If you own and manage a building, one of your many responsibilities is to exercise reasonable care to enhance the safety of the premises. One of the most important aspects of this responsibility is to exercise reasonable care to minimize the threat of dangerous mold on the property.
Should certain types of mold become an issue in your building, it could be extremely costly to repair and could risk the health of your tenants. However, there are many ways to safeguard your property, prevent mold and protect your interests.
The risks of mold
Like other environmental factors, mold may affect people differently. For some, it could cause allergy-like symptoms, such as itchy eyes, sneezing and a runny nose. But for others, especially those with compromised immune systems such as HIV/AIDS or cystic fibrosis, mold could result in lung inflammation or asthma-like symptoms.
Controlling moisture is the best preventative measure
Excess moisture is the largest contributor to the growth of mold, so you must watch for potential problems and address them as soon as possible. To prevent mold, you would be wise to:
- Perform regular building inspections
- Install systems to maintain low indoor levels of humidity
- Vent appliances, like dryers, to the outdoors
- Fix leaking pipes
- Watch for condensation
- Provide drainage away from the building’s foundation
By taking preventative action, you show you safeguard your building and show your tenants that you take their health seriously. However, mold is virtually everywhere. Even if you take every possible step to keep your building safe, you could still face allegations of negligence due to suspected mold allergies. In defending such allegations, it will be important to demonstrate the reasonable steps taken to address any potential problems.
The best defense
In any legal action, your actions as building owner will matter. If you have put in the time and effort to make your property safe, it will most likely have a big impact on any litigation. In the end, working hard to prevent property problems is always the smart legal move.
The MacDonald Law Group, LLC has a history of successful defense in mold cases and other toxic torts. Contact us today to find out how we can help you and your business stay protected against mold liability suits.