COVID-19 Ramps Up Hazards in Healthcare

UV disinfection and masks can create issues for staff, occupants and visitors


The COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact every aspect of healthcare, from information technology and field hospital construction to infection control.

A recent compilation of health technology hazards by ECRI Institute and reported by Health Leaders reflect the challenges many facility managers face on a daily basis. Consider these two examples:

Ultraviolet (UV) disinfection. If not used properly, UV disinfection devices might not deliver a sufficient dosage of UV rays to subdue microorganisms, leaving people at risk of exposure to these microorganisms. Surfaces to be disinfected should be in a direct line of sight, and should first be cleaned of soil, and users must take appropriate safety precautions to protect themselves and others from UV light exposure.

Masks. Imported N95 masks might fail to protect workers from infectious respiratory diseases

In particular, especially some N95 masks imported from China. Testing through December 2020 determined that more than 60 percent of the imported masks tested failed to filter airborne particles as well as claimed.

Click here to read the article.



February 3, 2021


Topic Area: Infection Control


Recent Posts

Alleged Ransomware Administrator Extradited from South Korea

The Phobos ransomware has been used globally to target over 1,000 organizations, including healthcare.


Design Plans Unveiled for New Intermountain St. Vincent Regional Hospital

The new hospital will be a 14-floor, 737,000 square-foot facility in Billings, Montana.


Ground Broken on New Pediatric Health Campus in Dallas

The new campus will replace the existing Children’s Medical Center Dallas.


Pre-Construction Strategies for Successful Facilities Projects

Savvy decisions can help facilities meet long-term goals by creating consistency and eliminating waste.


Geisinger Finds Success with Violence Prevention Efforts

Their safety measures included training staff in de-escalation, active-shooter response drills and equipping 6,000 employees with duress notification badges.


 
 


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.

 
 
 
 

Healthcare Facilities Today membership includes free email newsletters from our facility-industry brands.

Facebook   Twitter   LinkedIn   Posts

Copyright © 2023 TradePress. All rights reserved.