The Toronto Congress Centre (TCC) has announced its commitment to the health and safety of its staff and guests by becoming the first venue in Canada to pursue the Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC) STAR accreditation for outbreak prevention, response and recovery. GBAC STAR is the gold standard of prepared facilities and provides third-party validation that facilities have rigorous protocols in place for thorough response to biorisk situations.
GBAC STAR is an industry accreditation focused on ensuring a clean, safe and healthy environment in public and commercial facilities of all sizes. The program outlines best practices, protocols and procedures to control risk factors associated with infectious disease, including SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19. The program is administered by GBAC, a division of ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association.
TCC’s decision to pursue GBAC STAR accreditation aligns with the introduction of C.H.A.S.E — Customer Health and Safety Ensured, a program launched by TCC in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. The C.H.A.S.E program was created with the latest science surrounding sanitation practices and preventative technology and addresses every aspect of the facility and its risk prevention methods, from attendee and exhibitor screening, staffing, logistics, and shipping and receiving to food, sanitization, and guest and community safety. Full details of the program can be found on TCC’s website.
“As society and economies suffer from the fallout from COVID-19, we have a very important role to play in their recovery,” said David Sutton, TCC chairman and CEO. “Our industry builds and runs the marketplaces and meeting places of the world. We connect experts, sectors and industries. I do not believe there is an ‘on switch’ for the economy to reopen, but the onus lies with us to design a plan to keep people safe. Our C.H.A.S.E program — Customer Health and Safety Ensured — is our comprehensive response to COVID-19, and GBAC STAR will form a substantive part of it. Through the program we will continue to lead our industry out of this crisis and hope to instil a sense of trust and confidence in our customers.”
To achieve GBAC STAR accreditation, facilities must follow specific performance and guidance criteria to show compliance with the program’s 20 elements, which range from standard operating procedures and risk assessment to personal protective equipment and emergency preparedness and response measures. The program is ideal for facilities of all sizes including, but not limited to, offices, restaurants, hotels, airports, stadiums and other public venues.
“GBAC STAR is the gold standard of safe facilities, providing third-party validation that ensures facilities implement strict protocols for biorisk situations,” said GBAC executive director, Patricia Olinger. “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.”
About the Toronto Congress Centre
In 1995, the Toronto Congress Centre (TCC) was founded by Mr. Alain K. Sutton with a single visionary goal: “To become the most innovative, customer-focused convention facility in North America.”
With its recent expansion, the TCC is now over 1 million square feet of space for shows, conventions, galas and meetings, which places TCC as the largest facility of its kind in Canada and in size ranks among the top 10 in North America. TCC is home to more than 350 events each year, generates an economic impact of nearly $2 billion dollars annually, and attracts more than 1 million attendees each year. For more information, visit www.torontocongresscentre.com.
About GBAC, a Division of ISSA
Composed of international leaders in the field of microbial-pathogenic threat analysis, mitigation, response and recovery, the Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC), a division of ISSA, provides training, guidance, accreditation, certification, crisis management assistance and leadership to government, commercial and private entities looking to mitigate, quickly address and/or recover from biological threats and real-time crises. The organization’s services include biorisk management program assessment and training, forensic restoration response and remediation, the GBAC STAR facility accreditation program, training and certification of individuals, and consulting for building owners and facility managers. For more information, visit www.gbac.org.
About ISSA
With more than 9,300 members — including distributors, manufacturers, manufacturer representatives, wholesalers, building service contractors, in-house service providers, residential cleaners and associated service members — ISSA is the world’s leading trade association for the cleaning industry. The association is committed to changing the way the world views cleaning by providing its members with the business tools they need to promote cleaning as an investment in human health, the environment and an improved bottom line. Headquartered in Northbrook, Ill., the association has regional offices in Mainz, Germany; Whitby, Ont.; Parramatta, Australia; Seoul, South Korea; and Shanghai, China. For more information about ISSA, visit www.issa.com or call 1-800-225-4772 (North America) or 1-847-982-0800.
About MediaEdge Communications
For more than 25 years, MediaEdge has been at the forefront of communication solutions for organizations within a variety of business sectors. MediaEdge is a leading provider of non-dues revenues for associations offering exceptional no-cost member benefits through a number of innovative products and services. For more information, visit www.mediaedge.ca.
MediaEdge is a proud reseller of the GBAC STAR and GBAC fundamentals online course. Please see the program details and links below and remember to use the promo codes when registering as they provide discounts.
1. Commercial facility owners looking for GBAC STAR accreditation can follow the link here and use the promo code MediaEdgeGS.
2. ISSA has also released a new GBAC fundamentals online course specifically designed for cleaning workers on the front lines of the coronavirus fight. By using the special promo code MediaEdgeCourse, registrants can receive a discount off normal prices.
For additional program details and information, please e-mail [email protected] or contact him at 416-803-4653.
