Engineering Controls and Technologies to Enhance Safety in the COVID-19 Pandemic Landscape: Lessons for Laboratories...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Environmental Engineering
• Infectious Disease Control

Background:

• The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic highlighted the need for improved safety measures in shared environments.
• Buildings and indoor spaces were identified as potential vectors for disease transmission.
• Rethinking societal approaches to health and safety became crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review past projects and emerging technologies for applications in containment laboratories.
• To evaluate how engineering controls can enhance safety for laboratory workers and the public.
• To explore the potential of extrapolating laboratory safety measures to non-laboratory environments.

Main Methods:

• Conducted a review of existing projects and novel technologies.
• Evaluated applications within containment laboratory settings.
• Examined new technologies for controlling SARS-CoV-2 in HVAC systems.

Main Results:

• Containment laboratories utilize engineering controls, technology, and safety systems that can inform broader applications.
• Extrapolation of these controls to non-laboratory settings is feasible with coordinated risk assessment.
• New technologies for HVAC systems show promise for controlling SARS-CoV-2 transmission.

Conclusions:

• Engineering controls and advanced technologies from containment labs offer valuable models for enhancing public health safety.
• Implementing these strategies in everyday environments can mitigate the spread of infectious diseases like SARS-CoV-2.
• Further research into the operational and maintenance impacts of these technologies is warranted.