Hospital Dust Containment is Essential for Healthy Medical Facilities

  • Author Kevin Schmiterson
  • Published July 8, 2012
  • Word count 404

Hospitals and other medical centers need to take measures to avoid the release of contaminants into the air. Repair and maintenance workers take actions that could release these particulates. It is important for these types of activities to be carefully handled to avoid that problem. In fact, regulations are strict in this area of maintenance and repair in medical facilities. Workers need to know how to perform the maintenance without contaminating the area around.

What are the essentials of hospital dust containment?

  1. Areas must be isolated during maintenance or construction. Any area where maintenance or new construction is underway must be kept separate from the active areas of the hospital or other medical facility. Repairs in small areas can use a containment cart built for that type of work. Construction may require using an anteroom setup to keep contaminants in the construction area and away from the hospital area.

  2. For hospital dust containment, negative air pressure is essential. Negative air pressure happens when you introduce a machine that draws air out at a rate that is higher than the amount of air coming into a space. This negative air flow helps to pull contaminants out with the air flow. This helps to direct the contaminants into an air scrubber or out into a space for release. This is the step that some forget.

  3. Air scrubbing is another part of hospital dust containment. An air scrubber takes air and draws it through a series of filtration systems. These systems grab particulates and keep them secured while releasing the clean air out. An air scrubber is essential for keeping the released air free of contaminants. This promotes the clean air of the surrounding hospital spaces. Without an air scrubber, the particulates would eject out into areas where patients are located.

  4. A clean job site is a basic of hospital dust containment. When dealing with any area, a maintenance worker has to take constant steps to keep the work area clean. This helps to prevent particulates from getting onto the shoes of those walking by. This routine helps to promote a cleaner space in the hospital or other medical facility.

In order to maintain a healthy hospital environment, you need to take proactive hospital dust containment measures all the time. There is no situation where it is not necessary for a clean medical environment. All workers need to know how to handle this situation at all times.