Illnesses caused by mold exposure are becoming more prevalent, and environmental health experts are seeing increasing number of individuals with symptoms directly related to mold exposure, yet mold-related disorders are often unrecognized and misdiagnosed.  Currently, no federal standards or recommendations, (e.g., OSHA, NIOSH, EPA) for airborne concentrations of mold or mold spores exist. Without these standards or recommendations, the health of many employees sensitive to mold will be compromised. No American employee should be compelled  to leave their job to protect their health, especially when a government agency already exists to address such issues. Together lets ensure these standards are developed to protect our health.

As an experienced human resources professional, I thought there was no workplace scenario that I couldn’t manage.  Furthermore, I definitely believed that I knew which resources to access or employment laws to leverage to protect myself.  However, last year, I was experiencing severe allergic symptoms in my workplace. 

Unable to convince my employer to address the air quality issues in the area where I worked, I filed two complaints with the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA).  The complaints included the results of air testing that showed the presence of mold spores (despite the fact that air purifiers were in operation when the samples were collected), information about my symptoms (skin eruptions, congestion, and headaches that abated when I was away from work), and the names of several other employees with their symptoms.  During this time, I also learned that another employee filed a similar complaint with OSHA a year prior to my complaints. 

I was extremely disappointed when the OSHA Duty Officer responded that the agency could not investigate the matter.  His verbatim statement was, “We don’t have any OSHA standards regarding mold and based on the information provided, the mold was comparable to outside readings so there is not really an issue that we can go forward with.” 

I was floored.  I just couldn’t believe that the government agency charged with assuring safe and healthful working conditions by setting and enforcing standards refused to provide any assistance or conduct an investigation after receiving multiple complaints.  I was also shocked that the principal reason that OSHA could not assist me was because there are “no federal standards or recommendations, (e.g., OSHA, NIOSH, EPA) for airborne concentrations of mold or mold spores!” 

The health-related dangers of mold are seemingly common knowledge, and organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the Institute of Medicine (IOM), and the World Health Organization have acknowledged that mold exposure can produce serious reactions among some workers in occupational settings.  Consequently, I find it inexcusable that federal standards have not been developed.  Furthermore, with or without standards, the fact that OSHA has no obligation to investigate when multiple individuals complain that something in their workplace is negatively affecting their health seems to run counter to the agency’s mission to assure safe and healthful working conditions.  Therefore, I would like to bring these issues to the attention of the top official at OSHA, Assistant Secretary David Michaels.

After I filed the OSHA complaints, nothing changed.  My symptoms continued to worsen, and I grew increasing concerned about my health.  After suffering and voicing concerns to my employer for more than six months, I resigned.  Although most of the severe allergic reactions ended after my departure, nearly a year later, I am still managing symptoms indicative of mold toxicity.  The entire situation was managed poorly, but I believe that an investigation by OSHA would have either motivated or compelled my former employer to address the air quality issues.

Let's do something about this problem!  Please sign this petition to help me persuade the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) to develop mold standards and to require investigations when multiple complaints are filed against a single workplace.