If you find mold, a leak, or a persistent musty smell at work, report it to your supervisor or building maintenance right away, and follow up in writing. NIOSH advises workers to report concerns immediately, see a doctor if they have symptoms, and ask the doctor whether they should be kept away from the affected area. OSHA has no mold-specific standard, and there are no federal limits for airborne mold. But under the Occupational Safety and Health Act's general duty clause, employers must provide a workplace free from recognized hazards that are causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm. If your employer doesn't respond, you can file a complaint with OSHA or request a free evaluation from NIOSH. Federal law protects workers from retaliation for raising safety concerns, but retaliation complaints must be filed within 30 days.
This guide gives general information, not legal advice. Rules differ by state, and states with OSHA-approved state plans run their own programs.
What To Do First
- Report it. OSHA's workers' rights booklet says notifying your supervisor or employer is often the best and fastest way to get a hazard corrected.
- Put it in writing. Send an email or written note describing where you saw the mold or water damage, when, and any symptoms you or coworkers have. Include photos if taking them is allowed at your workplace. Keep copies.
- See a doctor if you have symptoms. The CDC says mold can cause a stuffy nose, sore throat, coughing or wheezing, burning eyes, or skin rash. People with asthma, mold allergies, weakened immune systems, or chronic lung disease face higher risks. Tell the doctor about the exposure and ask whether you should be restricted from the area.
- Don't try to clean up large areas yourself unless it's part of your job and you've been trained and equipped. Disturbing mold can release spores.
- Ask what's being done. NIOSH advises management to inform workers about the steps being taken to assess and fix the problem.
For more on how symptoms relate to ongoing exposure, see what counts as long-term mold exposure.
What Employers Should Do
Federal agencies have laid out what a good response looks like. NIOSH tells employers and building owners to:
- Respond when workers report health concerns.
- Document when and where mold or water damage is found and how severe it is.
- Record what was done to fix the underlying problem.
- Tell workers what steps are being taken.
OSHA's guide to indoor air quality in commercial and institutional buildings says the most effective way to prevent health problems is to find and eliminate sources of persistent dampness. It recommends cleaning and drying damp or wet building materials within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold growth, and training workers on how to report air quality concerns.
NIOSH's alert on damp buildings also recommends that employers encourage workers with persistent or worsening respiratory symptoms to see a healthcare provider, and follow a provider's recommendations to relocate workers diagnosed with building-related respiratory disease.
Testing isn't required. OSHA's mold bulletin says that in most cases, sampling is unnecessary when mold is visible. NIOSH says finding and promptly correcting dampness is more effective at preventing health problems than air sampling. If an employer relies on an air test that shows "normal" levels while a leak goes unfixed, that's a reason to push for repairs.
Who should do the cleanup. OSHA's bulletin describes four levels of mold cleanup:
- Up to 10 square feet (Level I) and 10 to 30 square feet (Level II): regular building maintenance staff can do the work if they're trained.
- 30 to 100 square feet (Level III) and more than 100 square feet (Level IV): industrial hygienists or other environmental health and safety professionals with mold experience should be consulted. Larger jobs need containment.
OSHA recommends removing infants, people recovering from recent surgery, people with suppressed immune systems, and people with chronic inflammatory lung diseases from spaces next to the work area. The EPA's guidance for commercial buildings also advises communicating with occupants, naming a contact person, and considering relocation for people with asthma, allergies, or weakened immune systems.
If Your Job Involves Cleaning Up Mold
The CDC recommends at least a NIOSH-approved N95 respirator, gloves, and goggles for mold cleanup. OSHA's bulletin says respirators must be used in accordance with its respiratory protection standard. Under that standard, when an employer requires respirators, workers must be medically evaluated before use, and tight-fitting respirators must be fit-tested before first use and at least once a year. The EPA also notes that respirator users must be trained, medically cleared, and fit-tested.
Ask for training and equipment before starting. If you have asthma, allergies, lung disease, or a weakened immune system, tell your employer. The CDC says people in these groups shouldn't do mold cleanup.
If Your Employer Doesn't Fix It
File a complaint with OSHA. OSHA's workers' rights booklet lists these ways to file:
- Online through OSHA's website. Online complaints are often handled by phone or fax rather than an on-site inspection.
- By mail or fax, using OSHA's complaint form.
- By phone at 1-800-321-OSHA (6742).
OSHA says written, signed complaints about serious hazards get priority and are more likely to lead to an on-site inspection. You can ask OSHA not to tell your employer who filed the complaint. By law, OSHA may not include your name on the copy of the complaint it gives your employer. In states with OSHA-approved state plans, complaints go to the state program.
Describe the problem specifically: where the water damage and mold are, how long it's been there, how many people work nearby, what symptoms people have, and what you've already reported and when.
Request a NIOSH Health Hazard Evaluation. NIOSH offers a free Health Hazard Evaluation of workplace health hazards. Employees, union officials, or employers can request one, and employees can ask that their names not be revealed. NIOSH doesn't enforce standards or issue fines, but its investigators can evaluate the building and make recommendations. Check the request form for signature requirements.
Protection From Retaliation
Section 11(c) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act prohibits employers from firing or otherwise retaliating against workers for filing safety complaints. OSHA's whistleblower fact sheet says protected activity includes talking to or writing to management about safety or health issues, as well as filing a complaint with OSHA.
The deadline is short. A retaliation complaint must be filed within 30 days after the retaliatory action, such as a firing, demotion, or schedule cut. You can file in person, by phone at 1-800-321-OSHA, in writing, or online. OSHA says no particular form is required, and complaints can be filed in any language.
If Mold at Work Is Affecting Your Health
Ask about accommodations. If a mold-related condition such as asthma qualifies as a disability, the Americans with Disabilities Act may require an employer to make reasonable accommodations. The EEOC explains that the ADA applies to employers with 15 or more employees and covers physical or mental impairments that substantially limit a major life activity. Employers only have to accommodate disabilities they know about, so tell your employer and provide medical documentation if asked.
The Job Accommodation Network suggests options such as:
- Moving the employee to another location
- Telework until the mold has been removed
- Air purification or dehumidifiers
- Extra breaks, a flexible schedule, or temporary leave
If you believe your employer discriminated against you or refused a reasonable accommodation, the EEOC says a charge generally must be filed within 180 days, or up to 300 days in some states.
Workers' compensation. OSHA notes that workers' compensation systems differ by state but may cover medical care for work-related illness. Showing that you were exposed isn't always enough. In one federal workers' compensation decision, the board accepted that a worker was exposed to mold but found the medical evidence didn't establish that the exposure caused her symptoms. Keep medical records that connect your diagnosis to the workplace, and check your state's reporting deadlines.
For more on which health problems mold is known to cause, see what mold illness is and isn't.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there an OSHA standard for mold?
No. OSHA says there are no federal standards for airborne concentrations of mold or mold spores. Employers still have a general duty to keep the workplace free from recognized serious hazards, and OSHA's other standards, such as respiratory protection, apply to cleanup work.
Is my employer required to test for mold?
Not under federal rules. NIOSH doesn't recommend routine air sampling, and OSHA and the EPA say sampling is usually unnecessary when mold is visible. What matters is fixing the moisture and removing the mold properly.
Can I be fired for reporting mold at work?
Federal law prohibits retaliation against workers who raise safety and health concerns with their employer or OSHA. If you're punished for reporting, file a retaliation complaint with OSHA within 30 days.
Can I refuse to work in a moldy area?
Refusing to work can put your job at risk, and whether it's legally protected depends on the specific circumstances. Before refusing, report the problem in writing, ask to be moved to another area, get a doctor's note if you have symptoms, and contact OSHA or an employment attorney for advice.
Should I clean up mold at my desk myself?
A small spot on a hard surface is usually a simple cleanup, but report it first so the moisture source gets fixed. Don't clean it yourself if you have asthma, allergies, lung disease, or a weakened immune system. Larger areas, or mold on ceiling tiles, carpet, or walls, should be handled by trained staff.
Who inspects a moldy workplace?
Your employer may hire an industrial hygienist or mold assessor. OSHA can inspect in response to a complaint, and NIOSH can conduct a free Health Hazard Evaluation. For how to choose a qualified assessor, see who to call for a mold inspection.
Sources
- NIOSH: Action steps for dampness and mold, About dampness and mold, and NIOSH Alert 2013-102 — what workers and employers should do, testing, and relocation.
- OSHA: A Brief Guide to Mold in the Workplace (SHIB 03-10-10) — no federal airborne standards, cleanup levels, respirators, sampling, and occupant relocation.
- OSHA: Indoor Air Quality in Commercial and Institutional Buildings (OSHA 3430) — eliminating dampness, drying materials, reporting, and workers' compensation.
- OSHA: Workers' Rights (OSHA 3021) and Whistleblower Protection fact sheet (OSHA 3812) — filing complaints, confidentiality, and retaliation complaints.
- 29 U.S.C. § 654, § 657, and § 660 — the general duty clause, complaint confidentiality, and the 30-day retaliation deadline.
- 29 C.F.R. § 1910.134 — OSHA respiratory protection requirements.
- NIOSH Health Hazard Evaluations and how to request one — free workplace evaluations.
- EPA: Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings, Chapter 3 and Appendix C — respirator requirements and communicating with occupants.
- CDC: Mold and Mold Clean-Up — health effects, higher-risk groups, and protective equipment.
- EEOC: The ADA, your employment rights as an individual with a disability and Job Accommodation Network: Breaking the mold with workplace accommodations — coverage, filing deadlines, and accommodation ideas.
- Employees' Compensation Appeals Board decision 13-1490 (2013) — proving that mold exposure caused a work-related illness.
