Water Intrusion & Mold

Cal OSHA's General Requirements (Title 8, General Industry Safety Order 3362) requires that water intrusion, leakage, or accumulation be corrected immediately due to the risk of mold.

If water intrusion and/or mold is discovered, it should be reported immediately to the Environmental Health and Safety Office.

Mold Related Health Risks

Exposure to damp and moldy environments may cause a variety of health effects, or none at all. Some people are sensitive to molds. For these people, molds can cause nasal stuffiness, throat irritation, coughing or wheezing, eye irritation, or, in some cases, skin irritation. People with mold allergies may have more severe reactions.

Immune-compromised people and people with chronic lung illnesses need to follow their physician's guidance.

If you experience any of the symptoms and believe it to be caused by your environment, contact Facilities to investigate the possibility of mold.

Mold Testing

Generally, it is not necessary to identify the species of mold growing in a building and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) doesn't recommend taking mold samples. If you are especially susceptible to mold, then you are at risk regardless of the mold species present. Any mold found should be removed by qualified personnel as soon as possible.

Water Intrusion & Mold Response Procedure

A determination of the type of water intrusion should be made in regards to whether the water is clean or contaminated.

  • Clean Water: water that has been released from broken pipes or leakage from an otherwise treated water source.
  • Contaminated Water: water that has come into contact with sewage, biological, or otherwise hazardous material.

Additional hazards should also be noted, (asbestos containing materials, electrical hazards, research hazards, compromised plaster or ceiling tiles, slip hazards, etc). 

Make sure that all personnel involved in the cleaning and repair possess the proper equipment, are trained, and are aware of all potential hazards.

Training

Important: You must review the material and complete the quiz in the same session for the time you spend training to be recorded accurately. Most courses take about 30 minutes to complete.

Use the following link(s) to go to the training:

Mold Hazards and Prevention Training

IMPORTANT NOTICE

When taking training...

  • always ask your supervisor what "Title" to input.
  • always use your USFCA email when prompted.