Bacteria and viruses have ruled our lives lately.First there was the Ebola epidemic.Then came the measles outbreak.Most recently, we’ve seen an escalating number of deadly hospital-acquired infections among patients exposed to CRE (carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae)...

Everyone loves being greeted by that “new” smell when you walk into a recently built or renovated facility. Ah yes, there’s nothing quite like the sweet scent of…formaldehyde? Not a lot of people know that the characteristic smell of new products, furnishings and other materials...

In the past few years The Joint Commission (TJC) has placed new emphasis on the importance of building management systems in improving patient safety, and has started to incorporate these systems into their standards. As the Joint Commission becomes more involved in regulating these...

We often think of a hospital as one of the safest places to be–but what about for hospital employees? Healthcare professionals face an increased risk of injury and illness every day while at work. Fortunately, OSHA (the Occupational Health and Safety Administration) recognized this...

A significant danger in the workplace today is welding fumes. Welding exposure is so common that up to two percent of the world’s population in industrialized nations have been affected in some way. Exposure to welding fumes can have debilitating effects on the human body for many...

OSHA has revised its Hazardous Communication Standard (HCS) to help protect workers and to ensure that American businesses can remain competitive in the global marketplace.Why did the Hazard Communication Standard change?Previous to the change, OSHA’s Hazard Communication standard...

OSHA set a December 1, 2013 deadline for employers to train employees on the new Globally Harmonized System (GHS) system requirements, but if you haven’t already, that doesn’t mean it’s too late. Here’s what you need to know about the changes, and a guide to training your employees...

Architects and designers have transformed hospitals into welcoming environments designed to promote health and healing. But when it comes to great hospital design, it’s important to remember that it’s often the details that make all the difference. When it comes to patient health,...

Architects and designers have transformed hospitals into welcoming environments designed to promote health and healing. But when it comes to great hospital design, it’s important to remember that it’s often the details that make all the difference. When it comes to patient health,...

Patients’ health and safety is at the forefront of healthcare goals, but oftentimes risks for hospital-acquired infections are not addressed until construction on a facility has already started, or an infection has broken out. Infection control actually starts in the design of a...