June 23, 2003—An amendment supported by the Des Plaines, IL-based American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) ensured that all accredited certified safety, health, and environmental professionals can be represented on a ‘Joint Task Force on Mold in Indoor Environments’ created by a joint resolution of the Illinois legislature that passed June 1. Certified Industrial Hygienists (CIHs) and licensed environmental health practitioners were the only safety and health professionals included on the panel in previous versions of the resolution.
“Consumers are better served now that accredited certified safety, health and environmental professionals were included on this task force,” ASSE President Mark D. Hansen, PE, CSP, said. “Mold expertise is not limited to industrial hygiene or environmental health practitioners. There are Certified Safety Professionals (CSPs) and others who have as much if not more experience and expertise in mold analysis and remediation. They can greatly assist in helping Illinois find the best ways to deal with the issue of mold.”
The Illinois legislature’s ‘Joint Task Force on Mold in Indoor Environments’ resolution is charged with examining the mold issue in Illinois and making recommendations to the General Assembly pertaining to the regulation of mold in indoor environments. After quarterly meetings, the task force will summarize its findings and recommendations in a report to the General Assembly by June 1, 2004.
The task force is charged with examining whether the presence of mold in indoor environments pose health risks; how mold in schools, places of employment, and homes have been shown to adversely affect the health of Illinois’ children and senior citizens; the adverse health effects of exposure to molds on the general public and key groups; and, the resulting illness and increased medical costs.
In addition to the widest representation of certified safety, health and environmental professionals assured by the amendment, the task force will include local health authorities, school districts, realtors, abatement contractors, the insurance industry and building owner organizations as well as legislative and state administration representatives.
