As health care construction standards evolve, PCL Construction stays ahead of the curve with advanced technology, strict protocols and a culture of continuous improvement.

As a new hospital takes shape on the east edge of Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, steps are already being taken to keep future patients safe — even though they won’t be treated in the facility for several months.

While the importance of cleanliness in health care has been known for centuries, there is now increased awareness of the need to keep it clean while buildinghealth care facilities.

“We really focus on good housekeeping,” says Aidan McKay, project coordinator for PCL Construction. “Keeping the site clean and mitigating dust, dirt and debris within the building is critical.”

In the health care field, and in construction, that’s known as infection prevention and control (IPAC). During construction, the goal of IPAC is to prevent fungal, bacterial and viral material from construction activities from ending up in hospital settings, where they can lead to infections and illnesses.

One of the biggest concerns is legionnaires’ disease — a form of pneumonia caused by inhaling legionella bacteria, which can form in stagnant water left behind on construction sites.

Construction-related dust is another potential hazard. It can spread fungal spores that can lead to mold infections. The fungi species Aspergillus is most commonly associated with hospital-acquired mold infections.

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