Installation employees learned ways to prevent mold in the workplace during a Mold Education Training session in Wood Theater Tuesday.

The event, hosted by the Fort Belvoir Safety Office, featured discussions led by subject matter experts from the Directorate of Public Works and Fort Belvoir Community Hospital.

The experts touched on various topics such as defining what mold is, ways to treat it and symptoms community members may experience if they have a negative reaction to mold.

"Mold is everywhere, both inside and outside of your building," said Vijay Ivatury, DPW asbestos and lead program manager. "There's no practical way to eliminate all of it. The best solution is to control moisture."

Mold is a collection of hundreds or even thousands of organisms without chlorophyll that grow in colonies releasing enzymes and reproducing spores, according to Dr. Larry Dlugosz, FBCH Department of Public Health Industrial Hygiene chief. Some of these enzymes and spores are nutritious, others provoke allergic reactions and others are toxic. Mold travels into buildings through leaks and cracks in walls and underneath doorways. The spores begin to grow by landing on moist locations within the home or office. Locations include a wet wall, ceiling tile that's wet from pipe leaks and wet carpet. Once a moisture spot is located, the mold grows and multiplies.

Human reaction to mold varies by individual as some people within an office won't experience any effects from contacting mold and others may exhibit allergic reactions, according to Lt. Col. Christopher Medellin, FBCH Occupational Health Department chief.

Symptoms include a running nose, headaches, sneezing, chronic coughing, wheezing and itchy skin. People who are experiencing these symptoms or experiencing other reactions related to the work place should contact the Occupational Health Department. Specialists will examine patients and determine the source behind their illness.

"Not every allergy symptom is mold related," said Medellin, speaking of the fact that the origins behind allergy symptoms could be from a source such as seasonal allergies to pollen. "If people have any belief that their workplace is causing allergies they should contact Occupational Health."

Before health problems become an issue however, Medellin and the other mold education subject matter experts agreed that mold prevention is the best method of helping employees. One step toward mold prevention is controlling humidity within a room. High humidity can lead to condensation and water accumulation. Materials also take longer to dry out when the air is humid. This condensation and water accumulation leads to mold growth. Humidity levels above 60 percent can also lead to mold growth. Ivatury said it's best to keep humidity between 30 percent and 60 percent. Employees can use air conditioning units, dehumidifiers and exhaust fans to help control humidity.

Another step toward preventing mold is ensuring the facility has no leaks and that employees clean and dry spills on the carpet. Taking these measures prevents moisture from building up in the office, which deters mold from finding a place to grow.

"If you take these things away from it, you can prevent mold," Dlugosz said.

If mold is discovered within a facility, employees should contact their supervisor who should contact their facility manager. The facility manager will treat the affected area. DPW should be notified if the impacted area is larger than 10 square feet, according to Ivatury.

"If people are complaining about mold, take it seriously and investigate the issue," Dlugosz said.

The Safety Office hosted the Mold Education Training course to give employees insight on how to best protect themselves from mold problems in the workplace.

Bridget Smalls, Occupational Health and Safety specialist, hopes participants travel back to their offices and educate their co-workers.

"The sooner mold issues are fixed the better," Smalls said. "Hopefully, people will go back to their offices with knowledge of how they can help prevent mold growth."

Call (703) 806-0061 to reach DPW.

Call (571) 231-2003 to reach the Occupational Health Department.