Seventeen Canadian facilities are now Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC) Star accredited and 11 more have committed to certification.
Ramada by Wyndham Kamloops in British Columbia, Hyatt Place Edmonton West, RBC Convention Centre in Winnipeg, Hyatt Place Ottawa West and Fredericton Convention Centre in New Brunswick are among those that have started the coronavirus cleaning and prevention program.
Administered by GBAC, a division of the worldwide cleaning industry association ISSA, GBAC Star is considered the gold standard of prepared facilities. It provides third-party validation that public venues have rigorous protocols in place for thorough response to biorisk situations.
“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,” says ISSA executive director, John Barrett.
The performance-based accreditation program focuses on ensuring a clean, safe and healthy environment in facilities of all sizes. It outlines best practices, protocols and procedures to control risk factors associated with infectious disease, including the virus responsible for COVID-19.
The Toronto Congress Centre was the first facility in Canada to complete the GBAC Star program in June.
A new facility directory shows which venues are certified or are working toward certification.
According to GBAC, more than 3,500 facilities in 66 countries are seeking GBAC Star accreditation. This includes convention centres, hotels, convention and visitor bureaus, and even airlines and airports.
“We’re excited to see so many organizations commit and follow through to earn GBAC Star accreditation,” says GBAC executive director, Patricia Olinger. “GBAC Star provides the necessary knowledge, tools and resources to meet the new standard of cleanliness and limit future outbreaks.”
To achieve accreditation, facilities must follow specific performance and guidance criteria to demonstrate compliance with the program’s 20 elements, which range from standard operating procedures and risk assessment to personal protective equipment (PPE) and emergency preparedness and response measures.
