Kingston City Hall in Kingston, Ont., is the latest Canadian facility to achieve GBAC STAR Facility Accreditation from the Global Biorisk Advisory Council™ (GBAC), a Division of ISSA.

The City of Kingston is the first municipality in Ontario, and the second in Canada, to receive this accreditation.

Kingston City Hall is a nationally designated historic site and the administrative center of the city. Inside, it hosts the city council and nearly 40 government departments that work to meet the needs of residents and visitors and achieve the goal of becoming the most sustainable city in Canada.

“I have been humbled by the performance of our frontline staff throughout COVID, and I’ve been further impressed by their willingness to embrace training, technology, the application of new, industry best cleaning applications, and standards as part of the GBAC accreditation process,” states Therol Peterson, Manager, Facilities Management & Construction Services. “We have introduced electronic scheduling/forensic auditing/reporting tools, electrostatic spraying devices, other highly efficient, effective equipment, detailed job plans (Work Orders), application methods, tasks etc. and our staff have willingly embraced the change management process with vigour.”

GBAC, a division of ISSA, helps organizations and businesses prepare for, respond to, and recover from biological threats, and biohazard situations and real-time crises by offering education, training, certification, response management, and crisis consulting for situations where environments require a much higher level of cleaning, disinfection, and restoration.

“City of Kingston custodians have stood in the face of the pandemic since the beginning, but the pressures of increased cleaning schedules have led to exploring the most up-to-date industry best practices”, continues Peterson. “When applied GBAC methodologies supported by our highly skilled custodial services team will ensure the health and safety for all who come to work, visit, and play in the buildings cleaned by the City of Kingston’s Facilities Management & Construction Services team.”

The performance-based GBAC STAR program requires facilities to meet specific requirements, in order to earn accreditation and display the seal that promotes their commitment to public health and safety. This accreditation means that Kingston City Hall has:

• Established and maintained a cleaning, disinfection, and infectious disease prevention program to minimize risks associated with infectious agents like the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2).
• The proper cleaning protocols, disinfection techniques, and work practices in place to combat biohazards and infectious disease.
• Highly informed cleaning professionals who are trained for outbreak and infectious disease preparation and response.

The GBAC STAR Accreditation Program is designed to help facilities establish a comprehensive system of cleaning, disinfection, and infectious disease prevention for their staff and their building. The program relies on GBAC’s comprehensive training, which teaches the proper protocols, correct disinfection techniques, and cleaning best practices for biohazard situations like the novel coronavirus.

“Achieving GBAC accreditation at City Hall represents a major advancement in the custodial services being delivered in response to the ongoing COVID pandemic,” explains Pierre Bartkowiak, Supervisor, Facilities Management and Construction Services. “This ensures the staff and members of the public accessing the building can be assured that the highest levels of custodial standards are being delivered. Our front-line staff have been instrumental in the program’s implementation and have risen to the challenge of using new tools, scheduling tasks through electronic work orders and advancing their knowledge with GBAC training.”

Successful GBAC STAR facilities can demonstrate that correct work practices, procedures and systems are in place to prepare, respond, and recover from outbreaks and pandemics.

“Government and senior living facilities are two of the most vital places for preventing pathogen spread,” said Patricia Olinger, GBAC Executive Director. “Kingston City Hall has demonstrated its commitments to keeping essential services running during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Kingston City Hall’s accreditation is the latest GBAC STAR announcement from within Canada. Dozens of facilities across the country have achieved certification.

In June 2021, Edmonton became the first Canadian destination to achieve Destination GBAC STAR accreditation, wherein Explore Edmonton, in collaboration with Edmonton International Airport, Edmonton Destination Marketing Hotels (EDMH), Oilers Entertainment Group, TRAXX Coachlines, Edmonton Convention Centre, and Edmonton EXPO Centre, has successfully secured facility accreditation.

RELATED: Two BC companies achieve GBAC STAR Service Accreditation

Learn more and apply for GBAC STAR Accreditation at gbac.org/star.

Find accredited facilities and those pursuing accreditation via the GBAC STAR Facility Directory at gbac.org/directory.

Photo: City of Kingston