Although the construction industry was badly damaged by the Great Recession, there is one area in particular where business is growing; construction and renovation of hospitals. Due to the increased demand for healthcare services by aging baby boomers, hospital construction and renovation projects have increased dramatically in the last ten years and will continue to grow in the future. According to McGraw-Hill Construction Research and Analytics, healthcare construction has increased six percent during 2011, outpacing the overall nonresidential construction market. Although undertaking a hospital renovation project can be very lucrative, there are many important rules and regulations that require full compliance by the contractor. Failure to adhere to these rules could lead to lawsuits or, worse, death in hospital patients. To avoid calamity, there are several extremely important things to know as you begin your renovation.
First and foremost, builders must meticulously contain the dust stirred up by renovation activities. Allowing airborne particles to circulate through the hospital could spell death for sensitive patients. At a hospital renovation job site at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Inc. in Tampa, FL, three children battling leukemia, ages two, five, and nine, died after contracting fungal infections. The pathogenic fungus was released and circulated through the air conditioning systems from the construction activities on the floor below. To avoid tragic scenarios like this, builders must contain dust particles as much as possible.
Second, when accessing electrical panels and ceiling wiring, subcontractors must use negative air pressure mobile containment units to fully contain the dust. Mobile Containment Units are small, portable enclosures that allow builders to access roof and wall panels without allowing particles to be generated by sanding, drilling, etc. to circulate through the air. Some companies allow contractors to rent mobile containment units, but for large-scale projects, investing in one or two will save time and money in the long run. For more details on mobile containment, contact your local surface protection providers.
Another important aspect of dust control for major contractors on the renovation project is to prevent subcontractors from spreading dust. Large-scale renovations typically require tens or hundreds of workers, and since meticulously preventing the spread of dust is so critical, all of these workers must go to great lengths to avoid contamination. Employee education is a great place to start, along with requiring workers to wear personal protection. To help you stay compliant, there are several products that can make a big difference; sticky mats, shoe covers and coveralls. Require subcontractors to use shoe covers and use new pairs as often as needed. Install an adhesive mat at each doorway. Many sticky mats are inexpensive and available in packs of four with thirty pages in each mat, so be sure to replace the sticky sheets often.
A third important point is to know the fire resistance requirements of your protection materials. When installing Zipwall™ systems to control dust or protect a newly installed concrete floor, use products that are certified fire resistant to avoid violating regulations. Large 4′ x 8′ fire rated corrugated plastic sheets are also ideal for protecting wall paneling, flooring, doors and more. Coverguard™ is another excellent choice for a fire resistant floor protection product that meets hospital renovation requirements.
These are just a few recommendations to prevent dust and protect valuable fixtures during hospital renovation projects. For more information, contact Pat Mullen at Builders Site Protection and check the OSHA website for easy-to-follow guidelines to understand and fully comply with the regulations.