The PPE Worn During Mold Removal

5/27/2022 (Permalink)

Professionals who are removing mold growth must wear standard PPE.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is necessary to protect the workers from a remediation company when removing mold from a business in New Hope, TX. There are several pieces of equipment they will wear for any job, and there are several pieces that they will only wear for severe cleanups.

Standard PPE
Several PPE pieces are mandatory to protect workers and prevent the spread of spores during the mold remediation process. This includes:

• A hard hat
  
• Safety goggles
  
• Disposable gloves
  
• Shoe covers
  
• A respirator or face mask
  
  

Additional PPE
If a site is larger than 100 square feet, there is excessive mold or a substantial amount of dust will be generated, additional PPE pieces are required to protect workers. These should be worn over the standard PPE. One requirement is a more substantial face mask, with N, R, or P 100 filters. In the most severe cases, workers may also choose to use a charcoal-infused filter to prevent odors from lingering on their masks. They should also consider abrasive blasting respirators to prevent certain particles from being inhaled.
Another enhancement that can be made to standard PPE is non-vented safety goggles so that no debris or spores can get around the eyes. If harsh chemicals are being used, workers may also be encouraged to wear longer disposable gloves to reduce their exposure risk further. Aside from these upgrades, workers on more severe mold cases should also wear a disposable Tyvek suit to reduce their chance of coming into contact with spores and chemicals. They may also choose to upgrade their disposable clothing further by looking for suits that cover the head and feet.
Professionals who are removing mold growth must take several precautions to prevent contact with spores, chemicals, and other debris. For small tasks, this includes wearing standard PPE. For larger or more dangerous tasks, this includes standard PPE plus any additional PPE required.