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by HEPACART on Jul 09, 2019
In order to protect patients in a hospital or healthcare setting, it’s incredibly important to have equipment and tools for dust containment. Dust, which can contain dead skin cells, viruses and pathogens, lead particles, mold and spores, and asbestos — among other things — is dangerous if inhaled or ingested by patients.
While the dangers of dust are especially hazardous to patients who already have weakened immune systems, it can be unsafe for healthcare staff and workers as well, particularly if infectious particles are released into regular hospital air. In order to combat the dangers of dust, a dust containment unit is needed. And, when it comes to the type of unit you choose, there are specific benefits to having a mobile dust containment unit.
1. Hospital Renovation
Hospital and healthcare facility renovation projects are usually the first things that we think of when considering tasks and worksites that would benefit from having a mobile dust containment unit. That’s because it’s these types of projects that typically create the most dust and debris in a healthcare facility.
A dust containment cart will stop the spread of particles from the renovation site to patient areas, and, if used with a HEPA filter or negative air machine, can also help clean the air as well as contain the dust.
A mobile dust containment unit is especially helpful in hospital renovation because it can be moved to where it is needed the most depending on where the renovation is taking place, rather than remaining stationary at one location. It also can be reused for different renovation projects rather than being discarded once renovation is completed.
2. Daily Maintenance
While hospital renovation is where our minds might first go to as a project that requires a dust containment unit, dust containment shouldn’t be thought of as for big projects only. Mobile dust containment units, because of their portability and ease of assembly, can be used for any type of project, including day-to-day maintenance tasks.
In fact, it’s often in these smaller aspects of healthcare facility maintenance that infections and pathogens can spread, because we aren’t as prepared as we should be to contain the dust. Even during smaller projects, patient and worker safety should always be a priority.
3. Electrical Work
Dust containment is also helpful during electrical work. While we might not think that electrical work creates much dust, the opposite in fact is often true. There is often a collection of dust on top of or inside light fixtures and electrical wiring panels, as well as long cables. And, if you aren’t prepared to contain the dust that can be disturbed during electrical work, you can accidentally release dangerous particles into the hospital air system.
4. Ceiling Access Projects
Most electrical work takes place in the ceiling nowadays, along with other cabling and renovation projects. While ceiling access projects are important to healthcare facility renovation and maintenance, it’s also one of the most heavily regulated types of hospital work due to the amount of dust and pathogens that reside within ceilings and can fall if disturbed.
A mobile dust containment unit can help in these situations by being moved to where the ceiling access project is taking place and be fitted into ceiling panels for each type of job, whether it be regular ceiling maintenance, renovation, duct work, or electrical projects.
5. Data Server Rooms
In an increasingly digital world, it’s important to keep data storage and patient records that are stored in a server safe and protected from both cyber attacks and outside factors like dust. Dust can get into servers and data storage processors and cause problems. Processors need to run at fast speeds and disperse heat, and dust buildup can disrupt these processes.
A dust containment unit can help keep the dust away from valuable technology servers and processors and stop dust from building up and causing major errors or, even worse, an entire system shutdown.
The Benefits of Mobile Units
There are a number of projects that can benefit from a dust containment unit, not only for increased productivity and efficiency in healthcare facility renovation and maintenance work but also for infection control and patient safety. A dust containment unit separates unclean air from patient areas, which is essential to maintaining safety standards.
While stationary units are sometimes necessary for things like patient isolation and new construction, a mobile dust containment unit can be a better investment and sustainability option for the projects listed above. Because the unit is mobile, it can be used for multiple projects and in virtually any space in the healthcare facility.
HEPACART® brand dust containment units, such as the DUSTBUGGY® Mobile Containment Cart, are easy to set up and take down, adding another layer of efficiency to dust containment. In addition, HEPACART® products are incredibly durable, and last for years. Our DUSTBUGGY® Mobile Containment Carts first started being sold in 2006, and are still going strong today.
To find which product is going to be right for you, click the link below to take our project assessment quiz.
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