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Our archives has discovered 2 cubic foot boxes of moldy confidential student medical records.  Not only are they water and mold stained, but some of them are stuck together so that it would be difficult or impossible to separate them for scanning or photocopying before disposition. 

My staff asked if we could shred them before disposing of them to protect PII and other confidential information contained in them.  My concern is that shredding moldy documents could get mold onto the shredding mechanism of the shredder and possibly spread it into the air as the paper is being shredded.

Do you have any suggestions for disposal of such confidential material?

Joseph Coen, C. A.

Archivist

R. C. Diocese of Brooklyn

Hi Joseph,

I would not recommend shredding unless done in a fume hood or outside. Yes the mold spores would be put into the air. Otherwise vacuum them first with a HEPA Vacuum such as a Nilfisk.. Be aware that the shredding equipment would then need cleaning.

Thanks,

Cher Schneider/ She/Her(s)

AIC Fellow

Head of Paper Conservation

Office of Cultural Education

New York State Education Department

(518) 408-1925

Tape, just say no!

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Our archives has discovered 2 cubic foot boxes of moldy confidential student medical records.  Not only are they water and mold stained, but some of them are stuck together so that it would be difficult or impossible to separate them for scanning or photocopying before disposition. 

My staff asked if we could shred them before disposing of them to protect PII and other confidential information contained in them.  My concern is that shredding moldy documents could get mold onto the shredding mechanism of the shredder and possibly spread it into the air as the paper is being shredded.

Do you have any suggestions for disposal of such confidential material?

Joseph Coen, C. A.

Archivist

R. C. Diocese of Brooklyn

Our archives has discovered 2 cubic foot boxes of moldy confidential student medical records.  Not only are they water and mold stained, but some of them are stuck together so that it would be difficult or impossible to separate them for scanning or photocopying before disposition. 

My staff asked if we could shred them before disposing of them to protect PII and other confidential information contained in them.  My concern is that shredding moldy documents could get mold onto the shredding mechanism of the shredder and possibly spread it into the air as the paper is being shredded.

Do you have any suggestions for disposal of such confidential material?

Joseph Coen, C. A.

Archivist

R. C. Diocese of Brooklyn

Our archives has discovered 2 cubic foot boxes of moldy confidential student medical records.  Not only are they water and mold stained, but some of them are stuck together so that it would be difficult or impossible to separate them for scanning or photocopying before disposition. 

My staff asked if we could shred them before disposing of them to protect PII and other confidential information contained in them.  My concern is that shredding moldy documents could get mold onto the shredding mechanism of the shredder and possibly spread it into the air as the paper is being shredded.

Do you have any suggestions for disposal of such confidential material?

Joseph Coen, C. A.

Archivist

R. C. Diocese of Brooklyn

Our archives has discovered 2 cubic foot boxes of moldy confidential student medical records.  Not only are they water and mold stained, but some of them are stuck together so that it would be difficult or impossible to separate them for scanning or photocopying before disposition. 

My staff asked if we could shred them before disposing of them to protect PII and other confidential information contained in them.  My concern is that shredding moldy documents could get mold onto the shredding mechanism of the shredder and possibly spread it into the air as the paper is being shredded.

Do you have any suggestions for disposal of such confidential material?

Joseph Coen, C. A.

Archivist

R. C. Diocese of Brooklyn

Our archives has discovered 2 cubic foot boxes of moldy confidential student medical records.  Not only are they water and mold stained, but some of them are stuck together so that it would be difficult or impossible to separate them for scanning or photocopying before disposition. 

My staff asked if we could shred them before disposing of them to protect PII and other confidential information contained in them.  My concern is that shredding moldy documents could get mold onto the shredding mechanism of the shredder and possibly spread it into the air as the paper is being shredded.

Do you have any suggestions for disposal of such confidential material?

Joseph Coen, C. A.

Archivist

R. C. Diocese of Brooklyn