Many UMB departments have adapted procedures and policies designed to ensure a safe environment and clean facilities upon the phased return to campus life.
Facilities and Operations has been supporting the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) campus since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in accordance with guidance from UMB leadership and health officials through the following departments:
- Operations and Maintenance (O&M)
- Environmental Services (EVS): custodial, grounds, pest control, and moving and recycling
- Environmental Health and Safety (EHS): occupational safety, research safety, biosafety, environmental management, fire and life safety, and risk management
We have been working diligently to ensure that campus operations continue in a safe manner. We are embedded into UMB’s Recovery Task Force to plan for a safe, phased return to campus.
O&M has always had preventative maintenance measures in place to protect the campus from Legionnaires’ disease and has continued these efforts since the global pandemic started. We also are flushing water plumbing lines for buildings that will become operational prior to occupancy. Our O&M team has been maintaining minimum run times of the HVAC systems in unoccupied spaces to ensure that our buildings remain healthy spaces. As more spaces are identified for occupancy, air conditioning will be ramped up in the buildings. The air filters and HVAC systems in UMB buildings meet or exceed code requirements. O&M has installed hand sanitizer stations at the main entrance elevator of all buildings. Additional stations will be installed on all floors for the main elevators.
EVS and EHS have been working together during the pandemic to learn, understand, and adhere to the cleaning and disinfection guidance provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other infection control experts. Enhancements have been made in various EVS procedures, including, but not limited to, restroom cleaning and disinfecting, frequent high-touch point cleaning and disinfecting, and the use of Environmental Protection Agency-registered COVID-19 disinfectants for applicable custodial tasks. We encourage everyone to clean and disinfect their personal areas such as keyboards, phones, and computer work stations. Ensuring that our campus is clean is a commitment we all must make.
EHS has been actively engaged in the University’s overall pandemic response. EHS has worked closely with the research community to put in place COVID-19 safety procedures and training programs. EHS also has maintained a presence on campus throughout the COVID-19 crisis to ensure the safe processing of hazardous waste, prompt response to urgent campus safety issues, and the timely processing of claims.
We welcome you back to campus when your turn comes.
To read more about cleaning and disinfecting guidelines, click here.
Nazanin Fouladi is associate vice president for Facilities and Operations