Mold-Help.org - The world's largest TOXIC MOLD website
  • Mold Basics
    • Mold Overview
    • Mold Symptoms
    • Mold Types & Images
    • Fungal Infections
  • Resources and Tools
    • Home Care
    • Health & Diet
    • Tips for Parents
    • Coping with Loss
    • Private Research
    • Legal Suggestions
    • Mold in the Bible
  • Mold News
    • Current Headlines
    • “Sick Buildings”
    • The Environment
    • Construction Industry
    • Govt. & Politics
    • The Workplace
    • Landlords & Tenants
    • Insurance Companies
    • Schools & Institutions
    • Strange Fungal Tales
    • Personal Mold Stories
    • Additional Articles
  • Agencies & Experts
  • About Mold-Help
    • Mold-Help News
  • Search
  • Menu Menu
  • Twitter
  • Facebook

Contractors Must Minimize Hazards To Hospital Patients

October 3, 2004/in Construction Industry /by Contributor

by Wes Armstead

Every year, nearly 88,000 deaths occur in the United States from ‘nosocomial  infections – illnesses acquired while in a hospital. To help remedy this situation, stringent Infection Control Risk Assessment (ICRA) codes went into effect this past January, which hospitals must meet for accreditation.

The ICRA is designed to assess the risk to patients resulting from construction and associated noise, disruptions, dust, and other potential for ‘contamination.’

Most of the ICRA requirements are directed at construction efforts. But they also apply to non-construction contractors – the design engineers, architects, painters, cable repairmen or information system workers. One tip of a ceiling tile has the potential to release hosts of aspergillus spores or fungal agents hiding in the space above and expose countless patients and employees throughout the hospital.

An ICRA plan must be developed and put in place for anyone who enters a space that may harbor contaminants. And contractors need to be aware of ICRA codes whenever they undertake work in a health-care facility.

Survey the Scope

To create an ICRA compliance plan, start by listing types of work and types of contractors that work at the facility. Anyone who makes modifications of any kind, performs maintenance, does renovation, interrupts essential services, or even opens a sealed place (like a wall or floor) for a cursory inspection counts as a possible ICRA violator.

This includes consultants, architects, interior designers, communications firms, indoor gardeners, painters, electricians, mechanical engineers and TV cable crews. Review activities that workers do and the impact they could have on ICRA compliance, including:

Airborne contaminants. ICRA standards must be considered each time a ceiling or floor tile is moved, settled dust is disrupted or repairs are done under sinks. Think about isolating the area to avoid contamination.

Noise. Noise and vibration disrupt patients’ peace of mind, which can have a negative impact on their immune systems. Communicating with patients and staff members helps a great deal. Explain exactly what’s going on, the anticipated duration of disturbance, and long-term benefits.

Odors. Patients can become upset by even a seemingly inoffensive construction smell. Tell them what is causing the smell and how long the odor might last.

Traffic interruption. Putting Visqueen barriers around maintenance areas protects patients and employees, but it also disrupts normal traffic flow in the corridor. Ladders and work carts have the same effect. A good fix is to schedule contractors’ activities during periods when traffic is slow.

Protection from Infractions

Hospitals can protect themselves from liability by putting ICRA compliance into contract documents. Talk about ICRA at weekly construction meetings and at briefings with consultants and contractors. Make it a standing agenda item so everybody understands the importance of compliance and gives it top-of-mind attention.

Enforce controls, reminding contractors that their livelihood at your facility could hinge on their ability to understand and follow the ICRA program. Make your engineering staff members and other department managers your eyes and ears for monitoring compliance.

Contractors’ impact on the hospital’s ability to control infections needs to be emphasized. Responsible contractors will not only honor all of your ICRA requirements, but should go one step further.

Ideally, they would have their own ICRA standards in place to protect all health-care facility clients. Their professional expertise will allow for maximum infection risk.

Contributor
Author: Contributor

Tags: mold, mold and contractors, apergillus, ICRA
Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on Reddit
  • Share by Mail
https://www.mold-help.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/moldhelp-654x300.png 0 0 Contributor https://www.mold-help.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/moldhelp-654x300.png Contributor2004-10-03 21:02:262019-03-29 20:20:04Contractors Must Minimize Hazards To Hospital Patients
You might also like
Mold-Help logo Sex Genes of Infectious Fungus Closely Resemble Human Y Chromosome
Mold-Help logo Tests On Apartment Mold Show Wide Growth Variety
Mold-Help logo Mother Shocked Upon Revolting Discovery in Son's Food
Mold-Help logo Family Says Toxic Mold Is in Their Home
Microscopic view of Aspergillus MoldImage by WikimediaImages from Pixabay Aspergillus Mold Problems Persist at Seattle Children's Hospital
Mold-Help logo Mold Destroys Nation's History

Mold News

  • Current Headlines
  • "Sick Buildings"
  • The Environment
  • Construction Industry
  • Govt. & Politics
  • The Workplace
  • Landlords & Tenants
  • Insurance Companies
  • Schools & Institutions
  • Personal Mold Stories
  • Strange Fungal Tales
  • Additional Articles

Latest Posts

  • Michigan Family Finds Toxic Mold Inside Home
  • California Winter Storms: Water Damage and Mold Exposure Concerns in California
  • Office and Commercial Buildings at Risk for Mold after COVID-19 Closings
  • COVID-19 Symptoms May Include Loss of Taste and Smell
  • New Mold Detox Information on the Horizon
  • COVID-19 Courses of Action
  • Stachybotrys
  • Simple and Easy Ways to Prevent the Coronavirus
  • Your Air Conditioning Unit Helps Eliminate Mold
  • Construction Workers Are Learning to Control Dust and Debris

Search Our Site:

Need Help with Mold?

Are you being affected by mold or other mycotoxins in your environment? Our team and community has over 15 years experience and can provide guidance. You can reach us by submitting your contact or through our Facebook page.

Have a Story to Share?

We're looking for stories and input to expand our database and to add to the personal experiences we've received from the thousands of victims over the last 15. If mold has impacted your life, please take the time to share your story. Your information is confidential and will only be shared with your permission.

Seeking Mold Experts

Are you an expert in the treatment of mold-affected health illnesses, or a provider of services to victims of mycotoxin exposure? Submit your information for listing consideration in our Agencies & Experts resource database.

Additional Resources

  • Contact Us
  • Sitemap
  • Glossary of Terms
  • Survivor Resources
  • General Inquiries
  • Legal Disclaimer

© Copyright - Mold-Help Organization
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Mold Basics
  • Resources and Tools
  • Agencies & Experts
  • Mold News
  • About Mold-Help
Scroll to top

This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies.

OKLearn more

Cookie and Privacy Settings



How we use cookies

We may request cookies to be set on your device. We use cookies to let us know when you visit our websites, how you interact with us, to enrich your user experience, and to customize your relationship with our website.

Click on the different category headings to find out more. You can also change some of your preferences. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer.

Essential Website Cookies

These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features.

Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refusing them will have impact how our site functions. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site.

We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain.

We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. You can check these in your browser security settings.

Other external services

We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps, and external Video providers. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. Changes will take effect once you reload the page.

Google Webfont Settings:

Google Map Settings:

Google reCaptcha Settings:

Vimeo and Youtube video embeds:

Accept settingsHide notification only