Sunday, September 14, 2008

Remediating Mold / Water Damaged Materials After a Hurricane or Flood

As per OSHA / U.S. Department of Labor:

  • Discard all water-damaged materials, materials that are visibly coated with mold that cannot be properly cleaned, such as porous materials (e.g., carpeting, drywall, insulation), and materials that have been wet for more than 48 hours
  • Wrap and seal the items that will be discarded in plastic bags or sheets to reduce the spread of spores. These materials can usually be discarded as ordinary debris
    Minimize dust disturbance to reduce the spread of fungal spores
  • Do not eat, drink, or smoke in work areas
  • Provide natural or local exhaust ventilation during all cleaning steps
  • Clean hard and non-porous materials using a detergent. After rinsing, if needed, disinfect with an appropriate biocide such as bleach. Don’t mix bleach with ammonia-containing products
  • After an area has been cleaned and is completely dry, vacuum the area with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) vacuum. HEPA vacuums are also recommended for cleaning up dust that may have settled on surfaces outside the work area

Source: http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/hurricane/mold.html

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