Environmental services has role in construction

A healthcare facility's environmental services (ES) partment can play a key role in a construction project by helping to isolate work areas from the rest of the hospital, according to an article on the Health Facilities Management website.

ES technicians must remain flexible to constant changes within the facility.  They must keep the perimeters of working areas clean, watch for leaks and often enter the isolated areas to remove trash or prepare the area when opening to patients.

As materials and equipment are transported throughout the facility, they can track microscopic debris, which requires cleaning and scrubbing despite not being part of the original daily work plan, the article said.

ES technicians should have access to their infection control awareness training materials at all times to help them recognize potential dangers and know how to properly treat the items or isolate them from patients.

Read the article.