According to federal regulations for the investigation and remediation of asbestos-contaminated areas and methamphetamine laboratories, the investigator and remediation contractor, by law, cannot be the same person or company. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) enacted these laws to protect consumers against this very blatant and obvious conflict of interest.

Unfortunately, similar microbial contamination (mold and bacteria) regulations do not exist at this time.  For the present, the lack of regulation in the ?mold industry? can expose unsuspecting property owners to a remediation contractor who presents himself as a qualified ?mold investigator,? but is primarily interested in being awarded a remediation contract for the project. The question that screams for an answer in this situation is: ?What percentage of the time do you think that the ?mold investigator? (who is also the remediation contractor) will find mold if there is a lucrative remediation contract at the end of the ?investigation? process?? The answer, of course, is quite obvious. And, for the remediation contractor to verify that the project has been successfully concluded, after the remediation process has purportedly been completed, is the ultimate conflict of interest.

The ?mold industry?, while virtually unregulated now, has become a highly skilled, very professional industry. However, there continue to be what the industry calls ?eight-hour mold experts.? These persons attend a one-day class and become so-called experts in microbial investigations and remediation. On the other hand, there are local persons and companies in our industry that are committed to a professional, long-term relationship with our clients.

Our best advice is to demand that your mold investigation contractor and remediation contractor be different persons from different companies. Your ?mold investigator? should be focused on protecting your best interests, not whether it will cost him, as the remediation contractor, additional cash outlay to do again all or a portion of the remediation process. Next, challenge your investigation and remediation contractors to prove that they are certified and experienced, along with confirming the length of time that they have been performing their functions. Finally, verify that your contractors are who they say they are. The widely accepted certifying and membership bodies are the Indoor Air Quality Association, the American Indoor Air Quality Council, the Indoor Environmental Standards Organization and the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification. You can visit their websites and confirm that your contractors are certified professionals and members in good standing.

Are you and your family willing to be exposed to a mold contractor?s ?severe conflict of interest??