]

,

If you left your employer, they do not have to give you anything. You have to

still be actively working there or be on Disability. ( work related.)

If they mailed them a letter, they did not go out. What they do is tell them in

person while they are at the site. ( usually)

Most of the time, OSHA will side with the employer in cases like this. It

depends on who you talked to and how they are in your state. If you are not

happy about the results, talk to someone else at OSHA. This has to be done in

writing for it to be a formal complaint.

Good Luck!!!!

Marcie

" J. " <carrie_j00@...> wrote:

Thanks Marcie. I'm not sure if they went out there or not but I did contact

them about my concerns. I know they sent the letter to my previous employer

giving them a due date to have it cleaned up. I'll find out early in the week.

Since I have left the employer I don't think they have to give me anything.

Does OSHA have to disclose the report to me?

J.

Marcie McGovern <marcie1029@...> wrote:

,

OSHA should have gone out there!!! Did they? If you made the complaint, they

have to go there. When I first contacted the OSHA here in Texas, they did

not...then I contacted Washington, DC OSHA Office. Then OSHA in Texas contacted

me again. Talked for over an hour. They went out there the next week for 2 days.

OSHA can get the results for you. Also now you are protected the the " Whistle

Blowers Act " .

I got the same reaction from my work place after I made the complaint about the

mold.

Hang in there....remember you did not do anything wrong but they will try to

make you feel like you did.

Sincerely,

Marcie

* Thanks Carl :-)

Jensen <carrie_j00@...> wrote:

Wow, wow and WOW! Carl this information is great! I appreciate your time

typing this up for me and I will check that group out! I am so GRATEFUL for

this group and the resources that you provide!

I originally contacted OSHA a few weeks back and they did put pressure on the

employer to clean it up and I contacted them again today to let them know about

my concerns.

OSHA hasn't received the air quality report yet but even when they do, they

won't release it to me. They told me to ask the employer for it. Well, they

aren't going to give me anything now...I opened a major can of worms with this

stuff and they are not too happy with me.

The most unfortunate thing here is, my past co-workers will read the posted

response to OSHA and take it as " gospel " that since outside tested worse than

inside then everything is just fine. Very bothersome!

Can any of you tell me if mold has been in the news in Nebraska? This is a

subject that has just started affecting my life in the last 6 months so, sadly,

I didn't pay much attention until recently.

J.

" Carl E. Grimes " <grimes@...> wrote:

,

Good news, bad news. There are guidelines and industry consensus

standards but no laws or regulations to make anybody do anything. The

closest to an enforceable regulation is, as Marcie said, the OSHA

General Duty Clause. OSHA regulates the workplace only and the

question of whether or not OSHA considers mold a hazard that requires

compliance with the law is still open. Various queries to them that

I've heard of have failed to produce a definitive response and each

person asked seems to provide a different interpretation.

However, if OSHA in your area brings pressure on the responsible

parties, whether they formally cite the General Duty Clause or not,

then so much the better. If they do then they will most likely

recommend the area be closed off with plastic " walls " with a

procedure called containment. Hopefully they will also have HEPA

blowers pulling air from the work areas and through the filter to the

outside air. The purpose is to contain the mold, dust, fumes, odors

and other " stuff " to inside the work area, preventing it from

spreading around and contaminating the rest of the building.

Hopefully they will also have the work verified by an independent

consultant - definitely not the remediation contractor! and not

necessarily a CIH unless they have specialized trainging - BEFORE the

air flow control and containment plastic " walls " are removed.

Hopefully, they will agree ahead of time on what the final

verification criteria will be.

Hopefully, they will be cognizant of and successfully remediate to

the performance goal of stopping occupant complaint as suggested in

the ACGIH book, Bioaerosols: Assessment and Control, section 8.6.3

and 15.5.

EPA has a free download of Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial

Buildings at http://www.epa.gov/mold/mold_remediation.html

The IICRC S520 Standard and Reference Guide for Professional Mold

Remediation and their S500 Standard and Reference Guide for

Professional Water Damage Restoration are available for puchase at

their web site: www.iicrc.org. They also have a referral program for

their AMRT certified technicians for remediation.

The mission of the Indoor Air Quality Association (IAQA) at

www.iaqa.org includes protecting the public and can assist in

locating their trained and certified CIE consultants and CMR

remediators

The American Indoor Air Quality Council (AmIAQ) at www.indoor-air-

quality.org has similar programs. In fact, they and IAQA have

announced plans to unify and consolidate their efforts in the next

few months with a goal of creating an independent board certification

program.

As for the mold test results, just comparing indoor to outdoor is

usually NOT representative of the true conditions. They can both

have, for example, Penicillium but different species in each. It's

like comparing outdoor felines to indoor felines when the man-eating

tiger is inside!

There is no single, definitive test for mold to determine if there is

a problem or not. It is just one " tool " in the consultants tool box,

so to speak. Building history, on-site inspection, lots of questions,

water damage, musty odors, occupant reports, building science and

professional judgement are much more definitive and descriptive of

mold conditions than simply collecting samples.

Unfortunately, the industry is still mired in the historical roots of

industrial hygiene and not the comtemporary and more applicable

indoor environment that is non-industrial. So they do things like

simply compare indoors to outdoors only, or look for regulated

substances for OSHA compliance while ignoring the lower level long

term exposures that are making more people ill. This despite the

admonition to the contrary and the direct statement of, " We were

wrong... " in the Foreword of Bioaerosols.

But mostly, you need an advocate the understands the issues from the

non-industrial view that also includes the individuality of

experience. Not all people react to the same things in the same way

at the same levels of exposure.

Get your support and ideas from this group and if you want more

technical info and perhaps a name from your area, try the group

IEQuality.

Carl Grimes

Healthy Habitats LLC

----------

> I have read about remediation and it sounds as if the area should be

> closed off with plastic before the clean up process begins. Is that

> correct? If so, if that regulated by the EPA or OSHA or anyone?

>

> My previous employer has been forced to remediate but nothing is

> closed off and everyone is allowed to continue working (and attend

> class). To the best of my knowledge the company carrying out the

> remediation is a construction company that is tearing out the walls

> and rebuilding.

>

> They posted a letter yesterday that the mold testing outside the

> building had higher mold spores than inside but they won't release the

> lab report. I think it would be interesting to see what is actually

> inside of the building.

>

> What are the standards?

>

> I appreciate your knowledge on this subject group!

>

> J. in NE

>

>

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