MOLD REMOVAL: DO IT YOURSELF, OR HIRE A PRO?
Assess Your Situation
The cleanup depends on a number of factors. One consideration is the size of the mold problem. If the moldy area is less than about 10 square feet (less than roughly a 3 ft.by 3 ft.patch), in most cases, you can handle the job yourself by following the guidelines below. However, if there has been a lot of water damage, and/or mold growth covers more than 10 square feet, It’s time to call in a pro like SEA to remove the mold.
Beware of the Leaky Window
If mold is beginning to rot the wooden frame and windowsill, you may choose to hire a contractor (or other professional service provider) to do the cleanup and repair. Simply repairing the window may not be enough. You should make sure the contractor has experience cleaning up mold as well. Check references and ask the contractor to follow the recommendations in EPA ’s Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings as well as the guidelines of the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH), and other guidelines from professional or government organizations.
Mold in Duct Work
If your heating/ventilation/air conditioning (HVAC) system has been identified as part of an identified moisture problem or there is mold near the intake to the system, the system may be contaminated with mold. Do not run the HVAC system if you know or suspect that it is contaminated with mold , because it could spread mold throughout the building. If the water and/or mold damage was caused by sewage or other contaminated water, call in a professional who has experience cleaning and fixing buildings damaged by contaminated water, such as SET. If you have health concerns, consult a health professional before starting cleanup.
What is HAZCOM 2025?
California Tightens Lead Exposure Limits: What Employers Need to Know
Each year, as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) releases its list of the top 10 workplace safety violations, a pattern emerges that begs a question: Are these frequent violations a sign that employers continue to struggle with the same safety issues, or does it reflect a disposition among OSHA inspectors to focus on areas where they are trained to focus? The Persistent Issue of Repeated Findings The repetition of certain violations year after year might seem surprising, but it underscores a significant challenge in workplace safety management. The top violations tend to be those that are most visible and easiest to spot during inspections, such as fall protection and hazard communication. This consistency suggests that while awareness is high, practical implementation and adherence to safety practices lag behind. Top 10 Most Cited Health and Safety Standards of 2024 1. . Fall Protection, General Requirements: 6,307 violations For the 14th consecutive year, fall protection tops the list of OSHA's enforcement priorities. This emphasis is not arbitrary; OSHA has designated fall protection as a national emphasis area, making it a primary focus during inspections. It's often one of the easiest violations to spot without extensive investigation skills. The OSHA standard 1926.501 mandates that employers must provide fall protection systems like guardrails, safety nets, or personal fall arrest systems for workers at risk of falls of six feet or more in construction and four feet in general industry. Often, the major factor in these violations is human behavior. Many offenders might think, "No one is watching, and this will only take a moment, so it's no big deal." However, this mindset can lead to non-compliance with critical safety measures, putting worker safety at significant risk.