gic or skin symptoms, or severe flu-like

symptoms, he or she should seek medical

advice. A health care provider can determine

whether medication or any other precautions

are necessary.

Tips to Remember

For all workers who may be exposed to

mold and fungi:

• Avoid breathing dust (fungal spores) generated by moldy building materials, crops,

and other materials.

• Consider using an N-95 NIOSH-approved

disposable respirator as a minimum when

working with moldy or damp hay, grain,

compost, or building materials. Respirator

protection must be used in accordance

with OSHA’s Respiratory Protection standard (29 CFR 1910.134, Appendix D).

• Consider discarding all water damaged

materials. Articles that are visibly contaminated with mold should be discarded.

When in doubt, throw it out.

• Surfaces that have a light covering of mold

should be scrubbed with warm, soapy

water and rinsed with a disinfectant made

of 1

/2 cup liquid household bleach mixed

into one gallon of water.

• CAUTION: Do not mix bleach with other

cleaning products that contain ammonia. 

• After working with mold-contaminated

materials, wash thoroughly, including the

hair, scalp, and nails.

• If the safety of food or beverage is questionable, throw it out. Only drink safe drinking water that has been bottled, boiled, or

treated until there is confirmation that the

There are many different kinds of fungi,

including mildew, molds, rusts, and yeasts.

Most of these are harmless, but some can

cause respiratory and other disorders when

workers inhale or come into contact with

fungi. Inhalation is the route of exposure of

most concern to flood cleanup workers. The

recommendations below offer strategies for

workers renovating flooded buildings, homes,

and structures to protect themselves while

handling building materials that are visibly

contaminated with fungi.

For workers cleaning up flooded buildings,

homes, and other structures, excessive moisture or water accumulation indoors will

encourage the growth of the fungi that are

already present. Some fungi have the potential to cause adverse health effects such as

allergic responses and asthma attacks.

Individuals who are sensitive to molds may

have signs and symptoms of allergic reactions such as nasal stuffiness, eye irritation,

and wheezing. These individuals should minimize fungal exposure by wearing respirators,

gloves, and eye protection. They should also

seek to eliminate fungi, as described below.

In addition, repeated or prolonged contact of

the skin with flood water and continuous

sweating can lead to fungal skin infections.

These can be minimized or avoided by washing the skin with warm, soapy water and

keeping it as dry as possible.

What to Do If Symptoms Develop

If a cleanup worker experiences severe allerFactSheet

Fungi Hazards and Flood Cleanup

Flood conditions contribute to the growth and transmission of many kinds of

fungi, some of which can cause sickness. Cleanup workers are at increased risk

of exposure to airborne fungi and their spores because they often handle moldy

building materials, decaying vegetable matter, rotting waste material, and other

fungus-contaminated debris. The fungal material is carried into the respiratory

tract when airborne particles are inhaled. 
community water supply is safe for consumption.

When cleaning up or renovating buildings

and homes that have been flooded, consider

the following recommendations:

• NIOSH-approved respirators are strongly

recommended. Respiratory protection such

as the N-95 must be used in accordance

with OSHA’s Respiratory Protection standard (29 CFR 1910.134). Also wear gloves

and eye protection.

• Remove building materials and furnishings

that are wet and may become contaminated with mold growth and place them in

sealed impermeable bags or closed containers. Large items with heavy mold

growth should be covered with polyethylene sheeting and sealed with duct tape

before being removed from the area. These

materials can usually be discarded as ordinary construction waste.

• Remove and discard porous organic materials that have become wet or are visibly

contaminated (e.g., damp insulation in ventilation system, moldy ceiling tiles, and

mildewed carpets). Again, these materials

can usually be discarded as ordinary construction waste. 

• Clean and disinfect nonporous surfaces

where microbial growth has occurred with

detergents, chlorine-generating slimicides,

or other biocides and ensure that these

cleaners have been removed before air

handling units are turned on. When using a

biocide or disinfectant, consult the material

safety data sheet (MSDS) or warning label

This is one in a series of informational fact sheets highlighting OSHA programs, policies or 

standards. It does not impose any new compliance requirements. For a comprehensive list of 

compliance requirements of OSHA standards or regulations, refer to Title 29 of the Code of Federal

Regulations. This information will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request.

The voice phone is (202) 693-1999; teletypewriter (TTY) number: (877) 889-5627.

for the appropriate personal protective

equipment (PPE) that should be used when

handling these chemicals. Chemical safety

and handling must be done in accordance

with OSHA’s Hazard Communication standard (29 CFR 1910.1200). PPE, such as

NIOSH-approved respirators with the

appropriate chemical cartridges, can be

used. Wear gloves and eye protection also.

For cleanup workers in rural and agricultural

communities:

• Silos and other enclosed areas should be

vented prior to entry. However, this may

not eliminate the problem entirely. If a

worker is transporting or working with

moldy animal feed, exposures are likely to

be increased if the feed and the worker are

enclosed in a barn, silo or other structure.

Workers will still need to wear respirators.

NOTE: Any entry in a silo or other confined

space must be done in accordance with

OSHA’s Permit-Required Confined Spaces

standard (29 CFR 1910.146).

• Workers uncapping a silo, shoveling grain,

or working with feed, especially in any

enclosed space, should always wear at a

minimum a NIOSH-approved N-95 particulate respirator. Grain and hay should be

stored when fully dry.

For additional information concerning fungi,

health effects, and addressing flood damaged materials, please visit OSHA’s Safety

and Health Topics web page on Molds and

Fungi at: www.osha.gov/SLTC/molds/

index.html

U.S. Department of Labor

www.osha.gov

(800) 321-OSHA

For more complete information:

DSTM 9/2005