Why Mould Testing Is So Important

Mould – A Dangerous Invisible Threat

It wasn’t until I saw my 9-month-old daughter lying in hospital that I truly understood the implications of mould on human health and the importance of professional mould testing. I knew it was dangerous, but it wasn’t real for me until I realised that treating mould-related lung issues is extremely tough, and the impact can be so substantial. 

Let’s move back a few steps and put this all into context.

I am a senior occupational hygiene consultant working in my own business. Importantly, I am trained in microbial investigations and indoor environmentalism. In January 2016, my hometown experienced approximately 80mm of rain in two hours. The city flooded, and my house, located at the lower end of a suburban cul-de-sac, had a stream of water running through it. The entire bottom floor was underwater; everything was water-damaged, mostly beyond repair. Like everyone else in the area, I notified my insurance company, and they conducted a “make-safe” remediation. I couldn’t live in the house, so I trusted the work would be done correctly.

Fast forward five months and we are sitting in a hospital, my daughter is not responding to antibiotics, and the doctor raises mould as a possible issue. I immediately flick it off as not possible, then it hits me. What if my house was not remediated appropriately? The following day, we conducted a comprehensive mould testing and indoor air quality assessment (monitoring for airborne mould).

The mould assessment results were unbelievable.

I physically felt ill.

No wonder I had a child in hospital with pneumonia symptoms. A licensed mould remediation company performed the clean-up, but we later discovered they never conducted any independent validation testing to confirm the work’s thoroughness and completeness. Obtaining a post-remediation mould inspection report could have avoided all of this.

Thankfully, my daughter recovered, but I now truly understand the need to be thorough when dealing with flood events and, importantly, challenging the integrity of mould remediation works. This scary but true story led me to guarantee my company would never let another family go through what I did.

Five essential mould testing lessons you should take away with you:

1. Don’t assume it’s not present just because you can’t see mould.
2. Don’t assume everybody views water damage the same way.
3. Ask questions and challenge what you know.
4. Whenever you commission work, ensure you use a reputable mould remediator.
5. Always ensure an independent company verifies that the mould remediation works were conducted appropriately.

Vertex Analytics provides environmental and project management services throughout Geelong, regional Victoria and beyond. Our qualified and professional staff excel in mould identification, mould specialist testing, mould inspections and analysis, risk assessment, and remediation. Our team can design a tailored management plan to remove the mould safely and effectively and provide a permanent solution to correct the source of the problem.