Washington D.C.– Carpenters International Training Fund, the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (UBC), together with INSTALL, the flooring industry’s most specified training program, continues to educate the industry in new Infection Control Risk Assessment (ICRA), protocols and procedures. To demonstrate their commitment to educating infection preventionists and the construction industry on the benefits of specifying ICRA protocol during work or renovation in a healthcare environment, a mock hospital exhibit was recently held at the 2019 Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) Conference in Philadelphia, Pa.
Members of the UBC decided to create the demonstration based off its mobile application designed to educate contractors and installers on the importance of following ICRA protocol. Similar to the app, the mock hospital guided attendees through 10 side-by-side stations of installers following ICRA standards and installers who are not, highlighting the benefits of following the proper procedure when in healthcare environments.
“We created an environment with multiple things going wrong in multiple ways,” explained Rick Okraszewski, ICRA director for the Keystone Mountain Lakes Regional Council of Carpenters. “Each demonstration showed what was wrong and how the proper procedure should be carried out. Although the CITF allows members to actually practice with ICRA in
mind, this demonstration showed healthcare professionals all the red flags to look for in their own healthcare facility.”
The mock hospital was a huge success at the show, with nearly half of all conference attendees walking through the simulation. The UBC had 20 volunteers acting in the demonstration. The demonstration is yet another facet of INSTALL, the CITF and UBC’s commitment to educating its members on lifesaving ICRA protocols. This commitment also includes in-depth trainings, certification and continuing education courses.
“INSTALL, the CITF and the UBC understand the importance of educating members on finishing a job the right way the first time,” said John McGrath, executive director of INSTALL. “Whether or not a contractor follows these procedures in a healthcare environment is crucial to the safety of the patients.”
