Page 38 - OHS, April/May 2023

INDOOR AIR QUALITY Understanding the IICRC’s Proposed IAQ Standard for Remediation Contractors The proposed standard is intended for use by mold remediation industry workers. BY BERNARD FONTAINE In January, the Institute for Inspection, Cleaning and Restora- tion Certification (IICRC) released a 45-day draft review of a new S520 consensus standard for professional remediation of microbial growth. The IICRC standard is a framework to be used by indoor air quality professionals, site inspectors, tech- nicians and remediation contractors to improve work practices and procedures within an institutional, commercial or residential structure. The information benefits facilities managers and build- ing owners seeking to improve the quality of workmanship under their supervision. As a member of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), the IICRC issues certifications in more than 20 different fields. With nearly 49,000 certified technicians and 6,500 certified remediation firms throughout 22 countries, the IICRC member- ship represents a wide range of different industries. It also works with many national and international trade groups. The creation IICRC S520 standard occurred in cooperation between microbiologists and other scientists, public health ex- perts, industrial hygienists, remediation contractors and res- toration service providers. Additionally, the proposed standard involved collaboration with cleaning and restoration training schools and trade associations that support the professional res- toration industry as well as allied tradespeople and others with relevant professional and practical experience. The proposed IICRC S520 standard is intended for use by those working in the mold remediation industry. If the economists are correct, the standard could reduce the remediation cost by severalfold, mak- ing it more affordable for clients who may be either underinsured or not covered by property insurance. The IICRC S520 standard does not consider remediation of certain other biological agents like Histoplasma capsulatum, Cryptococcus neoformans, Hantavirus, animal-derived patho- gens or highly infectious agents, including bird or bat drop- pings. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) offers operational guidance for proper decontamina- tion procedures. Moreover, the IICRC S520 standard does not address the specific protocols and procedures for restoration, remediation or abatement of hazardous or highly regulated materials when they may be present or likely to be present in a water-damaged or intrusion in a microbial-contaminated struc- ture, system or the building contents. Some examples of hazard- ous building materials not covered by the IICRC S520 standard include asbestos, inorganic lead, elemental mercury, polychlori- nated biphenyls (PCBs), pesticides, petrochemical solvents and radiological agents. There are five steps in the mold remediation process. The first step is to conduct a risk assessment to determine if and where microbial growth may exist and the scope of any remediation work needed to abate the damaged property or contents. The second step is to record and photograph the environmental condition and work tasks performed during mold remediation and any rebuild after completing the remediation process. Step three involves the containment and control of the work to prevent the spread of any microbial contamination. Step four includes defining the scope of work and chemicals used to remove microbial growth. The final step is to identify and remedy the source of the water damage and any microbial growth. Salvable building materials should be dried to acceptable moisture levels as specified in the latest edition of ANSI/IICRC S500 Standard for Professional Water Damage Restoration. Re- mediators should be trained and educated in remediation tech- niques along with understanding the health and safety hazards of the job. Worker training and education should include a mul- titude of topics. ■ Building structures and systems to pinpoint microbial growth. ■ Climatic and seasonal variables like rainfall, temperature and relative humidity. ■ Access to the building ventilation, airflow and air filtration and humidity in areas of concern. ■ Best practices to remove microbial growth from building sur- faces and contents. ■ Use of chemicals such as required by the OSHA Global Harmo- nized Hazard Communication Standard—29 CFR 1910.1200 or equivalent. ■ Usage precautions on product Safety Data Sheets for surface coatings, antimicrobials, stain removers or cleaning agents. ■ Appropriate respirator or personal protective clothing. ■ How to construct and implement an OSHA-compliant written comprehensive respirator program. ■ How to follow the manufacturer’s instructions as directed when applying chemical agents to ensure their efficacy for sur- face coating, stain removal or cleaning. ■ Proper, readable labeling of primary and secondary containers ■ State and federal requirements including permits, licensing and training for work with hazardous materials like asbestos, lead or other regulated building materials. ■ Other safety hazards like lockout/tagout for electrical circuits and wiring, ground fault protection, confined space entry, pro- cedures for forklifts or other mechanical devices. Remediation contractors should refrain from certain work practices. For example, they should only use a disinfectant or fun- gicide instead of remediating or removing the microbial growth with a stain remover before or instead of cleaning. In addition, they shouldn’t use a chemical product to kill microbial growth if it’s not registered by a regulatory authority, such as the U.S. 38 Occupational Health & Safety | APRIL/MAY 2023 www.ohsonline.com