ANSWER: As a public official a study and report by any health
related expert, authorized, qualified and entitled person,
ie. physician, clinical worker, degreed or diplomat professional
stating that a level of risk in writing is enough to warrant
the force and effect required to protect the public. Ignoring
any such qualified report may cause or allow a dangerous condition
that may put the public at risk and it is a duty to respond
on the side of reason and caution. Anyone stating or claiming
to be such expert and making any unqualified statements
is liable for damages caused by any such statement. Verify and
qualify the reporting authority. Our reports are accepted
and recognized by the medical, insurance and legal profession
for such purposes.
It is also our belief that your community be it town, city
or county governing body has the right to pass codes and regulations
when it comes to public health and safety in absence of any
other regulatory authority or agencies. These governing bodies
may pass regulations that offer more protection that any state
or federal agencies provide that are generally minimal standards.
Your town or county does not need to wait and should enact
such regulations based upon the need for such. Every community
has a different need when it comes to regulations in this
area of interest. This need is determined by by the general
age of your community, construction period and local geological
conditions. Simply if your community has many large old buildings
and the surrounding geology is generally conducive to water
presence such as in a valleys, costal or alluvial plains
or high water tables then your community is at higher risk for
mold presence. In such areas a standard protocol for investigating
property when a concern or complaint is raised needs to be implemented.
The New Jersey Fungal Mold Investigation
Protocol provides an approach that is scientifically
sound and responsible to the health needs of the community.
QUESTION 2. I (you the health officer) am not qualified
to say one way or the other that the problem is even fungal
mold related. How do I go about making a qualified determination?
ANSWER: It is almost impossible to understand every potential
hazard that confront the general public that health officers
come in contact with. The rule is this: If humans are
complaining of a health issue be it septic gas leaking, potential
for electrical shock, Legionella bacteria or the possibility
of a presence of a fungal mold that is causing a human immune
response then an industrial hygenist
or expert in medical mycology needs to be contacted to
make a determination if a health risk is present.
QUESTION 3. What benefit is the investigation report
to the occupants or owners of the property under investigation?
ANSWER: There is are tremendous benefits to not
only the occupants but also the property owner. Immediately
the occupant of the habitation/property is informed
if in fact there is a need for concern. If there is a concern
then recommended action from the report will address
both the short and long tern requirements to restore the habitation
to a healthy condition. This has been a great benefit to the
property owners since most owners are not present and do not
understand the problem until the report is provided to them.
In many cases a tenant or occupant of a leased property saves
the landlord/owner from the expense of extensive damage
from the presence of mold by acting upon the recommendation
of our report. These reports are a real benefit to landlords
and property owners.
OUESTION 4. How soon do you complete reports?
ANSWER: For health related matters we request that the health
officers and property owners be present during our investigations
if conditions permit. We will walk you through our investigation
and narrate our activity explaining what we are observing and
encountering. By the time we are done with our onsite investigation
with sampling if needed, you and the property owner will have
a 80-90% certainty what the issues are and if there is a problem
what may need t be do to eliminate it and its cause. Our reports
are generally completed in 24-48 hours. Under extremely critical
conditions final reports with lab work is done the same day
if so needed. The final report will contain all our findings
and recommendations certified and in writing.
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