What Personal Protective Equipment Is Helpful When Removing Mold?

4/13/2019 (Permalink)

Commercial property owners and building managers should depend on the expertise of remediation professionals.

Personal protective equipment helps mold cleanup professionals limit exposure to microbial volatile organic compounds and spores while preventing cross-contamination. Workers should use respirators rated for mold, disposable gloves and booties and protect the rest of their bodies by wearing full-coverage clothing or coveralls.

Facial Protection

Respirators designed for working with mold may be half-face or full-face designs. Cleanup workers should select respirators with a rating of at least N95:

• N95 respirators block at least 95 percent of 0.3 micron particles
• N100 respirators filter 99.7 percent of particles 0.3 microns or greater
• Full facepiece respirators may be connected to a powered air purifying respirator system
  

Goggles are also necessary to protect workers' eyes. A major infestation may call for a full facepiece with vented goggles.

Hands

Cleanup workers should wear durable and disposable latex, nitrile or rubber gloves. These gloves should be thick enough to stand up to working conditions and should be disposed of after each session.

Full Body Protection

Workers cleaning up a major mold infestation should wear coveralls. This full body PPE is made of non-porous material and has a hood and booties for maximum protection. It may also be necessary to set up a containment chamber to avoid spreading mold.

For an infestation of less than 10 square feet, workers can wear shirts with long sleeves, pants and disposable shoe coverings. All of these items should be bagged and discarded at the end of each session.

All of these types of PPE can protect cleanup workers from exposure to spores and mVOCs released during mold growth. For a severe infestation, workers should combine N100 full-face respirators with vented goggles and coveralls. Minor mold problems call for respirators with a rating of at least N95, disposable gloves, booties and protective clothing. Commercial property owners and building managers should depend on the expertise of remediation professionals in Arlington Heights, IL.