Focus: Environmental Services

Lower-profile hospital workers worry about their COVID-19 risk

Many hospitals are struggling to obtain protective equipment


Lower-profile hospital workers — from skilled therapists and translators for non-English speakers to room cleaners and meal servers — are worried about their risk for coronavirus exposure, according to an article on the Public Integrity website.

Workers in California, Illinois and Washington state told the Center for Public Integrity they fear inadequate access to personal protective equipment. Many hospitals are struggling to obtain the equipment and rationing what they do have.

There’s also less support for low-paid hospital workers who are least able to afford to self-quarantine if exposed to the virus, according tod Catherine Murrell, deputy communications director for Healthcare Illinois and Indiana, a healthcare workers’ union affiliated with the Service Employees International Union.

Federal legislation doesn’t guarantee that all healthcare workers, and workers at companies with more than 500 and fewer than 50 employees, have to be paid if put on two-weeks quarantine.

Read the article.

 



April 13, 2020


Topic Area: Environmental Services


Recent Posts

Strategies to Eradicate Biofilm Containing C. Auris

Understanding the speed and risks of contamination after room disinfection should inform managers’ environmental cleaning recommendations.


Man Attacks Nurses, Police Officer at Jefferson Hospital

The man allegedly attacked the staff members before being restrained and sedated.


Freeman Health System Breaks Ground on New Full-Service Hospital

The construction project will be completed in three phases, over a 24- to 34-month time period.


All Eyes on Gen Z as They Enter the Workforce

As the labor gap widens in the facilities industry, not many managers trust Gen Z to fill that hole.


Cleveland Clinic Starts Fundraising Effort for New Hospital in West Palm Beach

Plans for the new hospital include approximately 150 inpatient beds, an emergency department, a medical office building and an ambulatory surgery center.


 
 


FREE Newsletter Signup Form

News & Updates | Webcast Alerts
Building Technologies | & More!

 
 
 


All fields are required. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.