The expansion of existing healthcare facilities requires planning for the safety of both patients and construction workers, according to an article on Healthcare Construction + Operations website.

Project teams should create layered and comprehensive approaches to identifying safety risks and preventing accidents before they happen, according to the article.

Workers should be trained in patient safety and comfort, use noise-reduction technology, implement separate worker entrances and manage material delivery flow to ensure that construction traffic doesn’t pose any risk to emergency room access.

Projects should also take implement contaminant control procedures to protect building occupants, including the use of portable dust containment units.

Just a reminder that the International Certification Board offers an Infection Control Awareness (ICA) Certification for workers in the HVAC sheet metal industry. This certification focuses on the realities of construction sites within today’s health care facilities. With the Infection Control Awareness and HVAC Fire Life Safety certifications, NEMIC certifications meet leading industry best practices for a complete infection control awareness program.

For more information on best practices for hospital construction projects, read the full article.