Training is the key to improving infection control in health-care facilities

Viruses, bacteria and fungi can be fatal to someone who is already weakened by age, disease or another condition, which is why it is critical that hospitals protect patients from these hazards. However, hospital construction, renovation and maintenance activities can introduce infection into hospitals if the proper precautions are not taken. Standards have been developed to avoid these dangers, and Canada is a leader in this area, revolutionizing work practices in and around health-care facilities.

CSA Z317.13

CSA Z317.13 – Infection Control during Construction, Renovation and Maintenance of Health-Care Facilities was first published in 2003, and is periodically reviewed and updated. The standard includes elements that are critical to the health-care field, including:

• A strong and detailed quality management section;
• Clear detail on the management of water systems during construction;
• A clause to provide for minor short-term work above the ceilings;
• Precautions to take when construction is going on in the vicinity of the health-care facility;
• In-depth requirements for new construction;
• Guidance on the sizing of HEPA filtered construction air units; and
• Numerous checklists and examples.

Training is key

This standard is just one contributing factor to health-care facility safety. The other piece is ensuring that those involved in the construction and/or renovation of health-care facilities can effectively navigate Z317.13 and understand its requirements. This can be accomplished through training that highlights the unique challenges that these types of construction and renovation projects present. The goal is to ensure that projects are carried out as efficiently as possible right from the start so that those in health-care facilities are kept safe.

CSA Group can help

CSA Group offers comprehensive training solutions to help those involved in health-care facility construction and renovation projects understand and apply critical safety measures. These courses work together to give a solid foundation of knowledge about infection control during construction, renovation and maintenance of health-care facilities, and educate participants on how to effectively implement infection control practices and programs during these activities.

The courses are currently available for registration on www.shop.csa.ca.

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