Re: Witholding mold sampling results/ was Whistleblower Protection....

[Guest guest]

The withholding and concealment of mold sampling results placing occupants

at risk is an ongoing issue affecting many experiencing illness due to

exposure. This occurs where often the responsibility for the mold problem lay

with

others such as with landlords, HOAs, contractors and employers.

I had brought this very issue up in regard to residential occupants on the

discussion group for IEQ where a number of environmental consultants

participated in this thread. It is my belief that the common practice of

withholding

of mold sampling results should be made illegal. This is especially so

since it involves the health and safety of individuals who may be dependent

upon

disclosure of those very test results in order to seek out appropriate

medical care and or take specific precautions to protect themselves and or

their

children or others as well. As a healthcare practitioner I do not know of any

other situation where the withholding of test results that routinely places

individuals at risk is not only tolerated, but accepted practice as it is for

those that work in the IAQ industry and or their employer clients. All too

often sick occupants are told by the consultants client/employers that

nothing was found in the testing that would be affecting the occupant's health,

all

the while the test results demonstrate something entirely different.

The environmental consultant's response to this was to state they have an

obligation to their client-employer who is the rightful owner of the test

results. (Two consultants stated that they make it known upfront that they will

not withhold results from the occupant.) However, what I stated and hold to was

that it is the ethical duty of the environmental consultant in the

preservation of the health and safety of the occupant that their obligation lay

with

the occupant and not to their client-employer who is attempting to conceal a

dangerous situation to avoid liability. Pressure must be placed upon those

responsible to the occupants. The laws must be changed so that residents can

make better informed decisions to help protect themselves, their children's

health and safety and all those exposed to elevated levels of mold in their

environments. Disclosure of mold sampling results to the occupant should be a

right not a privilege fought over in a court of law.

Bobbins, RN, L.Ac, QME

In a message dated 7/7/2007 1:38:16 PM Pacific Daylight Time,

Gingersnap1964@... writes:

my workplace withheld a report from mold consultants. I only came across it

later from a union rep.The report told all the molds found and how dangerous

it

was. They hid the report.

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[Guest guest]

What do you think about IAQs taking repeated tests and then releasing the

ones (only) that their clients are comfortable with them releasing and then

saying that those are 'the' results? (Witholding the more positive ones,for

example)

Say, ten tests might have been taken and only the last two or three

released, the ones taken early in the morning on a still day with the

windows open.. because the client prefers it that way..

[Guest guest]

I have taken multiple tests to document the progress of a containment

during remediation; it is really only useful information for the

remediation contractor that wants to see how well his equipment and

techs are performing.

At the end of the day, though, it is the final tests that matter. The

one thing I will add to that though, is this: You must compare apples

to apples. Multiple tests should be taken the same way, the same

place, the same volume of air. Otherwise it is not a fair comparison

and I would question the validity of the testing.

--- In , LiveSimply <quackadillian@...>

wrote:

>

> What do you think about IAQs taking repeated tests and then

releasing the

> ones (only) that their clients are comfortable with them releasing

and then

> saying that those are 'the' results? (Witholding the more positive

ones,for

> example)

>