CHSP Construction and Renovation Safety (PCRA/ICRA)

Question 1

Which tool is used BEFORE beginning a construction or renovation project in a healthcare facility to evaluate the potential impact on patient safety, infection risk, and utility disruptions?

Accepted Answer

Preconstruction Risk Assessment (PCRA)

Answer

The Preconstruction Risk Assessment (PCRA) is the overarching pre-project evaluation mandated by TJC EC.02.06.05 that assesses ALL risk categories — infection, utility, safety, and patient impact — before construction begins. The ICRA is one component of the PCRA focused specifically on infection control. The JHA and FMEA are useful tools but not the primary pre-construction framework.

Question 2

Under The Joint Commission's Environment of Care standards (EC.02.06.05), who must be included in developing the Infection Control Risk Assessment (ICRA) for a major renovation project?

Accepted Answer

The infection preventionist and the safety officer at a minimum, with other stakeholders as needed

Answer

TJC requires that the ICRA be developed with input from infection prevention and control professionals and the safety officer. For complex projects, the team typically also includes facilities management, nursing leadership, and the contractor. The Chief Medical Officer, Board, state health departments, and EPA are not required members of the ICRA team.

Question 3

An ICRA matrix classifies construction projects into activity types (I–IV) and patient risk groups. A project involving major demolition adjacent to an oncology unit would MOST likely require which controls?

Accepted Answer

Activity Type III or IV controls: full containment barriers, negative pressure, and HEPA filtration

Answer

Oncology patients are a high-risk population (immunocompromised), and major demolition is a high-dust Activity Type III or IV project. The combination mandates the highest level of controls: rigid or hard containment barriers, negative air pressure within the work zone, HEPA filtration of exhaust air, sticky mats, dedicated construction worker entry/exit routes, and enhanced monitoring. Lower-level controls are insufficient for this combination.

Question 4

During a hospital renovation, construction workers inadvertently breach a wall containing an active water supply line, causing a brief water intrusion event. The healthcare safety professional's FIRST action should be:

Accepted Answer

Notify the infection preventionist and begin a mold and moisture assessment immediately

Answer

Water intrusion events in healthcare settings must be addressed immediately — mold (especially Aspergillus) can colonize porous building materials within 24–48 hours and poses a life-threatening risk to immunocompromised patients. The infection preventionist must be notified immediately to assess exposure risk and trigger water damage remediation protocols. Waiting 72 hours or treating it as routine are unacceptable responses.

Question 5

Which of the following is the primary purpose of maintaining negative air pressure in a construction zone adjacent to occupied patient care areas?

Accepted Answer

To prevent dust and airborne fungal spores from migrating into occupied areas

Answer

Negative air pressure in the construction zone causes air to flow INTO the containment area rather than outward, preventing contaminated air (dust, fungal spores such as Aspergillus) from migrating into occupied patient care areas. This is the primary infection control mechanism for high-risk construction. It has no bearing on noise, confined space classification, or energy use.

CHSP - Certified Healthcare Safety Professional Practice Test

CHSP - Certified Healthcare Safety Professional Practice Test

CHSP Construction and Renovation Safety (PCRA/ICRA)