When working with collections where mould growth is suspected, the health and safety of staff is paramount and must be prioritised.
To ensure that those handling affected collection material are protected from the health risks mould poses, and in line with COSHH regulations 2002, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) should be worn at all times. This should include:
- Disposable gloves – size-appropriate, nitrile or vinyl
- Disposable particle filtering masks – FFP 2 or 3, compliant with ‘BS EN 149:2001 Filtering half masks to protect against particles’ and fitted in line with Health and Safety Executive (HSE) guidance
- Eye protection, compliant with ‘EN 166:2002 Personal eye protection’ specifications
- Disposable aprons, to protect the users’ clothing and to limit the likelihood of cross-contamination to other areas of the collection
All disposable PPE that has been in contact with mould-affected material should be bagged separately for disposal, and equipment cleaned thoroughly with hot water and dish detergent. Good hand hygiene should always be practiced after contact with mould-affected material.
Health and safety
Mould growth in archival and library collections can present a health hazard to those that access them. Spores, mycotoxins and microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOCs) produced by mould can cause both acute and chronic reactions. However, the extent of this risk is determined by several factors:
State
Mould growth may be active or inactive. To reproduce, mould requires an optimal environment of 10-35ºC and a relative humidity (RH) exceeding 65%. When disturbed by air movement or physical contact, mould releases spores into the surrounding area to form further mould colonies. Active mould can appear as fluffy or slimy growths, which may smear when touched.
Appearance and colour can vary according to species and the surface they inhabit. Collection material and the surrounding storage environment may have a damp feel or musty odour. When RH decreases, mould becomes inactive. In this state, it may look like staining or mottling on the object surface, seeming desiccated, dry, powdery or crusty. Mould can remain inactive for many years but will re-activate if ambient humidity creates a suitable environment. Typically, the majority of damage to historic collection material is caused by mould that is now inactive. As such, it is important to understand that although inactive mould does not pose an immediate risk to collection material, it does not lose its allergenic or toxigenic properties.
Quantity
The extent of mould presence may be limited to a small number of items only, or could affect substantial portions of the collection, as well as the storage space itself. The more extensive the infestation, the greater the risk to health.
Exposure
Forms of exposure such as inhalation, ingestion or skin contact may cause acute reactions, including sneezing, a runny nose, red or itchy eyes, and/or skin rashes, which can be difficult to distinguish from other illnesses. Twaroch et al, in their article on ‘Mold Allergens in Respiratory Allergy’, state that the effects of exposure to mould are cumulative and between 3-10% of the population can develop an adverse reaction to it. Chronic reactions are typically dependent on the specific species of mould present. They are rare but serious – working in close proximity to mould should be limited to only when absolutely necessary, exposure time should be limited, and mitigation measures employed (i.e. PPE).
Susceptibility
Individuals more susceptible to the effects of mould include those with eczema, asthma, and respiratory or allergy problems. It is recommended that people suffering from severe immunity issues do not work with mould at all. It is also advised that pregnant women do not work with mould. Individuals who are aware they may be at risk should discuss this with their management.
Risk management
Under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002 , mould is classed as a biological agent. As per COSHH Regulation 7 (1)
Every employer shall ensure that the exposure of his employees to substances hazardous to health is either prevented or, where this is not reasonably practicable, adequately controlled.
As such, employers must reduce the risk of mould exposure to employees and to others who may have access to affected material.
Recommended methods to ensure successful compliance with the Regulations can be found in the COSHH Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) (PDF, 0.6MB). Though a number of mould species – some of which are commonly found within archival collections – are listed in the COSHH Approved List of Biological Agents (PDF, 0.4MB), there are no defined workplace exposure limits for mould provided in the EH40/2005 List of Workplace Exposure Limits (PDF, 0.7MB). Therefore, exposure must be kept ‘as low as reasonably practicable’, as outlined in the ACOP.
Where mould is known to be present within a collection and/or its storage space, a COSHH risk assessment should be undertaken in accordance with Health & Safety Executive guidance . This will supply a framework to identify hazards, assess the associated risks and determine appropriate control measures.