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GBAC to Address Wuhan Coronavirus at Upcoming Bio-Remediation Workshop
January 30, 2020The Global BioRisk Advisory Council® (GBAC), a Division of ISSA, is conducting specialized biohazard training for the Wuhan coronavirus (2019nCoV) during the GBAC-ISSA Bio-Remediation & Response Fundamentals Workshop, which will be held February 4 and 5 in Cedar Hill, Texas.
The Bio-Remediation & Response Fundamentals Workshop is a new program that includes information and training on how to prepare, respond, and recover from a biohazard situation in the workplace. Special content has been added to the workshop to address the outbreak of the Wuhan coronavirus. Attendees will also learn prevention and contamination control measures for a variety of other biohazards.
The two-day training session will be held at the Stanley Restoration Training Facility in Cedar Hill, Texas, which is located just 30 minutes from both Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and Dallas Love Field Airport. Registrations are still being accepted; the cost is US$750. The event is designed for professionals who are responsible for the sanitation and disinfection of spaces that may be contaminated with infectious biohazardous materials. The workshop fills an immediate need for training on current pathogens like the coronavirus, in addition to more rare biohazards like the Ebola virus.
“The content of this hands-on training session is timely for companies and organizations because this has been a particularly busy season for influenza A and influenza B strains. Now with the arrival of the new Wuhan coronavirus, many cleaning professionals and facility managers are wondering how they can do more to keep their customers and employees safe from illnesses,” says GBAC Executive Director Patricia Olinger.
“ISSA and GBAC will prepare cleaning professionals to become ‘microbial warriors’ for public health preparedness,” said GBAC Director of Forensic Operations Jeff Jones. “Together, we will drive awareness, educate, and accelerate adoption of best practices, proper protocols, and procedures in preparation, response, and recovery to biological incidents.”
GBAC is comprised of leaders in the area of microbial -pathogenic threat analysis and mitigation. With hundreds of years in collective experience, the GBAC Board of Directors serves as a resource for companies, organizations, and government entities to better plan for biohazardous events and environments. The Bio-Remediation & Response Fundamentals Workshop will be led by Olinger, who is a Registered Biosafety Professional, a Certified Forensic Operator®, and Certified Bio-Forensic Restoration Specialist® and has held board and committee leadership positions with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), American Biological Safety Association, U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Campus Safety Health and Environmental Management Association.
Individuals who successfully complete the workshop will receive a course Certificate of Completion and obtain the designation of GBAC Forensic Restoration Technician™. Certification is valid for two years from the date the workshop is taken. GBAC-trained professionals bring increased value to their employers and customers by demonstrating competence to carry out their responsibilities and by achieving high standards of excellence, professionalism, and continuous learning.
The GBAC-ISSA Bio-Remediation & Response Fundamentals Workshop is just one of many response programs that will be held throughout the nation in the upcoming months. All courses feature subject matter experts in epidemiology, microbiology, forensics, and more.
GBAC and its parent association ISSA are committed to elevating the standards of safety and professionalism in the cleaning and maintenance industry, and to making the world a healthier and better place to live. For more information about GBAC and the GBAC-ISSA Bio-Remediation & Response Fundamentals Workshop, visit the GBAC website at www.gbac.org.