What Every Electrical Contractor Should Know About Dust Containment

As an electrical contractor, there is a seemingly endless list of things for you to worry about. From scheduling jobs to worker safety to invoicing, there are many details to attend to every step of the way. But whether you generally work in a healthcare setting or booked your first job in a clean data room, dust containment should never fall off your radar.

Know What is Dust Containment and Why it Matters

Dust containment, which may alternatively be known as dust control, dust abatement, or infection control, is a broad term that refers to precautions that must be taken to keep construction, renovation, and maintenance projects from allowing dust, debris, and fungus to spread.

It is much more than a matter of keeping things clean. Dust containment protocols keep patients and workers safe. Electrical work is often done above ceilings or inside of walls where dangerous pathogens can live. Without containment procedures in place, these pathogens can cause serious problems.

Know Your Liability

In a healthcare environment where dust abatement represents an imminent safety risk, it is obvious why proper dust containment is essential. Without it, you could be putting ill and injured immunocompromised people in danger. But it is not just healthcare facilities where dust containment is important. Even in home renovations, for instance, dust that is not properly contained can cause damage to other areas of the house that you may be liable for. Keeping abreast of your insurance coverage is absolutely essential to any contractor. Many contract insurance companies have expanded their environmental hazard exclusions and you may not be covered if your containment system fails. Be sure to check your liability before starting any project where dust containment is paramount.

Know How Proper Dust Containment Can Mean Better Business

As a contractor, your reputation is key to getting new jobs through referrals and reviews. When you know the specifics of dust abatement, it can be much easier to get hired by facilities where containment is a top concern. Take the time to learn about containment regulations as well as the different options that are available for streamlining dust containment and your business will reap the benefits.

Know Which Dust Containment Factors to Consider

Every new project comes with its own set of containment issues. Each time you are assessing a new electrical contract, be sure to consider the following dust containment factors:

• Specific Risks: Every project is different. Never assume that because you were able to implement a certain containment process at one job site that you will be able to repeat the exact steps for a new job. Take the time to assess the individual risks of each project, including a thorough accounting of who and what will be in the immediate vicinity of your workspace. Other workers, patients, and facility employees can represent risks to your containment plan.
  
  
• Communication: By the same token, be sure that you communicate about your containment concerns to any other contractors working on the project. You do not want to be liable for another contractor who does not have the same level of knowledge or attention to detail that you and your team does.
  
  
• Scheduling: In busy facilities, sometimes working after hours can make containment protocols easier to implement as well as reduce risks to you, your employees, and the facility. Take that into consideration when making a plan for your project.

If you want to learn more about the Art of Containment, be sure to explore the HEPACART blog and our other available resources. We are committed to making dust containment easier and more effective for electrical contractors as well as other construction and maintenance professionals.

Check out our eBook "Ceiling Access Regulations for Healthcare Contractors for more information on how you can ensure patient safety as a contractor.