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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
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:
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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.