Clean Air In; Viruses and Bacteria Out: Protection By HEPA Filtration

The past several years in healthcare have proven that taking steps to combat bacteria, airborne particles, and viruses is not only critical to meeting regulations and gaining compliance from The Joint Commission’s office but is also a key step in preventing the spread of communicable diseases — both known and unknown. 

In any kind of healthcare setting, new infectious diseases like antibiotic-resistant pathogens create significant challenges to even the most well-equipped hospitals. With limited available information on these diseases, healthcare workers may struggle to diagnose, treat, and prevent them effectively. Even with protective equipment like gloves, masks, and disinfecting products, healthcare centers may find it difficult to keep up with the spread of infection-causing viruses and bacteria with standard measures like hygiene and general cleaning routines alone. 

HEPA-Powered Dust Containment Could be Your Solution

When infection control matters most, dust containment is a powerful way to boost your facility’s infection control strategy against the — often invisible — threats of airborne dust and debris with equipment that is as adaptable as your facility. With dust containment equipment that is flexible, easy to use, and highly efficient, you can confidently keep your facility safe from the dangers of disease-causing airborne bacteria and viruses during regular operations or invasive construction or renovations. 

How Airborne Viruses and Bacteria Impact Healthcare Facilities

Airborne viruses and bacteria can wreak major havoc in your healthcare facility incredibly easily, and all it takes is a slightly compromised HVAC system, rushing through cleaning protocols, or otherwise neglecting standard infection control operations. These are often invisible particles that can easily spread through ventilation systems, for example, putting patients with compromised immune systems at risk without them even knowing about it. 

While PPE and regular cleaning are part of the normal infection control toolkit for healthcare centers and hospitals, they don’t fully address airborne threats. Instead, adding more comprehensive dust containment and air filtration strategies and equipment provides a more complete solution. By targeting airborne contaminants directly — whether in the air or settled on surfaces — healthcare facilities can create safer environments and manage the infection risks to patients and staff.

Why Does Dust Containment Benefit Healthcare Facilities?

In any healthcare setting, dust containment plays an essential role, especially during construction or renovations when there may be a higher volume of dust and debris due to invasive construction activities like jackhammering, opening walls, taking down ceiling tiles, and the list goes on.

With a higher level of dust, there also comes a higher risk of potential infection or spread of disease. You already know that dust isn’t only a cleanliness factor — it can carry bacteria, viruses, and other harmful pathogens that put vulnerable patients at risk. So, if this level of airborne dust is left unmanaged, construction dust can compromise patient health and lead to non-compliance with infection control standards. When infection control is a top priority, combining dust containment with certified filtration creates an extra layer of defense needed to maintain a safe healthcare environment. 

HEPA Dust Containment Carts Powerfully Protect Your Facility

What is a Dust Containment Cart?

Dust containment carts like the HEPACART® Classic are mobile, enclosed units designed to trap dust, debris, and airborne pathogens generated during construction or maintenance activities. With integrated and certified HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filtration, these carts effectively contain contaminants within the work zone, protecting air quality in patient-care areas. For healthcare settings, where even minor dust exposure can impact high-risk patients, dust containment carts are a strategic choice to continually keep the risks of airborne contamination at bay.

They do this through:

• Containment of Dust and Debris: Dust containment carts work to localize dust and debris within designated areas, locking dust and debris away and preventing contamination in sensitive areas of the healthcare facility.
• Professional, Clean Worksite Appearance: Containment carts help keep the worksite tidy and organized, reassuring patients and staff of the facility’s commitment to hygiene and safety.
• Compact, Adaptable Design: With their space-efficient, adaptable construction, these carts fit seamlessly into busy healthcare environments, providing essential protection against airborne viruses and bacteria without disrupting daily operations.

Choosing the Right Dust Containment Cart for Your Facility

Every project has unique requirements, and selecting the right dust containment cart starts with understanding your facility’s needs. High-risk areas, for example, benefit from carts with advanced HEPA filtration to capture even the smallest airborne particles. HEPACART offers a range of models, including the Classic and AutoLift, designed to accommodate various layouts and infection control needs in healthcare facilities.

The HEPACART Advantage: Reliable Dust Containment Solutions

HEPACART products are purpose-built for the healthcare industry, combining safety, ease of use, and reliability. Both the Classic and Auto Lift models are crafted from durable materials that withstand heavy use while maintaining a professional appearance. 

Their benefits include:

• Durability: HEPACART units are long-lasting, with some models in active use since 2006.
• Enhanced Safety: HEPA filtration provides essential defense against airborne pathogens, helping create a safer environment for patients and staff.
• Professional Design: Built for both function and appearance, these carts reflect your facility’s commitment to high standards of infection control.

Easily Integrate Dust Containment Carts into Your Infection Control Strategy with ICRA

The ICRA Matrix: A Perfect Match

The Infection Control Risk Assessment (ICRA) matrix is a critical tool in determining the appropriate level of infection control needed for various construction activities. It outlines specific measures tailored to different risk levels, emphasizing the use of dust containment carts equipped with HEPA filtration and negative air machines. This setup ensures that the spread of airborne viruses, bacteria, and other contaminants is minimized even during construction, particularly in areas where vulnerable patients are housed.

Navigating ICRA Precaution Classes With Effective HEPA Filtration

ICRA categorizes projects based on patient risk groups and types of construction work, from routine maintenance to extensive renovations. Each project’s precaution class — from I to V — guides facility managers and their teams with infection control measures and guidelines to follow. Integrating dust containment carts with HEPA filtration into your infection control strategy, regardless of risk group, significantly enhances air contamination control and compliance, making them essential to any ICRA implementation.

For instance, in a straightforward Class I maintenance project, a dust containment cart can serve as a precautionary tool to limit even minor exposure to airborne particles, protecting against potential disease spread. For a more intensive Class V construction project, one or more dust containment carts will be crucial to maintaining infection control and compliance throughout the project’s duration.

Practical Tips for Integrating Dust Containment Carts into Infection Control

For healthcare facilities, infection control is an all-encompassing priority, and ensuring effective containment during construction or maintenance is essential to keeping patients safe. Integrating dust containment carts into your infection control plans is a straightforward way to protect air quality during these activities. Here’s how to make integration seamless:

• Align Dust Containment with Current Infection Control Protocols: Work directly with your infection control team to make sure dust containment practices fit smoothly into the facility’s existing infection control policies. This includes identifying high-risk areas where carts are most beneficial, based on your facility’s ICRA (Infection Control Risk Assessment) classifications.
• Get Infection Control Teams Involved Early: Bring infection control into the conversation during the project planning phase. Early involvement allows the team to pinpoint where HEPA filtration will be most effective and prevents any last-minute adjustments that can delay the project. Cross-department alignment from the beginning keeps things running smoothly.
• Integrate Dust Containment into the ICRA Matrix: Use the ICRA matrix to guide infection control needs by categorizing the project based on the level of precaution needed. Partner with your infection control team to assign each project an ICRA class and identify the dust containment measures required, ensuring everyone’s on the same page.
• Create a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Dust Management: A clear, step-by-step SOP for using dust containment carts can be invaluable for keeping everyone consistent. This ensures that staff, especially new team members or those working in shifts, follow a uniform process for setting up, using, and maintaining the carts.
• Establish Clear Communication Across Departments: Infection control is a team effort, and having an open line of communication between facility managers, infection control, and construction teams is key. Set up regular check-ins and communication channels so everyone is aware of dust containment practices and can address any issues that come up quickly.
• Conduct a Post-Project Review: Once the project is complete, gather insights from infection control and construction teams to evaluate how well dust containment worked. This feedback loop is an opportunity to recognize successes, identify areas for improvement, and continuously refine infection control strategies.

By incorporating these steps, you’ll create a dust containment process that fits naturally into infection control, helping your facility maintain a safe, compliant environment throughout each project.

6 Ways to Train Your Team for Effective Dust Containment

A well-prepared team is the key to managing dust containment safely and effectively. In a healthcare setting, where infection control is everything, making sure staff are confident with these tools can make all the difference. 

Here’s how to train your team so your facility stays safe and compliant, even during construction and maintenance.

1. Start with the “Why” Behind Dust Containment
   Begin by helping your team understand why dust containment matters. Show how airborne dust isn’t just a nuisance but a real risk, carrying bacteria and viruses that can harm patients. Explain how HEPA filtration plays a critical role in capturing these invisible threats. When staff know the “why,” they’re more engaged and attentive to each step.
2. Give Clear, Practical Setup Instructions
   Equip your team with a simple, step-by-step guide for setting up and using the carts. Cover the basics, like where to position the cart, how to start the HEPA filtration, and how to secure entry points to contain dust. With clear guidance, there’s no guesswork involved—staff can go through each setup with confidence.
3. Emphasize the Importance of Regular Maintenance
   Routine maintenance is essential to keep the filtration working as it should. Show staff how to check filters, inspect seals, and perform cleanings. Regular upkeep doesn’t just prolong the equipment’s life—it keeps patients and staff protected by ensuring the filtration stays at peak efficiency.
4. Prepare for Unexpected Situations
   While rare, malfunctions can happen. Make sure your team knows what to do if there’s an issue with the filtration system. Give them clear steps to safely shut down the cart, document the problem, and report it for quick resolution. Having a plan in place prevents interruptions and keeps infection control measures strong.
5. Offer Hands-On Practice in Real-World Settings
   There’s no substitute for hands-on practice. Run simulations in actual healthcare environments, like patient rooms or tight hallways, to help staff navigate real-world challenges. Practicing in these spaces gives them the confidence to handle obstacles like narrow corridors or working near patients, so they’re ready when it counts.
6. Make Training an Ongoing Effort
   Infection control standards change, and keeping training current is crucial. Schedule quarterly refresher sessions to keep everyone up to speed on new protocols or equipment updates. Ongoing training means your team is always ready, no matter what adjustments or advancements come along.

By building and following a solid training program, you’re empowering your facilities team to use dust containment carts effectively, keeping your facility safe and compliant through every project.

Championing Health and Safety with HEPACART Dust Containment Systems

Choosing HEPACART for your dust containment needs means partnering with a trusted leader in infection control. HEPACART products allow you to powerfully support your facility’s commitment to health and safety, protecting patients, staff, and visitors from airborne bacteria and viruses while maintaining a high level of compliance to continue doing the life-saving work of a modern healthcare facility. 

Ready to enhance your infection control measures? Explore our guide on HEPA vs. ULPA filtration to find the right solution for your facility’s specific needs.