I disagree: Witholding mold sampling results/ was Whistleblower Protection....

[Guest guest]

I have to respectfully disagree with you on this. If you are a tenant,

and sampling results are withheld, there should be nothing stopping you

from hiring your own consultant. I am an IAQ Consultant. I perform

all the usual inspections and tests that I am sure you are familiar

with, and I also use a certified Mold Detection K9.

<http://www.k9moldpro.com>

We deal with retailers, medical buildings, Realtors, landlords and

tenants all the time.

In a tenant / landlord issue, asking the landlord to pay for sampling

and then give the tenant the results is akin to asking the tenant to buy

a lawyer for the tenant so the tenant can sue the landlord. It does not

make sense, and it really doesn't work out well. Sample interpretation

is so subjective, and the parties involved are often uninformed about

important questions to ask before a professional is chosen. I see this

line of thinking as well intentioned but resulting in disaster.

Unfortunately, mold samples are grossly misused in this industry by many

people. Interpretation is so subjective. The truth is, tests should be

taken to supplement and prove a theory, just like a doctor does. But

they are not used this way all the time.

I say again, if a tenant has a concern, he or she should hire their own

consultant or industrial hygienist and get an assessment.

>

>

> The withholding and concealment of mold sampling results placing

occupants

> at risk is an ongoing issue affecting many experiencing illness due

to

> exposure. This occurs where often the responsibility for the mold

problem lay with

> others such as with landlords, HOAs, contractors and employers.

>

> I had brought this very issue up in regard to residential occupants

on the

> discussion group for IEQ where a number of environmental consultants

> participated in this thread. It is my belief that the common

practice of withholding

> of mold sampling results should be made illegal. This is especially

so

> since it involves the health and safety of individuals who may be

dependent upon

> disclosure of those very test results in order to seek out

appropriate

> medical care and or take specific precautions to protect themselves

and or their

> children or others as well. As a healthcare practitioner I do not

know of any

> other situation where the withholding of test results that routinely

places

> individuals at risk is not only tolerated, but accepted practice as

it is for

> those that work in the IAQ industry and or their employer clients.

All too

> often sick occupants are told by the consultants client/employers

that

> nothing was found in the testing that would be affecting the

occupant's health, all

> the while the test results demonstrate something entirely different.

>

> The environmental consultant's response to this was to state they have

an

> obligation to their client-employer who is the rightful owner of the

test

> results. (Two consultants stated that they make it known upfront that

they will

> not withhold results from the occupant.) However, what I stated and

hold to was

> that it is the ethical duty of the environmental consultant in the

> preservation of the health and safety of the occupant that their

obligation lay with

> the occupant and not to their client-employer who is attempting to

conceal a

> dangerous situation to avoid liability. Pressure must be placed upon

those

> responsible to the occupants. The laws must be changed so that

residents can

> make better informed decisions to help protect themselves, their

children's

> health and safety and all those exposed to elevated levels of mold in

their

> environments. Disclosure of mold sampling results to the occupant

should be a

> right not a privilege fought over in a court of law.

>

> Bobbins, RN, L.Ac, QME

>

> In a message dated 7/7/2007 1:38:16 PM Pacific Daylight Time,

> Gingersnap1964@... writes:

>

> my workplace withheld a report from mold consultants. I only came

across it

> later from a union rep.The report told all the molds found and how

dangerous

> it

> was. They hid the report.

>

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