For the second straight year, MSP Airport (MSP) has earned two major industry cleaning and safety facility accreditations as part of its Travel Confidently MSP program.
MSP was reaccredited by the GBAC STAR™ program through the Global Biorisk Advisory Council, a Division of ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association. Airports Council International (ACI) also reaccredited MSP through its Airport Health Accreditation program.
"Accreditation in these programs is important because it demonstrates we are taking all the appropriate actions for cleaning and disinfecting our facilities and for helping to prevent the spread of infectious diseases, including COVID-19," said MAC CEO Brian Ryks. "To qualify for accreditation, we must meet a rigorous set of health and building safety standards as safeguards against COVID-19 and any future health threats that might arise."
GBAC STAR™ Facility Accreditation recipients must demonstrate compliance with 20 elements, which range from proper cleaning protocols, disinfection techniques and work practices, to risk assessment strategies and emergency preparedness measures.
ACI's Airport Health Accreditation program was developed in accordance with International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO) Council Aviation Recovery Task Force recommendations. Areas of assessment include cleaning and disinfection, physical distancing, staff protection, physical layout, and passenger communication protocols.
"The recent health safety evaluations of our facilities also focused on continuous improvement and what we have accomplished in the past year that have benefited our facilities and the passengers we serve," said Scott Skramstad, director of terminal and landside operations at MSP. "In the past year, we initiated pilot programs to test new technologies, autonomous cleaning equipment and other solutions that can improve our processes and enhance our commitment to the highest level of safety, cleaning and disinfection."
Even before the pandemic hit, MSP was named the best airport in North America in its size category for terminal and washroom cleanliness in the Airports Council International Airport Service Quality (ASQ) traveler survey program. In the spring of 2020, the MAC established a COVID-19 response team to elevate cleaning protocols even further to adapt to the new health safety challenges.
The elevated facility cleaning measures are part of the MAC's multi-faceted health safety program, Travel Confidently MSP. Other elements include the promotion of face coverings and social distancing, placement of hundreds of hand sanitizer dispensers in public spaces, installation of Plexiglass shields at customer interaction points, and the adoption of touchless technology for food and beverage ordering and payment, and pre-booked parking.
