The Tri-Cities Airport has earned the GBAC STAR Facility Accreditation through Global Biorisk Advisory Council, a Division of the International Sanitary Supply Association (ISSA). GBAC STAR was developed by the worldwide cleaning industry association ISSA and is the industry’s only outbreak prevention, response and recovery accreditation for facilities.
In order to achieve the GBAC STAR accreditation, PSC was required to demonstrate compliance with 20 different health and safety elements, which range from standard operating procedures and risk assessment strategies to personal protective equipment and emergency preparedness and response measures. By earning the accreditation, PSC has proved that it has implemented best practices to prepare for, respond to, and recover from outbreaks and pandemics.
“Earning this accreditation shows that the staff at PSC is taking all of the necessary actions for cleaning and disinfecting our facilities as well as helping to prevent the spread of infectious diseases,” said Buck Taft, director of Tri-Cities Airport. “Keeping our airport clean and safe for our travelers and employees continues to be our top priority as air travel resumes across the country.”
When the pandemic first began in 2020, the airport was quick to follow guidelines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and other federal and state health agencies. In addition to requiring masks and recommending social distancing, the airport implemented several health, safety, and security measures such as frequently cleaning high-touch public areas, providing hand sanitizer stations throughout the terminal, and even acquiring an autonomous cleaning robot. Now, the GBAC STAR accreditation demonstrates to facility visitors and employees that PSC continues to prioritize occupant safety and has the necessary procedures in place to handle bio-risks like the novel coronavirus.
