Infection Control Procedures During Construction

Infection control, while working in a healthcare environment, is a natural extension of DPR’s value-based safety program that centers on consistent communication, education and training for the entire project team.

According to Health Facilities Management magazine (February 2002), airborne mold and fungi spores, which can be released in dust generated by construction projects, contribute to the deaths of up to 5,000 patients each year. To assist customers in creating the safest possible environments during construction, DPR has been hosting and participating in “Infectious Disease Control” training seminars around the country that include a presentation by Andrew Striefel from the University of Minnesota, a national healthcare facility renovation expert.

“At DPR, we continuously look for opportunities to be better builders and add value on our projects,” said David Valentine of DPR in San Jose. “The original idea was to ask Andrew Striefel to speak to us about infectious disease control as part of our ongoing internal training, and then it evolved into inviting customers and architects to learn alongside our project teams.”

DPR has also developed an Infection Control Risk Assessment (ICRA) tool to help teams proactively identify design and execution issues, as well as offers guidelines to assess areas and determine the level of risk. It also provides a checklist for preparing facilities and details DPR’s infection control precautions implemented both during construction and upon project completion.

Following are some general procedures created by DPR to minimize risk and ensure the safety of patients, staff and individuals on the job:

• Identify and establish an Infection Control Field Team, including a DPR field representative, a Facilities Director and an Infection Control Medical Director or designee.
• Complete an infection control risk assessment prior to project start (this is in addition to the risk assessment performed by the facility).
• Offer project-specific information for subcontractor bids and lead a formal, project-specific training program for subcontractors.
• Perform pre-task planning on a daily basis to identify and remedy potential hazards to workers, patients and staff.
• Provide training to all project engineers, project managers and superintendents on the latest regulations by the American Institute of Architects, Center for Disease Control and Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations.
• Create cost-effective action plans to relocate patients if needed.

“We’ve established a system of checks and balances to do everything possible to help improve hospital initiatives regarding patient care and environment,” added Valentine.