Environmental, health & safety (EH&S)
Patient Safety & Staff Safety focused support programs and resources, to identify & mitigate safety hazards in patient care areas, and staff work areas. Ensure staff are knowledgeable about the use of engineering controls, safe work practice activities, and personal protective equipment to prevent workplace exposures or injuries.
Onsite Support Services
- Chemical Exposure Assessment & Monitoring (Cal-OSHA)
- Indoor Air Quality Assessment & Monitoring
- Noise Exposure Assessment & Monitoring
- Laser Safety Program Assessment & Audit
- Lighting Assessment & Measurement (indoor & outdoor)
- Support Managing a Cal-OSHA Citation
Program Development / Review / Implementation
- Injury & Illness Prevention Program (IIPP)
- Hazard Communication Program and CA Proposition 65 compliance
- Respiratory Protection Programg
- Laser Safety Program Assessment & Audit
- Laser Safety Program Development
- Lock-out / Tag-out; Confined Space; Multi-employer Worksites
Environment of care compliance programs
Support and resources for the development, implementation, and improvement of all the Environment of Care (EC) programs, Management Plans, Performance Measures, Staff Training, and Data Collection activities to evaluate and improve the program’s effectiveness.
Onsite Support Services
- Review Compliance of Fire Life Safety Maintenance & Testing Documentation
- Review Compliance of Utility Systems & Medical Equipment Maintenance & Testing Documentation
- Conduct Hazardous Chemical Inventory, Facility-wide
- Conduct Annual Security Program Assessment (AB-508, Cal-OSHA 3342)
- Conduct “Mock” EOC Compliance Surveys & Document Review
- Serve as an Observer during Planned Emergency Drills. Prepare “After Action” Report
- Conduct Facility-wide Life Safety Survey to prepare the Statement of Conditions (SOC)
- Compliance Support with Identifying & Logging Temperature, Relative Humidity, and Pressure Relationships in Critical Areas. (ASHRAE-170)
Program Development / Review / Implementation
- EOC Management Plans, and Selecting Effective Performance Measures
- EOC Annual Report, and selecting Performance Improvement Project
- EOC Committee and Effective Compliance Dashboard
- Safety & Security Risk Assessments
- Hazard Vulnerability Analysis (HVA)
- Prepare effective department-specific Environmental Rounds survey questions, performance measures, and managing survey data to identify trends and items7processes for improvement
- Prepare Annual EOC Compliance Calendar for Tasks, Activities & Drills.
Fire life safety
Support programs and resources to ensure a fire safe environment for patient care services, fire detection and suppression systems inspected and tested on compliant intervals, and properly trained staff to effectively response to a FLS emergency.
Onsite Support Services
- Conduct Facility-wide Fire Life Safety (FLS) Survey to prepare the Statement of Conditions (SOC).
- Prepare Written Report Identifying any Deficiencies, and Update FLS Floor Plans.
- Coordinate the “Annual” Fire door inspection & testing activities.
- Facilitate Conducting Effective & Educational Fire Drills.
- Update the Hospital´s “Fire Manual” and submit to LA City Fire Department for Review and annual approval.
Program Development / Review / Implementation
- Support the preparation of an Annual Fire Life Safety Maintenance & Testing Compliance Calendar
- Review / Update The Interim Life Safety Measure (ILSM) PROCESS and associated Training Documentation
- Review Compliance PROCESS of managing Fire Life Safety Equipment, maintenance & testing documentation.
- Conduct Portable Fire Extinguisher Staff Training.
Hazardous materials
Support programs and resources to ensure hazardous materials and waste are safely managed throughout the hospital environment for patient, staff & visitor safety. Onsite services to perform facility-wide chemical inventory and gather associated Safety Data Sheets (SDS).
Onsite Support Services
- Conduct Facility-Wide Hazardous Chemical Inventory
- Conduct Facility-Wide Medical Waste & Hazardous Waste Management Compliance Audit
- Conduct Emergency Eyewash/Shower Risk Assessment
- Gather Information to Prepare and Submit the Facility's CUPA Documentation
- Gather Information to Prepare and Submit the Facility’s CERS Information (Cal-EPA)
- Gather Information to Prepare and submit the Facility’s UST Maintenance Fee (Annual UST Fuel Use Tax). (BOE)
- Conduct Hazardous Materials Health & Safety Compliance Audit. Evaluate PPE’s, Spill Response Equipment, and Staff Training.
- Gather Information to Submit: CA-DTSC Documentation and Fees: Hazardous Waste Generator & Fee Return; Verification & Manifest Fee.
- Support Managing an AQMD/SCAQMD Notice of Violation.
Program Development / Review / Implementation
- Review / Update Organization’s Cal-OSHA Hazard Communication program
- Review / Update Chemical Spill Response Program Equipment and Staff Training.
- Conduct Staff Compliance Training for using Cidex and Administer a Competency Exam.
- Prepare Computer-based On-line Access Program to Access & Download the Organization’s SDS Rapidly, Organized by Facility & Department. (www.SDSexplorer.com)
Emergency management
Support programs and resources to develop an effective and comprehensive “Emergency Operations Plan” (EOP) to ensure the continuity of patient care services and the Organization’s Mission. Risks, hazards and vulnerabilities to patient, staff and visitor safety are identified, and corresponding mitigation, preparedness and response plans and activities are developed for “all hazards” and “high probability” events. Ensure staff receive effective and regular training to implement these plans in a timely and effective manner on all shifts.
Onsite Support Services
- Perform HICS (Hospital Incident Command System) Training
- Perform NIMS Training for Staff in preparation for their exams (FEMA)
- Conduct HERT (Hospital Emergency Response Training) for Mass Casualty Incidents (MCI)
- Facilitate “Table-Top” Emergency Drills, post drill “hot wash” and preparation of the “after action report”.
- Facilitate a meeting of the Organization´s Stakeholders to discuss and prepare the annual Hazard Vulnerability Analysis (HVA)
Program Development / Review / Implementation
- Review / Update Organization’s Emergency Operations Plan (EOP)
Security
Support programs and resources to help the organization prevent unauthorized access to the hospital and security sensitive areas-- utilizing physical barriers, electronic access controls & monitoring systems, and manned security officers at “fixed posts” and “rovers” in a cost effective and balanced program.
Onsite Support Services
- Conduct Annual Security Program Assessment (AB-508, Cal-OSHA 3342). Review security incident trends and effectiveness of security officer´s deployment at “fixed posts” and “rovers” along with security officer staffing levels.
- Evaluate Organization’s Workplace Violence Prevention Program. (Cal-OSHA) · MOAB & CPI Staff Training for Managing Assaultive Behavior.
- Conduct Assessment of Environmental Hazardous & Suicide Risk Assessment in Emergency
Program Development / Review / Implementation
- Review / Update the Organization’s Workplace Violence Prevention Program (Cal-OSHA section 3342)
- Review / Update Organization’s Security Program Policies & Procedures, and Officer´s training curriculum.
Industrial hygiene services
Investigation of Hospital-Associated Infections (HAI), indoor air quality complaints, and environmental pathogens using analytical methods with an in-depth knowledge of hospital mechanical systems, operations, patient care activities and vulnerabilities.
Onsite Support Services
- Conduct Indoor Air Quality (IEQ) Investigation and Sampling for Evironmental Pathogens.
- Conduct environmental HAI (Hospital Associated Infections) Investigation and Analytical Sampling (strictly confidential).
- Conduct Mold/Fungi Investigation and Sampling in response to staff complaint, or following a water intrusion event.
- Conduct Staff Chemical Exposure Monitoring (Cal-OSHA).
- Conduct USP-797 Environmental Compliance Monitoring Activities.
- Ventilation Assessment to Meet Pressure Relationships in Critical Areas. (ASHRAE-170).
- Conduct Noise Assessment and Monitoring.
- Conduct Water Quality Sampling-- Sinks & Showers, Ice Machines, Cooling Towers, and Decorative Fountains.
- Gather Water Samples to meet OSHPD"s permit requirements for Cal Title 22 "metals" sampling, and water quality verification, following work on the hospital's domestic water system piping.
- Conduct Laser Safety Program Assessment.
- Conduct EVS Cleaning Effectiveness Assessment using ATP-swabs and related methods.
- Provide 3rd Party professional/knowledgeable oversight of the Remediation Contractor, following a Water Intrusion Event in a patient care or sensitive Healthcare Environment.
Program Development / Review / Implementation
- Review / Update the Organization’s Policies & Procedures PROCESS for Managing Water Intrusion Events in the Hospital.
- Review / Update the Organization’s Policies & Procedures PROCESS for responding to Hospital Associated Infections (HAI).
- Prepare Compliance Program for ASHRAE-188-2015 Legionellosis: Risk Management for Building Water Systems.
Construction
Support programs and resources to facilitate safe construction programs in patient care areas using effective PROCESSES such as; ICRA (Infection Control Risk Assessment), PCRA (Pre-Construction Risk Assessment) and ILSM (Interim Life Safety Measures). Provide 3rd Party inspection & verification of construction environmental barriers, and worksite safety.
Onsite Support Services
- Conduct 3rd Party Inspection, Verification & Effectiveness of Construction Environmental Barriers in Healthcare Environments.
- Facilitate Preparation of ICRA (Infection Control Risk Assessment) or PCRA (Pre-Construction Risk Assessment) in Healthcare Environments.
- Conduct 3rd Party Health & Safety compliance audit of construction sites/areas on campus.
- Conduct Environmental Clearance Sampling of construction or remediated area, prior to occupancy by Patients or Staff.
Program Development / Review / Implementation
- · Review / Update Organization’s Construction Policies & Procedures and PROCESSES Associated with Interim Life Safety Measures (ILSM), Infection Control Risk Assessment (ICRA), PCRA (Pre-Construction Risk Assessment), Environmental Barrier Management, and the Management of Penetration in Fire/Smoke Walls in Healthcare Environments.
- · Review / Update the Organization's Construction Policies & Procedures, and PROCESS for Managing the safe transportation of Construction debris, equipment, and materials throughout the hospital.
Regulatory compliance support
Support team with extensive experience and knowledge to support the Organization’s plans and activities to prepare and meet a vast array of healthcare regulatory compliance, licensing and accreditation requirements, along with guidance in resolving citations or violations.
Regulatory Compliance Support Services in EH&S & Environment of Care
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
- The Joint Commission (TJC)
- Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program (HFAP)
- Det Norske Veritas Healthcare (DNV)
- College of American Pathologists (CAP)
- Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC)
- California Department of industrial Relations (Cal-OSHA)
- California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal-EPA)
- California Department Toxic Substances & Control (DTSC)
- Air Quality Management District (AQMD, SCAQMD)
- California Board of Equalization (BOE)
- Consolidated Unified Program Agency (CUPA)
- California Environmental Reporting System (CERS)
- Office of Statewide Health Planning & Development (OSHPD), CCR Title 24
- California Department Public Health (CDPH) & Local Health Departments
- State Fire Marshal and Local Fire Departments
- Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
- Department of Transportation (DOT)
- Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)