Creating More Resilient Healthcare Facilities: Steps to Take Today to More Rapidly Prepare for a Winter COVID Surge

Bryan Connors and Brian Baker | January 18, 2021

The winter surge of the COVID-19 pandemic is here. This time there is no epicenter, the spread of the virus has accelerated across the United States. Some healthcare systems just this summer were able to transition from COVID-dedicated spaces back to general patient care areas. Now they are faced with converting back again to respond...

The Need to Understand Infection Risk Sources and Pathways to Mitigate HAIs

Erin Higgins and Bryan Connors | January 12, 2021

Hospital-acquired infections (HAI) remain a significant source of concern for healthcare facilities of all types and sizes, and the physical environment is often a leading source of these infection-causing pathogens. Data from the CDC indicates that each year, about 1 in 25 U.S. hospital patients are diagnosed with at least one infection related to hospital...

Nonpharmaceutical Interventions Work: What Every Industry Can Learn from Summer Camps

David Shore | December 3, 2020

The news may be encouraging that a vaccine is eminent to help control the COVID-19 pandemic, but the truth is that a proven effective medical intervention will still take time to distribute and administer and for immunity to develop. And while physicians and researchers are making progress in treatment and medicines for COVID-19, it remains...

Fieldwork in a COVID world: Lessons from Eversource in protecting customers and contractors

Leo Ryan | November 19, 2020

At the early onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, Eversource, New England’s largest energy provider, made the tough call to suspend all in-person energy-efficiency work for the safety of both customers and contractors. However, the Fortune 500 company recognized it could neither meet the energy reduction goals mandated by regulators in each...

How to Effectively Manage a COVID-19 Positive Case in the Workplace

Nanette Moss and Steve Bloom | September 17, 2020

As essential businesses continue to operate and other businesses prepare to return to work, employers will need to interpret and implement guidance from public health authorities on how to manage coronavirus risks in the workplace. A critical need many employers will face is how to effectively and compassionately deal with employees who have been confirmed...

Research with SARS-CoV-2: Safety Considerations for BSL-2 and BSL-2+ Laboratories

Jessica Healey | August 25, 2020

Research into therapies and vaccines for COVID-19 is exploding across the globe. Laboratories looking to begin research involving SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, must rapidly assess whether their facilities, policies and training are sufficient to protect their employees and the surrounding community. SARS-CoV-2 is a new pathogen and we learn more about it every...

Preparing Schools for a Safe Reopening: Recommendations and HVAC Maintenance and Support

Jack McCarthy and Brian Baker | August 3, 2020

With the 2019-2020 school year cut dramatically short by the COVID-19 pandemic, public and private school systems and higher education institutions across the nation are exploring strategies today to prepare their buildings for a safe return to school this fall. Appropriately operating and maintained HVAC systems will play a critical role in creating a safe...

Practical Tips for Performing Your Hospital’s After Action Evaluation for COVID-19

Kristin Pitocco | July 2, 2020

When your hospital starts to see the crisis period for COVID-19 deescalate, it will be important to thoroughly evaluate your response to the pandemic and document the assessment in an After Action Report (AAR). What worked well? What didn’t? The extreme strain hospital staff has been under for months makes it daunting to think about...

CDC and ASHRAE HVAC Guidance for Commercial Buildings: Beware of creating new problems when modifying systems for COVID-19

Brian Baker | July 1, 2020

Across the country employers and building owners and managers are working to ready their buildings to welcome back workers and visitors after the COVID-19 shutdown. Maintaining health-protective workspaces is key for controlling the spread of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) during the pandemic and to help minimize the “second wave”. Building systems can play...

Six Common Mistakes When Donning and Doffing PPE that Could Lead to COVID-19 Infections

Bryan Connors | June 15, 2020

As of June 12, 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that approximately 75,000 cases of COVID-19 were healthcare providers in the US. Healthcare providers are on the front lines and are at high risk of infection. Personal protective equipment (PPE) is paramount in helping to protect them from infection. Yet, PPE...