by Brianna Crandall — January 21, 2022 — Allergy Standards Limited (ASL) recently announced a partnership with GBAC, the Global Biorisk Advisory Council, a division of ISSA, on a unique educational program. Patricia Olinger (executive director, GBAC), along with Gavin Macgregor-Skinner (senior director, GBAC) and Dr. John McKeon (CEO Allergy Standards Ltd) announced the news at the ISSA Show North America 2021.
From left to right: Dr. John McKeon, Patricia Olinger, Gavin McGregor-Skinner. Image courtesy ASL
Why a partnership with GBAC?
The GBAC STAR Facility Accreditation is considered the gold standard of prepared facilities. ASL has worked with best-in-class manufacturers over the past 20 years including Dyson, LG, Volvo, Mercedes Benz, 3M, Tarkett, Trane and Bona, testing and certifying their products to its high scientific standards. ASL’s mission is to empower people to create the healthiest possible indoor environment, so when looking for a partner to educate facilities managers (FMs) and cleaning professionals around this topic, ISSA was first on the group’s wish list.
GBAC’s program relies on comprehensive training, which teaches the proper protocols, correct disinfection techniques and cleaning best practices for biohazard situations such as the novel coronavirus. The two groups’ missions are aligned, and they are uniquely positioned to deliver education that directly impacts on the health of building occupiers.
As global leaders in the field of healthy indoor environments and certification standards, ASL’s partnership with GBAC is an exciting and timely development to help overcome the challenges of poor indoor air, the impact of this on health, and to address the needs of the air-aware world, says ASL.
The collaboration will address the knowledge gap that exists around the concept of a healthy indoor environment by empowering and educating consumers, retailers and manufacturers worldwide. ASL, through its Allergy Standards Academy, runs a variety of learning and development programs providing standards and solutions aiming to optimize the indoor environment to improve health and wellness for all. By partnering with GBAC, ASL will be able to bring their education programs to professionals who have ultimate control over how our offices, schools, restaurants and hotels are maintained.
Bridging the knowledge gap
Facilities management and cleaning professionals have extensive knowledge of their industry and product solutions for all areas of the built environment. Yet according to ASL, it has been identified that a significant number of these professionals lack the knowledge of the outcomes that these products and services have on the building occupiers, especially where individuals in that building are impacted by respiratory issues (asthma and allergies).
The goal of this program is to bridge that knowledge gap and give ISSA members the confidence to ask questions and understand how the answers they receive will impact the solutions they recommend.
Over the past 20 years, ASL has been testing and certifying best-in-class products and services for every room in the home, office, hotel or school to empower people to create healthier indoor environments. ASL has taken its extensive medical and scientific knowledge and insights to the online classroom to create a program that outlines why healthier indoor air is vital and empowers ISSA members with the knowledge they need to maintain buildings to the highest standards.
Why is this important for ASL?
Creating a healthier indoor environment is key to the health outcomes of the building occupier. The main ways to achieve this are through cleaning indoor air and surfaces, and proper ventilation. “Cleaning for health” rather than just for appearance was a core message at the recent ISSA show in Las Vegas. This mantra aligns with ASL’s mission to improve lives by empowering people to create the healthiest possible indoor environment through science (ASL Standards), education (ASL Academy) and innovation (ASL Institute).
GBAC, a division of worldwide cleaning industry association ISSA, offers education, training, certification, response management, and crisis consulting for situations where environments require a much higher level of cleaning, disinfection, and restoration. It helps organizations and businesses prepare for, respond to, and recover from biological threats, biohazard situations and real-time crises. Its accreditation, GBAC Star, is said to be the cleaning industry’s only outbreak prevention, response and recovery accreditation.
Watch the Breaking News: GBAC Announces New Global Partnership video on YouTube.
