State Sen. Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) is sponsoring legislation requiring companies to inform their employees when mold is being removed from the workplace. Some people have serious mold allergies and can suffer dangerous reactions when they are exposed to mold in too great a quantity.
“Last spring, I heard from a constituent who experienced permanent health damage after he was exposed to excessive amounts of mold at work,” Koehler said. “Since then, I have been contacted by other individuals who have been affected by mold. This legislation should help improve workers’ safety by warning them before they are exposed to a potential health hazard.”
Senate Bill 3415 requires employers to notify their employees before they begin mold remediation-the process of removing dangerous quantities of mold from a building-of areas greater than 30 square feet. The notification can either be a letter or a posting in a conspicuous area. Employers are also required to inform employees when the remediation process is finished. Removing such a large quantity of mold can trigger
allergic reactions ranging from standard nasal allergies to much rarer neurological damage.
“This requirement should not place too heavy a burden on employers,” Koehler said. “All they need to do is provide their employees with a written warning that there may be unhealthy quantities of mold in the air. This warning will help mold-sensitive employees make good health choices.”
The measure also recommends that companies contact an industrial hygienist or another environmental health and safety expert before beginning remediation and that they hire professional mold removers to do the work. However, it is only a recommendation and not a requirement.
“OSHA-the US Occupational Health and Safety Administration-already recommends that businesses hire professionals to deal with large amounts of mold removal,” Koehler said. “We just wanted to reinforce that recommendation in this legislation.”
Senate Bill 3415 has passed the Senate Labor committee and now awaits a vote by the full Senate.
