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Final Guidelines for the Protection and Training of Workers Engaged In Maintenance and Remediation Work Associated with Mold 20 • May be dried in place if there is no obvious swelling and the seams are Wallboard intact. If not, remove, discard, and replace. (Drywall and • Ventilate the wall cavity, if possible. gypsum board) Window drapes • Follow laundering or cleaning instructions recommended by the manufacturer. Wood surfaces • Remove moisture immediately and use dehumidifiers, gentle heat, and fans for drying. (Use caution when applying heat to hardwood floors.) • Treated or finished wood surfaces may be cleaned with mild detergent and clean water and allowed to dry. • Wet paneling should be pried away from wall for drying. * If mold growth has occurred or materials have been wet for more than 48 hours, consult Table 2 guidelines. Even if materials are dried within 48 hours, mold growth may have occurred. Items may be tested by professionals if there is doubt. Note that mold growth will not always occur after 48 hours; this is only a guideline. These guidelines are for damage caused by clean water. If you know or suspect that the water source is contaminated with sewage, or chemical or biological pollutants, then Personal Protective Equipment and containment are required by OSHA. An experienced professional should be consulted if you and/or your remediators do not have expertise remediating in contaminated water situations. Do not use fans before determining that the water is clean or sanitary. † If a particular item(s) has high monetary or sentimental value, you may wish to consult a restoration/water damage specialist. § The subfloor under the carpet or other flooring material must also be cleaned and dried. See the appropriate section of this table for recommended actions depending on the composition of the subfloor. Recommendations for trainers • Training should also emphasize "fix the leak," which is a maintenance/engineering function and not an industrial hygiene function, and should be tailored to concerns and conditions faced by employees and result in workers not having a fear of addressing mold. • The generic curriculum should be tailored to individual needs, management concerns, local concerns, etc. • This training may be potentially combined with required hazard communication training to reduce costs and scheduling difficulties. • The maintenance training course is appropriate for other building trades workers who come into intermittent contact with mold in the course of their work such as utility workers. • Time permitting, training should include other worksite safety hazards that the worker will come into contact with when addressing mold problems. Avoiding electrical shock when washing surfaces, avoiding contact with corrosive cleaning agents, and not disturbing asbestos are examples.