The Right Personal Protective Equipment for Mold

11/28/2018 (Permalink)

Personal protective equipment keeps mold remediation specialists safe as they eradicate mold growth. There are several types of equipment that are commonly used to protect the respiratory system and skin from mold while preventing cross-contamination.

Respirators

Mold calls for the use of a respirator with a rating of N95 or better, particularly if the fungus is toxigenic. Several degrees of respirators are available:

• Basic respirators for non-chemical substances
  
• Premium respirators for cleaning chemicals
  
• Half-face or full-face respirators for severe mold
  

Respirators may be reused if professionals carefully clean this equipment after each work session. Filtration cartridges should be replaced every day.

Coveralls

Tyvec coveralls protect clothing and skin from exposure to mold. Several features distinguish this protective equipment:

• Full-body design
  
• Attached hood and booties
  
• Non-porous material
  

Not every infestation requires the use of coveralls. This protective suit is desirable when dealing with toxigenic mold growth or working in areas with poor ventilation. Workers may also wear long sleeves and pants to protect their arms and legs. Porous clothing should be bagged and discarded at the end of each cleaning sessions. Do not attempt to clean and reuse clothing contaminated with mold. Workers that do not wear full-body coveralls may want to put on shoe covers to avoid spreading spores to unaffected areas of a structure.

Gloves

Gloves are another critical piece of protective equipment. Experts recommend the use of gloves made out of:

• Latex
• Nitrile
• Rubber

Gloves should be thick enough to resist tearing. It is important to dispose of gloves after each work session.

In addition to all of these types of personal equipment, mold remediation professionals may also use containment methods such as plastic sheeting or creating a negative air chamber to prevent cross-contamination. Even though non-professionals can put on personal protective equipment and attempt to remove mold from a commercial building in Salmon Creek,WA, remediation professionals will get the job done quickly and safely.