I work for a major helthcare provider in a specialty field and a major mold and mildew issue at the workplace is at hand. It has been told to me by my Lead that my co-workers and I may not bring patients into a "workroom" due to the fact that there is visable mold and mildew present comming through the wall adjacent to a restroom, but that we are still required to work in this room. I was not informed of this problem before working in this room and when I qustioned the hazards and health issues, the subject was discarded.

And your question is?

Is it right that my co-workers and I are expected to continue working in that invironment day after day?

Is it right? Maybe, maybe not. Is it legal? yes, it is.

How do you know if it's legal? Did you consult OSHA or something?

Actually, yes, I have.

Uh-huh. I see and can you cite anything?

http://www.osha.gov/dts/shib/shib101003.html (please note the very first sentence.)

This Safety and Health Information Bulletin is not a standard or regulation, and it creates no new legal obligations. The Bulletin is advisory in nature, informational in content, and is intended to assist building managers, custodians, and others who are responsible for building maintenance. Contractors and other professionals (e.g., environmental consultants and health or safety professionals) who respond to mold and moisture situations in buildings, as well as members of the general public, also may want to refer to these guidelines.

http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/molds/

What she said. There are no laws that prohibit this so by default, it is legal.

And did you look at the Cal/OSHA regulations?

Have you actually researched this yourself or are you just trying to cause trouble. If you have something that contradicts what was posted already, please share it. Yes, I did check as I'm not in the habit of making up posts, and Cal/OSHA refers to the federal guidelines directly. Same as was posted by mommy4.

I almost have to laugh at their concerns that we wear goggles to opperate the grinding machine....and yet Not have a concern about all of us exposed to, and breathing SPORES:rolleyes:

Well unfortunately, until OSHA changes their guidelines, your employer is in complete compliance.

You breathe mold spores everytime you step foot outside your door.

IF you can prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that your headaches are caused by the mold (and to do that, you will need a toxicity report of the mold and extensive medical testing to rule out any other possibility and CA does not recommend toxicity reports when dealing with mold(and headaches alone are not normal symptoms of a negative reaction to mold...it is usually respiratory problems, allergy symptoms, and the like)) the employer can be required to remove the mold. However, your employer could require any of the employees to assist in cleaning the mold. That means that YOU could be given the responsibility of cleaning it up. And this would only happen if it could be shown that the mold was on a large scale and that it was sickening the staff. If it's just a bit of mold or mildew in the corner of the room and the water leakage has been cleared up and/or is not a significant leak, then the odds of having anything done about this situation are nil. As I said in your other thread, you seem very unhappy on a number of issues with this employer. Perhaps it's time to look for a better employment fit.