GBAC Partners With Airports to Achieve Cleaning and Disinfection

The American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) and the Global Biorisk Advisory Council® (GBAC), a Division of ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association, have established a formal partnership to accredit airports that meet the highest levels of cleanliness and safety at their facilities to minimize risk from coronavirus and other infectious agents.

As part of the agreement, AAAE will act as a strategic partner with GBAC for two programs that will help airports and airport personnel in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic:

• GBAC STAR™ Facility Accreditation Program, which helps public and commercial facilities establish and maintain a cleaning, disinfection, and infectious disease prevention program to minimize risks associated with infectious agents and biohazards.
• GBAC Fundamentals Online Course: Cleaning & Disinfection Principles, an e-learning course that trains cleaning professionals on infection and contamination control measures for infectious disease prevention.

“We are pleased to partner with ISSA and GBAC on these programs that will empower our members to incorporate best practices around cleaning and disinfection,” AAAE Executive Vice President Jacky Sher Raker said. “By pursuing GBAC accreditation and training, AAAE members will have the opportunity to establish themselves as industry leaders in ensuring clean, safe, and healthy airport environments that instill confidence among travelers, staff, and other key constituents.”

“We are grateful for AAAE’s partnership and commitment to GBAC STAR,” GBAC Executive Director Patty Olinger added. “Together, we will help airports implement strict protocols for biorisk situations that foster clean, safe, and healthy environments now and in the future.”

AAAE Establishes GBAC STAR Working Group

As part of AAAE’s commitment to endorsing GBAC STAR facility accreditation for its members, the association has formed the AAAE Working Group for GBAC STAR Accreditation. This committee is composed of AAAE members who represent airports across the United States.

AAAE Working Group members will collaborate with the GBAC Scientific Advisory Board to develop a GBAC STAR Airports template that will advise airport executives on best practices and help them to identify gaps in their cleaning protocols, disinfection techniques, and work practices to combat biohazards and infectious disease as they prepare for GBAC STAR accreditation.

For more information on GBAC, visit www.gbac.org.