At ICDQ we are people at service of people, that is why we have prepared this post in which we answer the Frequently Asked Questions related to the new µBioFree® protocol.
What is
the purpose of the protocol? Benefits of its implementation
The purpose
of the protocol is for each organization, company or establishment to guarantee
that it complies with the legal, sectorial and good practice requirements on
reducing the load of microorganisms in their workspaces and products.
Elimination of the sources of contagion and spread of viruses and bacteria that
affect human health.
Contribute
to:
- To
establish direct decision-makers in cases of epidemics or pandemics. - Generate
psychological well-being in the employees, customers and the environment of the
company. - To
reduce diseases in the workplace - To
generate security and guarantee for our customers and users. - To
improve the resilience of organizations in present and future contagion,
epidemic or pandemic situations.
Is the
protocol applicable only to establishments?
The
protocol is applicable to any type of organization, establishment, product or
service.
If I
have OHSAS 18001 or ISO 45001 certified, do I already meet the requirements?
We
understand that companies that are certified in these standards must be in
compliance because they will have updated their prevention plans for these new
hazards, they will have analyzed their risks and they will have proposed the
appropriate control measures not only for their employees but also for the
interested parties or affected such as customers, users, suppliers, etc. who
are at some point in their facilities. We believe that companies certified with
these standards are easily able to obtain protocol certification given their
degree of maturity in management and action plans, adding high value with a new
certificate that evidences the correct application of protocols related to
microbiological burden, which if the SST certificate does not evidence in the
first instance.
What
relationship does the protocol have with the guides that are appearing?
A lot.
Since the protocol does not say how the organization should address the control
of the microbiological load that poses a risk to people. Therefore, the guides
are supporting documentation for organizations that apply the protocol for its
application according to sector, activity, type of installation and adaptation
to the risks analyzed and on which the establishment must have plans and
actions.
Is it obligatory
to have analytics on microbiological loading?
Those that
mark the current legislation as a minimum. From this minimum, those that the
organization, based on the detected risks, the established controls and the
surveillance and monitoring system, need to demonstrate their effectiveness.
Wouldn’t
the application of this protocol be the responsibility of the prevention
services?
The
responsibility belongs to the management of the establishment and the
microbiological safety committee in accordance with the protocol that indicates
that the managers of the prevention service in hygiene and health must be at
least together with the management.
Despite the
relevant importance of this position and that it must be listened to and
attended to at the highest level in this protocol, it should not be indicated
as the person responsible for.
We consider
that the application of this in which other specialized companies such as:
- Cleaning
and disinfection companies with validated, updated protocols in accordance with
the risks detected - Facilities
maintenance companies, especially climate ones, with validated, updated
protocols in accordance with the risks detected - Surveillance
companies if available - Companies
or technology department for those technologies applied as part of the controls - Responsible
for the protection of data and privacy of people so as not to incur
non-compliance in this matter by including controls that violate their rights
or privacy.
Why
trust ICDQ?
ICDQ Group
is an independent company dedicated to conformity assessment that maintains its
total impartiality and independence. It has no conflict of interest with the customers
that it certifies as it is not an association that depends on quotas from its
associates or economic interests in the sector that may influence the results
of the evaluations, is not engaged in or linked to any activity or has other
companies that provide support services to client companies, which may
influence the results
As a
conformity assessment entity, it ensures that it has no conflict of interest,
which ensures the rigor of its actions before the market without being subject
to pressure or demands from any market or sector.
The
certificate and seal responds first of all to a current need to guarantee
security in our social life within establishments both at work, in the service
sector, and in establishments intended for leisure.
It is
evident that this guarantee is valued when it is ICDQ as an independent third
party that certifies against the users of the establishment, whether they are
habitual, visitors or logistics, giving comfort and security.
Which advantages
does this seal offer compared to other similar products?
- Exclusive process. It is not a disinfection and cleaning seal or an evaluation stamp of
implementation of architectural measures according to a guide of
recommendations. Nor is it a sectoral seal created by a specific sector subject
to interests beyond the well-being and safety of employees and users. It is
transversal for any activity, establishment or service, given that the general
and common problems and microorganisms and people’s health are global. It is a
model for the specific evaluation process of the establishment, thus
guaranteeing the best possible implementation in the market and norms for it,
both in terms of form and in the budget of the measures implemented. - Live and flexible protocol. It is not only certified compliance with the protocol at the time of
evaluation of the establishment, but the protocol includes the regulatory
variations, sanitary criteria and guidelines of actions and habits that may be
produced and that must be incorporated depending on the regulations. - Non exclusive for Covid-19. It includes any type of contagion by any type of virus, bacteria, etc.
so it is a certificate that has continuity after the current situation and
leaves us with a systematic work and future control so that, hoping this is not
the case, if future cases should occur the establishment is fully prepared - Maintenance and control. Not only does it guarantee that specific measures have been
implemented, but they are evaluated and controlled, having emergency plans to
respond to possible new contingencies. - Adapted to the budget. The plan can be adapted to the budget of each establishment according
to the estimated investment and as long as the objectives are guaranteed. The evaluation
and certification are also adjusted at every case and particularity.