Page 14 - SFHN SEPTEMBER 2021

HEALTHCARE REAL ESTATE, CONSTRUCTION, DESIGN & FACILITY PLANNING

Construction Design Requirements for Healthcare Facilities

During COVID-19

Construction for healthcare airflow in HVAC sys- • contaminated workers COVID-19. With the appropriate hand
facilities must be well-thought tems, to capture and If an ICRA (infection control risk assess- hygiene practices, it’s not necessary to
out and planned, and then exe- eliminate airborne path - ment) is created by a healthcare facility, wear gloves to protect from COVID-19
cuted per the plan. With the ogens, prior to construction work, construction- infection. When possible, workers should
advent of COVID-19, it’s even • Isolating/pressuriz- related requirements need to be specified wash their hands regularly with soap and
more critical to follow strict ing specific areas so that and included into the contract documents water for at least 20 seconds or use an
guidelines when it comes to con- untreated air doesn’t so they can be reviewed, prepared for, and alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at
struction within an existing mix with clean/treated implemented during construction. least 60% alcohol.
healthcare facility. air. Facility protocols outlined by the Key times to clean hands include:
One way to ensure that con- Health Facilities Man - Facility Guidelines Institute include the • Before and after work shifts and breaks
struction design adheres to the age ment magazine out- following considerations before starting a • After blowing your nose, coughing, or
strict policies and needs of a lines strict protocols for healthcare construction project: sneezing
healthcare environment is the BY DEBORAH DEIOMA construction design • Patient placement and relocation • After using the restroom
use of an infection control risk DANTO, MBA, LEED requirements that in - plans • Before eating and before and after
assessment (ICRA) at the begin- AP , CGC cludes addressing: • Protection from airborne contami- preparing food
ning of a project. These types of • the number, loca- nants and pathogens (protective meas- • After touching objects handled by
assessments started over 50 years tion, and type of air- ures, such as barriers) coworkers, such as tools and equipment
ago and have become even more important borne infection isolation and protective • Demolition • Before putting on and after taking off
to deal with the challenges of COVID-19. environment rooms needed • Emergencies (e.g., planned and work gloves
COVID-19 is most easily transmitted via • special HVAC needs unplanned utility outages and evacua- • After putting on, touching, or remov-
air droplets, as well as on surfaces. This • water and plumbing systems tion). ing cloth face coverings
means a wide range of precautions and Other health risks to be addressed dur- • Phasing or temporary provisions for • Before putting eye or face protection
steps need to be taken when it comes to ing construction include: construction or modification of HVAC (safety glasses, goggles, etc.)
construction within existing healthcare • dust and debris (compromising the air and water systems Finally, it’s important that construction
facility. quality) • Training for staff, visitors, and con- workers don’t touch their eyes, nose, or
Interventions to prevent disease trans- • the circulation of airborne microbes or struction personnel mouth at work, if possible. And that they
mission may include: pathogen through the ventilation system • Construction worker procedures and use tissues when coughing, sneezing, or
• Barriers, such as plexiglass dividers, at • water contamination protocols such as: touching their face, with used tissues
building entry points and at various com- • waste reservoirs - construction worker routes thrown in the trash and hands washed or
munication points with patients. • dustproof barriers - elevator use (personnel and materials) sanitized.
• Air filtration systems that address the • the transportation of waste - cleanup and debris In sum, it’s critical that a wide variety of
- bathroom and food facility use mitigating considerations and procedures
CDC Guidelines for the construction take place while doing any construction
industry also include the following proto- within a healthcare facility, especially
cols: while COVID-19 and its variants are being
Wearing cloth face coverings in areas – transmitted in the local area.
such as healthcare facilities - where there is
significant community-based transmission Have a question about construction in the
of COVID-19. healthcare industry?
Cleaning and disinfecting frequently Call (954) 229-2006, email
touched surfaces, such as shared tools, debbie@dantobuilders.com or visit
machines, vehicles and other equipment, www.dantobuilders.com.
as well as handrails, ladders, doorknobs,
and portable toilets. Cleaning and disin- Sources:
https://www.hfmmagazine.com/articles/3867-
fecting should occur within shifts as well
infection-control-during-construction
as: https://www.ashe.org/infectionprevention
• at the beginning and end of every shift https://www.hfmmagazine.com/articles/3611-heal-
• after anyone uses a vehicle, tools, or a ing-environments-construction-and-engineering-
roles-in-infection-prevention
workstation
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/com-
Practicing proper hand hygiene is an munity/organizations/construction-workers.html
important infection control measure for

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