How to Ensure Resident and Staff Safety during Construction Projects

​Although normal businesses may be able to close or shift operations during construction projects, long-term care facilities must remain open, maintain a safe environment, and continue to provide a high level of care for their residents, says Victor Lane Rose, director of aging services at ECRI Institute. In an article published in the February 2019 issue of Annals of Long-Term Care, Rose provides a "blueprint" for construction projects through proper preparation and safe care practices. First, ECRI Institute recommends facilities assemble a construction safety team of representatives from all departments and aspects of the project, such as contractors, administration, environmental safety professionals, risk management, security, and occupational health workers, among others, before the project begins. The team should develop a detailed communication plan, a schedule for daily safety huddles, and policies for construction worker, resident, and staff safety, especially in regards to falls.