RISK ASSESSMENT FOR MOULD
DEPARTMENT: Conservation & Collection Care, The Bodleian Libraries
ASSESSOR(S): Kristie Short-Traxler, Head of Preventive Conservation; Rosemary Dearden, DSO
DATE: 18 May 2014
LOCATION: Mould is endemic throughout library collections and could be found on any of the libraries’ sites
COMMUNICATION: Safety procedure to H&S Committees, Conservators, Project Managers, Facilities
Management, intranet, MOTD, Managers
DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITY OR AREA
Mould, which is a type of fungus, is both a health and safety issue for people as well as for collections. Mould
spores are endemic in organic material such as paper and leather and sporadically, when the conditions are
favourable, mould becomes active. Mould spores are also present in dust and dirt and are easily transferred from
one item to another or from an item to a human. Staff need to be trained to differentiate between inactive mould
which can leave a residue on materials, and active mould which is a risk to human health as well as to collections.
Preventive measures should begin with appropriate PPE and the identification of people who may already suffer
from asthma or respiratory problems. Individuals with respiratory problems may be more susceptible to mould
spores. This is not to say that such health conditions should be grounds not to employ a person to undertake a
task containing mould, but that extra care needs to be taken in which staff may encounter active mould and if they
do so they should follow all risk assessment and safety procedures outlined.
People handling mould infrequently have little risk of developing a sensitivity to it but the higher the frequency and
duration of exposure the higher the chance of a person developing a sensitivity.
Entry into the body usually occurs through inhalation and/or through absorption through the skin or membranes
such as those in the eyes. The specific risks of being exposed to mould spores include:
Allergic reaction
Bronchial asthma
Dermatitis
Headaches
Nausea
Infections
Alveolitis (affects the alveoli in the lungs)
Skin, eye, throat and lung irritation
Infection of open cuts
Flu-like symptoms
EXISTING CONTROLS USED BY CONSERVATION INCLUDE:
Training in how to deal with mould outbreaks
Use of museum type vacuum cleaners with HEPA filters
Use of PPE: The following equipment is available:
 ......................................................................................................FFP 3 disposable respirators
(conservators should have been fitted for a specific masks
 ......................................................................................................Disposable nitrile gloves
 ......................................................................................................Disposable suits or aprons
Eye protection
1
TASK
1.
Fetching and
returning books
HAZARDS
and RISKS
If active mould is
discovered there may be
the risk of inhalation or
absorption of spores
AFFECTED
PERSONS
Bookstack staff
Curators
Library assistants
Book Movers
2.
Books with a mould
problem being
delivered to Readers
Exposure to spores
Bookstack staff
Reading Room
staff
Readers
3.
Bar Coding work
Exposure to spores
Inventory Control
Team
4.
Moving quantities of
books and materials
from one location to
another
Exposure to spores
Book Moving
teams
5.
Book tagging
Exposure to spores
Bodleian Porters,
staff tagging
books
TASK
RISKS
6.
Clearing materials
particularly from the
Bodleian stack
Exposure to spores
7.
Assessing mould
outbreaks
Exposure to spores
AFFECTED
PERSONS
Porters,
Bookstack staff,
C&RD staff,
curators etc
Conservation
staff
EXISTING CONTOLS
Short term exposure
Mould outbreaks
should be reported
to Conservation and
should not be dealt
with by other staff.
Short term exposure
Materials showing
signs of active mould
should not be
delivered to readers
but should be sent to
or reported to
Conservation.
Short term exposure
Need to call
Conservation
Short term exposure
Need to call
Conservation
Porters are already
issued with FFP3
masks for dust.
EXISTING CONTOLS
Risk level
L/M/H
L
L
L
L
M
Risk level
If staff discover a
mould outbreak
whilst clearing areas
of the stack they
should cease working
in the area and call
Conservation
M
Short term exposure.
Wear a face mask
L
FURTHER ACTIONS
Safety procedure to be
issued
Information on
recognition of active
mould to be included.
Instructions to be included
in Safety Procedure.
Risk level
L/M/H
L
L
Ensure instructions are
relayed to Inventory
Control supervisors
Ensure instructions are
relayed to Project
Manager and Team
Leaders
L
Staff should not continue
to work on tagging books
if active mould is present
but refer to Conservation
FURTHER ACTIONS
L
Safety procedure to be
issued. Restrict access to
the area or isolate the
object.
Take measures to dry
materials out eg
ventilation or
dehumidifier.
L
L
Risk leve
2
and nitrile gloves.
8.
9.
Dealing with a
serious mould
outbreak
Dealing with infected
items in the
Conservation studio
Exposure to spores
Conservation
staff
Packaging infected
materials to be sent
to Harwell
L as long
as control
measures
are in
place
Instructions to
Conservation staff on
disposal of PPE and
disposal of cloths.
Use of overalls should
mean clothes are
protected from spores
.
Exposure to spores
Conservation
staff
COSHH assessment
has been updated.
Use vacuum with
HEPA filter.
Where possible
conduct activity in a
fume cupboard or
use natural
ventilation such as
fresh air.
Put waste cotton
wool in fume
cupboard to
evaporate.
L as long
as control
measures
are used
Exposure to spores
Conservation
staff
Wear appropriate
PPE for the scale of
the job
L as long
as control
measures
are used.
Use of IMS solvent to
clean materials.
10.
Risk assessment of
the job to be done.
Long term exposure
may require
additional PPE such
as a disposable suit
and safety glasses.
3