Mold on Motels/Hotels

My dad who is 69 years old, works in a hotel that has recently been tested for Stachybotrys. The owners of the hotel have know for quite sometime and has tried to cover it up by replacing carpets, wallpapering, etc. They did not make the employees aware of the risk involved with this type of mold and were not supplied with masks or gloves.

My dad has been complaining of a cough, which at times he has noted blood tinged sputum. He does not smoke and is generally in good health. What steps should we take next? Who can report this to? The company that tested the hotel is reluctant to make this public and the hotel has also not made this public and continues to allow guests to check in on floors where the mold is quiet obvious. Please do not misunderstand my intentions, I care about my Dad's safety, but I feel that the public has a right to know if this is a hazard-R, Mississippi

 

I suspect that the mold in the walls of motel buildings is not an uncommon problem. My experience is that in such cases Stachybotrys will likely be present because it easily grows on the vinyl wall paper adhesive (the vinyl wall paper serves a barrier for water that moves through external building cladding by thermal forces or through openings in the cladding). Commonly the exterior of motels are clad by brick veneer, stucco, or synthetic stucco. The problem tends to be worse on the weather side of the building which in many cases is the south and/or west sides. 

The owners of the motel were irresponsible in requiring employees to conduct such remediation activities without adequate respiratory protection and protective clothing. Unfortunately such an attitude is much too prevalent in this land. In such cases an employee can request that their state occupational safety and health department to conduct and investigation or one can actually ask for a federal OSHA inspection. Both federal and state agencies are obligated by law to keep the complainants name anonymous. Such complaints are best filed when the remediation activity is being conducted. 

Filling a personal injury lawsuit is a difficult road to travel because it takes years to resolve and such cases are costly in time and money to pursue. Additionally your father’s employer may be shielded from a personal injury lawsuit as a result of workman’s compensation laws in you state. 

            One can always go public but that can take a variety of twists and turns with the possibility that the motel companies could even file suit if you come out directly and accuse them in public. If you do go public it works best if it is conducted in concert with a local television or newspaper investigative report. 

The effects of toxic mold exposures on humans is not well documented. In a generic sense it is quite possible that your father may not experience any serious long-term health effects from such an exposure.

June 3, 2006