What Is The Appropriate Protective Gear For Mold Mitigation?

10/5/2021 (Permalink)

Mold can be potentially hazardous to your health when working in a water-damaged building. According to the National Institute of Environmental Health Services, mold thrives in moist conditions with low light levels.

The primary function of personal protective equipment is to limit mold exposure. Actions likely to stir up mold include:

• Breaking moldy porous materials such as wallboard
• Using invasive procedures to examine or remediate mold growth in wall cavities
• Stripping or peeling wallpaper to remove it
• Using fans to dry items

It's crucial to use the correct personal protective equipment while cleaning up a mold infestation.

What Is The Correct PPE To Use During Mold Mitigation? 

Here are the OSHA recommendations for PPE: 

• Use non-vented goggles, long and chemical-resistant gloves for surface cleaning, and disposable protective clothing such as coveralls.
• Use charcoal-impregnated filters to control odors.
• For areas smaller than 100 square feet, use at minimum a NIOSH-approved half- or full-face 95-rated N, R, or P respirator.
• For areas greater than 100 square feet, where mold coverage is heavy, or that generate substantial amounts of dust by cleaning or debris removal, use at minimum a NIOSH-approved half- or full-face 100-rated N, R, or P respirator.
• Disposable clothing is recommended for medium and large remediation projects. It prevents the transfer and spread of mold to clothing and eliminates skin contact with mold. When limited protection is warranted, disposable paper coveralls can be used.

What Can I Do If A Mold Infestation Is Too Serious For Me To Handle Myself? 

A professional mold remediation company like SERVPRO will be able to handle a dangerous mold infestation. We maintain the specialized training and equipment required to mitigate a mold issue of any size. Every mold infestation is different and each scenario requires a unique solution, but the general process stays the same. Our professional mold remediation process steps are:

1. Emergency Contact - (615) 885-3906
2. Inspection and Mold Damage Assessment
3. Mold Containment
4. Air Filtration
5. Removing Mold and Mold-Infested Materials
6. Cleaning Contents and Belongings
7. Restoration

You can learn the details of our professional mold remediation process here. In addition to mold remediation, SERVPRO of Hermitage/Donelson also handles commercial mold remediation, biohazards, and much more. 

We can get your home or business Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned, as well.

This franchise is independently owned and operated.