CleanHealth Environmental Blog

A White Paper by the American Academy of Healthcare Interior Designers:  There are numerous surfaces in healthcare settings that are cleaned and disinfected multiple times a day to prevent the spread of harmful pathogens. It is noteworthy that flooring is a surface often addressed only as needed, or at the most once a day, despite the fact that it is a surface which almost everyone comes into contact. The American Academy of Healthcare Interior Designers (AAHID) published a ...

Effective March 21, 2022, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a significant change to the Lead Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) Rule. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has withdrawn two Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) that directly affect property management companies (PMCs) and their responsibilities under this regulation. The rule now requires that any hired contractors, as well as Property/Facility Managers, be trained, certified, and ...

Across the world , there are 136 million workers in the healthcare industry who are entitled to a safe workplace in which protection of health and risk mitigation is a top priority. The World Health Organization (WHO) has recognized this challenge and thereby released its recommendations for improving occupational health and safety measures to protect health workers worldwide. Per WHO, the health and safety programs recommended are fundamental for well-functioning and ...

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of respiratory protection when developing and incorporating infection prevention procedures into daily tasks for employees. Hospitals and larger healthcare facilities have had prior experience applying OSHA’s Respiratory Protection Standard (29 CFR 1910.134) while addressing previously encountered airborne biological hazards, such as Tuberculosis (TB) and measles. Many smaller healthcare facilities, such as long-term care ...

Healthcare environments are sensitive settings where the planning and performance of renovation and construction projects require additional preparation and consideration. Contractors and in-house facilities must be aware of evolving infection control guidelines that dictate work practices and limit the risk of patient exposure. Infection Control Risk Assessments are an essential component of the planning process. Of note, in October 2021, the American Society of Healthcare ...

The number of Assisted Living Communities have been growing in the United States with approximately 28,000 facilities serving 800,000 residents nationwide. The varying nature of operating these Assisted Living Communities presents different challenges for each facility. Facilities differ across the country on building infrastructure, staffing, policies, and procedures. How an assisted living facility is rated on patient safety and performance improvements can now be assessed ...

The Healthcare COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard has now been in effect for over two months. Enforcement by federal and state compliance safety and health officers is underway. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has announced plans to target onsite inspections in hospitals, assisted living complexes, nursing homes, and other facilities treating patients with COVID-19.   

Throughout the nation, mold and water damage events have increased with warmer temperatures and more frequent storms. The unintended introduction of significant quantities of water into an indoor space or conditions where relative humidity or moisture content of building material is greater than normal can promote mold growth and drastically affect an indoor environment. Public and private facilities can prepare for such events by creating operational policies and procedures ...

The Delta variant is the current genetic variant of coronavirus predominating the nation and proving to be more contagious, with a faster onset of symptoms, than other strains of the SARS-CoV-2. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Delta variant currently accounts for more than 80% of new cases in the United States. Health experts say it is not unusual for a new strain of a virus to be more contagious because it often becomes much more ...

At the same time that OSHA released an emergency temporary standard (ETS) to protect healthcare workers from COVID-19; it also released updated guidance for general industries, entitled “Protecting Workers: Guidance on Mitigating and Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 in the Workplace.” This guidance aligns with current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines and scientific research. It recommends that employers encourage COVID-19 vaccinations, provide ...