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Environmental Infection Control
"REA was instrumental in making recommendations for Legionella control, laboratory testing and implementing remedial actions. They were critical to the investigation and control of this outbreak."
Medical Officer of Health
Waterloo Region

REA provides services for Environmental Infection Control including:
Prevention and Control of Avian Influenza
• Biosafety Personal Protective Equipment
• Health Care Facility Infection Control
• Biosecurity Measures for Agricultural and Food Processing Facilities
• Facility Fumigation and Decontamination
• Construction and Monitoring of Negative Air Containment Structures
Legionnaires Disease Control and Prevention
• Assessment of Mechanical Equipment and Water Systems
• Decontamination of Mechanical Equipment and Water Systems
• Outbreak Source Investigation and Containment
• Water Sampling and Microbial Analysis
• Prophylaxis and Prevention
Prevention of Nosocomial Aspergillomas
• Health Care Infection Control Policies and Procedures
• Health Care Construction Project Specification and Monitoring
• Air Sampling and Analysis - Dust and Moulds
• Education and Training
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)
• Respiratory Protection Programs
• Qualitative and Quantitative Fit Testing
• Education and Training
Legionnaires Disease
REA has been lead environmental health consultant for the only two Legionnaire’s disease outbreaks occurring in Ontario during the past decade. In fall 2002, REA was retained by Grand River Hospital in Kitchener to lead the environmental investigation and remediation aspects of outbreak response. Our work included sampling and analysis of potential Legionella reservoirs, identification of potential exposure pathways, mechanical equipment and water system remediation, evaluation of causation hypotheses, and implementation of long term preventive measures. In fall 2005, REA was retained by City of Toronto Homes for the Aged to develop and implement a comprehensive environmental remediation plan for the outbreak at Seven Oaks Home for the Aged. On this project, we worked in conjunction with personnel from our environmental abatement contracting affiliate, Total Environmental Services Contracting Limited (www.rea.ca/tes), who carried out mechanical system sterilization work under our direction. In both outbreaks we worked closely with local, provincial and federal public and occupational health authorities. We have also helped other health care facilities to develop and implement programs for prevention of Legionella amplification and exposure.
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)
In spring and summer 2003, REA provided respirator fit testing (qualitative and quantitative) and respiratory protection program consulting services to several Ontario “SARS alliance” hospitals. These were sites designated to receive and treat SARS patients. We fit tested over 4000 hospital personnel at facilities in Toronto, Brampton, Georgetown and Hamilton, and assisted several facilities to establish in-house capability.
Health Care Facility Construction Nosocomial Infection Prevention
REA has provided a range of services to health care facilities throughout Ontario for prevention of construction-related nosocomial infections. Our experience includes: advice on development of hospital construction infection control programs and procedures; preparation of project specifications for control of dust and mould during hospital construction and renovation work; inspection and air testing during construction, demolition and renovation work to verify adequacy of dust containment and control measures; education and training for hospital infection control and facilities staff. Based on our experience, we have established our own recommendations for nosocomial infection prevention in health care construction, which are substantially different from (and in some respects at odds with) guidelines on this subject published by Health Canada and the Canadian Standards Association. Notwithstanding our disagreement with many aspects of the Health Canada guidelines, our firm’s “BC OHS Codes and Regulations Guideline” includes the Health Canada guideline (reprinted with permission).
Staff Qualifications
Environmental infection control services are provided by our firm’s team of professional occupational hygienists. All of our occupational hygienists are alumni of, or instructors at the Gage Institute’s Occupational and Environmental Health Program at the University of Toronto’s School of Public Health Sciences. Our senior hygienists are qualified as ABIH Certified Industrial Hygienists, CRBOH Registered Occupational Hygienists, and APEO Professional Engineers. Together, our occupational hygiene team has over 150 years of combined professional experience.