The Children’s Home of Pittsburgh & Lemieux Family Center, West Wing Addition

Case Study: Safety

Safety was crucial on this job because the work site was connected to an occupied pediatric hospital. Our team worked with the client to develop an infection control risk assessment (ICRA) plan to protect patient occupants from noise and dust and prevent disruption of essential services. ICRA trained staff installed and monitored containment barriers between the work area and the occupied building. During heavy demolition and construction, permanent ICRA barriers were used to limit impact on the hospital as much as possible. When work had to be done in the existing hospital, semi-permanent or portable ICRA barriers were used along with plastic material and special tape to seal all openings. Negative air machines were also used to ensure contaminated air would not get into the active hospital space. The containment barriers and negative air machines were checked daily throughout construction.