The Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC), a division of ISSA, has introduced its GBAC STAR facility accreditation program on cleaning, disinfection, and infectious disease prevention – the industry’s only outbreak prevention, response, and recovery accreditation.
GBAC STAR establishes requirements to assist facilities with work practices, protocols, procedures, and systems to control risks associated with infectious agents, such as SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19.
GBAC Executive Director, Patricia Olinger, said: “GBAC STAR is the gold standard of safe facilities, providing third-party validation that ensures facilities implement strict protocols for biorisk situations. Accreditation empowers facility owners and managers to assure workers, customers, and key stakeholders that they have proven systems in place to deliver clean and healthy environments that are safe for business.”
Ideal for facilities like offices, restaurants, hotels, airports, convention centers, stadiums, and other public venues of all sizes, the GBAC STAR program assesses a facility’s preparedness and provides staff with training for biorisk prevention and containment. The program also establishes a framework for communication and awareness best practices.
The performance-based GBAC STAR program enables facilities to create and maintain an effective cleaning, disinfection, and infectious disease prevention program. To achieve GBAC STAR accreditation, facilities must demonstrate compliance with the program’s 20 elements, which range from standard operating procedures and risk assessment strategies to personal protective equipment and emergency preparedness and response measures.
Facilities will apply online and provide all documentation and supporting evidence with their application. The GBAC STAR Accreditation Council determines the status of all GBAC STAR facilities.
ISSA Executive Director, John Barrett, said: “In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, the GBAC STAR accreditation program is exactly what facilities need to confidently reopen and keep staff, customers, and communities safe. The way the world views cleaning has changed overnight. To effectively recover from this crisis and prepare for the next, it’s essential that businesses take the necessary steps – and we’re thrilled to have a stable of top organisations that have already committed to the program.”
Several leading organisations have already committed to achieving GBAC STAR accreditation, including Hyatt Hotels & Resorts, Hard Rock Stadium in Miami (home to the NFL’s Miami Dolphins) and Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority – Las Vegas Convention Center.
Additionally, prominent industry organisations are among the first to commit their support for GBAC STAR, including the International Association of Venue Managers, the International Facility Management Association, Global Market Development Center, Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association, Informa Markets, the International Association of Exhibitions and Events and more.
