No matter the building or industry, mold is a potential hazard in the workplace. Mold growth is something you need to take seriously, as prolonged exposure can lead to serious sickness. However, it’s dangerous to clean up mold if you don’t know what you’re doing. Here’s a look at what to do if you find mold in your business.
First Discovery
You should run monthly inspections of your whole business to catch any mold growth or other issues around your building. Workers should also be on the lookout for any mold around the building outside of the monthly inspections. Early reporting will help you deal with the mold before it grows into a bigger problem.
Gather Information
Once you find mold, the first step is to gather as much information as possible. Identify the possible locations of the mold and thoroughly inspect your area to source the growth. You should also gather employees and ask for their mold-related symptoms to learn how it’s affecting people. The most common symptoms include:
- Red or itchy skin and eyes
- Wheezing
- Stuffy nose
- Dizziness
- Nausea
Mold Remediation
The next step is to treat the mold and remove it from your building, which isn’t something you should do yourself. Improper cleaning can lead to a reemergence of the mold and put the cleaner in serious danger. It’s best to hire a cleaning crew with mold damage restoration experience.
Help Affected Individuals
Once the place is clear of mold and safe for workers, you should take the time to help those who got sick because of the mold. While most people won’t feel any negative effects from the mold once it’s clear, it’s best to provide extra care to your workers.
This is how you respond to mold in your business, whether you or one of your employees finds it. These best practices will help you prevent mold growth down the line and lead to faster cleaning and returns to work if there’s mold in your building.
