I am working in an office with black mold. What can i do?
Entire office building where i work is moldy in spots. We have super leaky roof too. I`ve been there over 2 years, bu boss had countless estimates to fix the roof ( he owns the building), but they just come and go. We have ceiling tiles all over the place, even in the warehouse. Most of them are gone due to water damage, and insulation is all worn and dump, even in summer time when it`s 115 outside here in Phoenix.
We also have 6 industrial coolers with pigeon nests in the ducts, so when they`re working during the year, they basically filter thru bird crap.
I work in the office, but i do take inventories in warehouse daily. I`ve been feeling sick since the first week i started. Everyone employed there is sick, spending money on doctors, and having no final diagnosis. Finally, one girl from my office went to her doctor again last week, and he said that he has no clue what else to prescribe her any more, and he was puzzled as to what`s going on, unless she is exposed to something at home or at work, such is maybe, mold.
In my office, i have ceiling tiles with black mold growing all over, right above my head, next to AC went. We also had a flod in the office, wall is all puffed up, but my boss never touched that either. I am constantly ill, my muscles move involuntary, i can`t do any kind of excersize any longer, because my chest feels like it`s going to explode. I am testing air for mold today at work, with one of those home tests from Home Depot. My hubby wants me to quit if there is mold airborne, but if i do we are going to lose our home.
My question is: are we, as employees protected in any way from bosses such is mine? We have been told that if we call health department, they are going to shut down the business until repairs are done, but i know my boss would rather close it down altogether, because he`s close to 70 years, and he hates spending money.
Someone told us something about Workman’s compensation, but i am not sure how that works. I am also only part time there with zero benefits.
Do we have any course of action?
Thanks
3 Responses
Gofer
08 Feb 2010
jade327
08 Feb 2010
Other than a possible workman’s comp case you might try calling the labor board and just asking. you don’t have to give your name or co. name, usually. If they shut down their company you might be able to get unemployment. you should check into it to see if that is a option. If you are buying your house you may have insurance on the loan that covers unexpected unemployment. So you might check on that too. I used to work with mold for a living and depending on the kind it can make you sick. You may want to have a free consultation with a lawyer because it has gone on so long. Or just start looking for another job and get out of there. other than using a filtered breathing mask there is really no way to protect yourself from the mold. If in fact it is the problem. If your test is positive you can also take a sample to a professional to be tested before calling health dept. but that costs money. Keep in mind there is mold everywhere. But the type of mold and much there is is what makes the difference. good luck
sandman
08 Feb 2010
i agree with the other post. get out-sick days, vacation, whatever. call dhec. or e-mail from friend’s or public place’s computer. get samples- etc. 2 years-too loyal. boss is not very loyal. take care of yourself. God bless and good luck.– you might need attorney
Workman’s Comp applies to everyone, regardless of hours per week, though it would be hard to get covered for this sort of thing (it’s just hard to prove that mold caused you injury). The mold test from Home Depot won’t really tell you anything; mold will grow, as it is everywhere in the environment naturally. I do not doubt that the mold spore concentration is elevated in the building, as there is visible mold and you had a flood without any proper clean up.
Unfortunately, a mold inspection, proper air sampling, and mold remediation are not cheap, and it doesn’t sound like your boss/building owner is really open to spending money. A decent mold inspection will cost at least $800 (though probably closer to $1500 by a reputable company) and remediation could easily go over $10,000 depending on extent of contamination.
As far as calling the health dept. (or even ADOSH, basically AZ OSHA), you might as well do it. I don’t think that they would shut it down, but it may force the owner to do something.
If the mold really is causing your health symptoms, you really do need to do something. "If you don’t have your health, what do you have?"