What is the primary goal of an Infection Control Risk Assessment (ICRA) in healthcare construction and renovation projects?

What is the primary goal of an Infection Control Risk Assessment (ICRA) in healthcare construction and renovation projects?

• A. To manage construction budgets.
• B. To identify infection control risks associated with construction/renovation activities and implement administrative, engineering, and procedural controls to prevent exposure to contaminants, pathogens, and dust.
• C. To train staff in general safety only.
• D. To schedule renovations during off-peak times.

Answer: (B)

The main aim of an Infection Control Risk Assessment (ICRA) in healthcare construction and renovation is to identify infection control risks introduced by the work and implement layered controls—administrative, engineering, and procedural—to prevent exposure to dust, contaminants, and pathogens for patients, staff, and visitors. This means assessing how construction activities could spread dust, mold, bacteria, or other hazards into patient care areas, then putting in place containment (like barriers and negative air pressure), air handling and filtration, cleanable work zones, and clear work practices to isolate and reduce risk. It also involves planning administrative measures such as communication with the infection prevention team, scheduling to minimize patient exposure, and ensuring proper cleaning and waste handling. This focus is why it’s not about construction budgeting, broad safety training, or simply choosing off-peak work times. Those aspects matter in their own right, but they don’t address the specific goal of preventing infection risk to patients and staff during construction through a structured assessment and controls.

The main aim of an Infection Control Risk Assessment (ICRA) in healthcare construction and renovation is to identify infection control risks introduced by the work and implement layered controls—administrative, engineering, and procedural—to prevent exposure to dust, contaminants, and pathogens for patients, staff, and visitors. This means assessing how construction activities could spread dust, mold, bacteria, or other hazards into patient care areas, then putting in place containment (like barriers and negative air pressure), air handling and filtration, cleanable work zones, and clear work practices to isolate and reduce risk. It also involves planning administrative measures such as communication with the infection prevention team, scheduling to minimize patient exposure, and ensuring proper cleaning and waste handling.

This focus is why it’s not about construction budgeting, broad safety training, or simply choosing off-peak work times. Those aspects matter in their own right, but they don’t address the specific goal of preventing infection risk to patients and staff during construction through a structured assessment and controls.