The American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) and the Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC) have established a partnership to accredit airports that meet the highest levels of cleanliness and safety at their facilities to minimise risk from coronavirus and other infectious agents.

As part of the agreement, AAAE will act as a strategic partner with GBAC, a division of ISSA, for two programs that will help airports and airport personnel in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic:

• GBAC STAR Facility Accreditation Program, which helps public and commercial facilities establish and maintain a cleaning, disinfection, and infectious disease prevention program to minimize risks associated with infectious agents and biohazards.
• GBAC Fundamentals Online Course: Cleaning & Disinfection Principles, an e-learning course that trains cleaning professionals on infection and contamination control measures for infectious disease prevention.

GBAC STAR provides third-party validation that facilities have the proper cleaning protocols, disinfection techniques, and work practices to meet a higher level of cleanliness and safety.

Launched in early May, the performance-based accreditation program has garnered commitments from American Airlines, Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) International Airport, and Palm Beach International Airport.

Other enterprises and venues to commit to the program include Hyatt Hotels, the Miami Dolphins/Hard Rock Stadium, Visit Dallas, and a host of convention centers in the United States.

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.

“We are grateful for AAAE’s partnership and commitment to GBAC STAR,” GBAC executive director Patty Olinger, said.

“Together, we will help airports implement strict protocols for biorisk situations that foster clean, safe, and healthy environments now and in the future.”

As part of AAAE’s commitment to endorsing GBAC STAR facility accreditation for its members, the association has formed the AAAE Working Group for GBAC STAR Accreditation. This committee is composed of AAAE members who represent airports across the United States.

AAAE Working Group members will collaborate with the GBAC Scientific Advisory Board to develop a GBAC STAR Airports template that will advise airport executives on best practices and help them to identify gaps in their cleaning protocols, disinfection techniques, and work practices to combat biohazards and infectious disease as they prepare for GBAC STAR accreditation.

INCLEAN is published by Intermedia on behalf of ISSA 

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