Global Biorisk Advisory Council

The Global Biorisk Advisory Council® (GAC), a Division of ISSA,[1] is a network of international leaders in the field of microbial-pathogenic threat analysis, mitigation and response and recovery. GAC provides services intended to assist individuals, institutions, companies and governments in assessing preparedness. It also offers education and training to respond and recover in critical biohazardous events, with an emphasis on microbial containment and psychological surety.[2]

Global Biorisk Advisory Council®, a Division of ISSA
TypeCouncil
HeadquartersNorthbrook, Illinois, U.S.
Location
  • United States
Websitehttps://gbac.issa.com

History

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GBAC started from a conversation among professionals in biosafety, infection control, forensic restoration and bio-decontamination and cleaning, in which they identified gaps within those industries that could be closed through collaboration.[3]

In 2019, GBAC merged with ISSA, the Worldwide Cleaning Industry Association.[4] Patricia Olinger serves as GBAC’s Executive Director.[5] Olinger is a Registered Biosafety Professional, a Certified Forensic Operator and Certified Bio-Forensic Restoration Specialist, and has held board and committee leadership positions with US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the US National Institutes of Health (NIH), the American Biological Safety Association and the Campus Safety Health and Environmental Management Association.[6]

Dr. Gavin Macgregor-Skinner, an emergency management and infectious disease expert, serves as GBAC’s Director[7] and Jeff Jones is the Director of Forensic Restoration. GBAC’s Scientific Advisory Board is composed of industry professionals.[8]

In May 2020, GBAC introduced the GBAC STAR facility accreditation program on cleaning, disinfection and infectious disease prevention.[9]

GBAC STAR Accreditation

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GBAC STAR establishes requirements to assist facilities with work practices, protocols, procedures and systems to control risks associated with infectious agents, such as SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19. It provides third-party validation to ensure the implementation of protocols across 20 program elements with specific performance and guidance criteria.[10][11]

Organizations that have committed to achieve or have earned GBAC STAR accreditation include:

References

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  1. ^ ”About ISSA”. Archived 2020-08-10 at the Wayback Machine ISSA. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  2. ^ Crandall, Brianna. “Find out how your facilities team can take advantage of ISSA’s newly acquired infection control and biorisk management training”. FMLink. FMLink Group, LLC. 28 June 2019. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  3. ^ Olinger, Patricia. “GBAC and Microbial Warfare”. CleanFax. ISSA. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  4. ^ ”ISSA Merges with Global Biorisk Advisory Council”. Archived 2021-10-18 at the Wayback Machine Facility Cleaning & Maintenance. REMI Network. 25 June 2019. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  5. ^ TGiarruso, Theresa Walsh. “Prescient and prepared, GBAC’s Patricia Olinger leads facilities through the pandemic”. Archived 2020-09-26 at the Wayback Machine The McMorrow Reports. McMorrowReports. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  6. ^ Crandall, Brianna. “Find out how your facilities team can take advantage of ISSA’s newly acquired infection control and biorisk management training”. FMLink. FMLink Group, LLC. 28 June 2019. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  7. ^ “CNN Newsroom With Brooke Baldwin & Dr Gavin Macgregor-Skinner about novel Coronavirus 11March2020”. Archived 2023-10-27 at the Wayback Machine Gavin Macgregor-Skinner. Youtube.com. 11 March 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  8. ^ “Board Members”. Archived 2020-08-05 at the Wayback Machine GBAC. ISSA. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  9. ^ Swenson, Matt. “Why Venues Across the U.S. Are Focusing Efforts to Attain GBAC STAR Accreditation”. Archived 2020-09-10 at the Wayback Machine BizBash. BizBash Media. 27 May 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  10. ^ Martin, Hugo. “Hotels, airlines and sports venues turn to Clorox and Lysol to vouch for their cleanliness”. Archived 2020-08-27 at the Wayback Machine Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times. 12 August 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  11. ^ “Phoenix Convention Center Pursues GBAC STAR Facility Accreditation”. Archived 2020-09-20 at the Wayback Machine City of Phoenix. City of Phoenix. 22 May 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  12. ^ Pallini, Thomas. “American will start filling planes after doing the least of big US airlines to protect passengers. Here's what it was like to fly the airline during the pandemic”. Archived 2020-08-16 at the Wayback Machine Business Insider. Insider, Inc. 26 June 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  13. ^ Yu, Betty. “Chase Center Wins Recognition for Cleaning Practices”. Archived 2020-08-19 at the Wayback Machine KPIX CBS 5 SF Bay Area. CBS Broadcasting Inc. 7 August 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  14. ^ “Emaar Malls reports revenue of Dhs1.657 billion in H1”. Archived 2020-09-21 at the Wayback Machine Gulf Today. 11 August 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  15. ^ Long, JT. “Convention Centers Add GBAC STAR Accreditation as COVID-19 Assurance”. Archived 2020-08-03 at the Wayback Machine Smart Meetings. Bright Business Media LLC. 10 July 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  16. ^ Kleen, Brendon. “Can a clean accreditation get fans back in the stands?”. Archived 2020-09-23 at the Wayback Machine Global Sport Matters. Global Sport Institute Arizona State University. 10 August 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  17. ^ Rackl, Lori. “Goodbye breakfast buffets and notepads, help germ-zapping robots. How hotels are doubling down on hygiene – and what that means for your next stay”. Archived 2020-07-22 at the Wayback Machine Chicago Tribune. Tribune Publishing. 30 April 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  18. ^ Gaines, Tarra. “Texas Performing Arts Groups Face Behind the Scenes Drama as They Plot a Coronavirus Return”. Archived 2020-09-24 at the Wayback Machine Paper City. Urban Publishers, Inc. 7 August 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  19. ^ Schoening, Elise. “Orange County Convention Center Hosts First Trade Show Since March”. Archived 2020-08-09 at the Wayback Machine Northstar Meetings Group. Northstar Travel Media LLC. 28 July 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  20. ^ “Tours available for new Merriam Community Center; KS removes Alabama, Arkansas and South Carolina from quarantine list”. Archived 2020-08-03 at the Wayback Machine Shawnee Mission Post. Post Publishing Inc. 15 July 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  21. ^ "Red Bull Arena Receives Global Biorisk Advisory Council STAR Accreditation". newyorkredbulls.com. April 15, 2021. Archived from the original on April 15, 2021. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  22. ^ “Staples Center is the First US Arena to Receive Outbreak Response Accreditation”. Archived 2020-08-19 at the Wayback Machine Billboard. Valence Media, LLC. 9 July 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2020.