Case Studies

2 Fluke Corporation Particle monitoring program during construction at an outpatient cancer care clinic
•
Monitoring airborne parti-
cle numbers. Oversight of
environmental conditions is
a cornerstone of the infec
-
tion control program. Several
times each day, the team
collects airborne particle
counts using the Fluke 983.
Counts are taken from three
to five locations on each
of six floors in the occu
-
pied building. In addition,
air samples are collected
every two weeks using an
Andersen one stage impac
-
tor. These samples are sent
to an analytical lab for viable
fungal culture.
They also record tempera
-
ture and relative humidity,
measure the level of negative
pressure within the contain
-
ment areas and conduct
smoke tests to ensure that
air pressure relationships are
correct. Visual inspections of
the containment walls and
seals provide a crucial quality
check. “We visit the site two
to four times a day to ensure
that the fire and infection
control safety measures are
sound,” says Shiozaki.
Openings in the building
shell must be carefully sealed
against the weather. If build
-
ing materials such as sheet
-
rock get wet, they are quickly
dried or removed.
•
Containing and filtering
airborne particles. Two feet
inside the exterior wall on
the addition side, contrac
-
tors have erected an airtight
temporary sheetrock contain
-
ment wall. The containment
wall helps prevent construc
-
tion contaminants from enter
-
ing the clinic spaces. In addi
-
tion, air in the occupied space
is pressurized, ensuring that
air movement is from clean to
dirty in the event of a leak or
breach in the containment. In
addition, any work performed
within the clinic takes place
in an enclosure maintained
under negative pressure.
The team also requires
contractors to operate air
scrubbers using high effi
-
ciency particle air (HEPA)
filters inside the containment
areas to reduce particulate
concentrations.
A total team approach
The infection control program
requires involvement from
everyone engaged in the
construction project. Planning,
the contractors, environmen
-
tal health and safety, infec
-
tion control are working as a
team to get the project done
safely, on schedule, and within
budget” says Shiozaki.
EH&S worked with infection
control experts from the clinic
to develop the Infection Control
and Construction Policy that
drives job site requirements.
Contractors review the policy,
conduct a risk assessment
using tools from the policy, and
submit an Infection Control and
Construction Memorandum of
Understanding and Agreement
that details the type and sched
-
ule of work, as well as the
controls to be implemented.
EH&S reviews the proposed
controls and may require addi
-
tional measures if necessary
before all members of the team
sign-off on the agreement.
Collecting airborne particle counts in the occupied space using the Fluke 983.
Checking particle counts in an air scrubber’s supply air using
the Fluke 983 Particle Counter.