PDC 003V: Perspectives in Environmental Microbiology Consulting Practice

CM Credit Hours: 7 

*Please note: PDCs are at an additional cost, and preregistration is required*
To register, please visit: https://aihaconnect.org/register

Industrial hygiene professionals are often hired to provide third-party evaluations of properties affected by nonregulated issues such as mold, moisture, indoor air quality and Legionella. These assessments may also involve other biohazards, including sewage and rodent infestations.

This professional development course offers an overview of the known health effects associated with mold and moisture exposure. It identifies conditions that pose health risks to occupants, contractors and inspectors.

The course builds on the foundational skills of understanding building construction, introductory biology and the scientific method, and provides guidance on approaching sites with microbial concerns, conducting defensible consulting work and designing reports and remediation protocols that align with current industry standards of care. It also covers the selection and use of tools such as moisture meters, infrared cameras and other onsite technologies.

Presenters will highlight inappropriate terminology, sampling procedures and recommendations that should be avoided. In addition, experts from the Southeast and Pacific Northwest will share case studies illustrating common and region-specific mold, moisture and indoor air quality challenges.

*Note: This PDC will be conducted in Zoom. Please ensure the computer on which you will participate will allow Zoom to access all necessary computer systems including speakers, microphone, and camera.*

• Review how to evaluate client and site concerns and identify risks related to the work
• Overview of accepted industry standards and guidelines, including inappropriate terms and procedures to avoid
• Microbiology of mold, sewage, Legionella and Hantavirus, and conditions that support their survival and growth
• Summary of exposure hazards related to microbes of concern
• Guidance on performing proper field work, collecting defensible site documentation and writing effective reports and remediation protocols
• Overview of mold and moisture testing tools, including selection, use and limitations
• Regional case studies highlighting environmental differences and microbial concerns in the Southeast and Pacific Northwest
 

Upon completion, the participant will be able to:

• Develop a list of questions they can ask a potential client to plan a site-specific mold, moisture, and indoor air quality site evaluation.
• Summarize common potential health risks associated with performing mold, moisture, and indoor air quality work.
• Select appropriate tools and sampling methods for evaluating sites affected by common microbiological contaminants.
• Recognize the limits of different assessment tools and sampling methodologies.
• Develop appropriate sampling plans for evaluating microbial contamination according to applicable guidelines.
• Identify common hidden or complex building conditions that require additional effort to properly evaluate.
• Illustrate observations, sample results and recommendations on floor plans using simple color-coding, polygons, and labeling techniques with common digital tools such as Microsoft Word.
• Predict how regional environments may impact where mold and moisture or Legionella issues develop in a building.
 

Attendees should have a basic understanding of moisture detection tools, such as infrared cameras and moisture meters, and sample collection protocols is beneficial. Familiarity with building construction, ventilation systems, introductory biology and the scientific method is also helpful. 

Attendees will gain knowledge in biological health and safety as it applies to projects involving mold, sewage, Legionella and Hantavirus. The course covers how to perform defensible consulting, understand the limitations of commonly used tools and methods, and recognize regional mold and moisture challenges. 

This professional development course helps industrial hygienists understand how to defensibly assess sites affected by common microbial contaminants, especially in situations where standards and guidelines vary and no applicable regulations exist. It also addresses challenges posed by work often performed by individuals who lack proper qualifications or certification. 

None

Introductory

Biological Hazards

Indoor Air Quality

Aerosol and airborne particulate monitoring

Indoor air quality

Mold

Virtual

Student and Early Career Professional Track

Technician

Case Studies

Live Polling