Engineering essentials

Airborne infection control for engineers

Learn how to minimise your operational risk during the COVID-19 pandemic through best practice application of airborne infection control science and applied engineering solutions.

6 hours

£25 off for credit card payments. Use code COV25 on checkout.

Course	Location & Date
Airborne infection control for engineers	N/A

Members:
£150.00 Plus vat

Non Members:
£200.00 Plus vat

Summary

Learn how to minimise your operational risk during the COVID-19 pandemic through best practice application of airborne infection control science and applied engineering solutions.

The speed with which COVID-19 has interrupted our normal lives has led to social and economic disaster. Our response in terms of our personal behaviour has been effective, though limited our ability to live our lives the way we choose. As time passes, it will be increasingly important that we understand the way diseases work and adapt our approach. Supporting our personal behaviour with engineered solutions offers a realistic solution, particularly within critical infrastructure.

This programme has been designed by the Institution’s Pandemic Infection Control group to provide the latest insight that engineers need to know to be able to work side-by-side with COVID-19 and minimise the risks associated with this and future similar infections in the workplace.

Delivered by a network of experts, including Professor Catherine Noakes (advisor to the governments SAGE committee), this is an unique opportunity for you to learn about the transmission of airborne infections like the COVID-19 virus including environmental factors, effect of vaccination, influence of human behavioural characteristics, current best practice, engineering interventions and risk assessment methodology.

Delivery format

This course will be delivered using interactive virtual classroom technology. Each module will last 90 minutes (60-min lecture, plus 30-min Q&A).

Receive £25 discount when paying by credit card. Simply use code COV25 on checkout.

Course content

Module 1: SARS-CoV-2 virus and infection science (facilitated by Catherine Noakes)

Understanding the virus that causes COVID-19 and risks posed by other pathogens in workplace settings
Transmission mechanisms and the implications for control
Combining environmental and behavioural controls to support safe procedures and systems
Use of CO2 monitoring to manage ventilation

Module 2: Engineering interventions part 1 - Ventilation (facilitated by Frank Mills )

Ventilation effectiveness
Natural ventilation
Mechanical ventilation

Module 3: Engineering interventions part 2 – Air Cleaning Technologies (facilitated by Frank Mills & Paul Waldeck)

Technologies available
HEPA Filters
Germicidal UV filters – within HVAC system; for upper room; and operational issues
Case studies

Module 4: Masks and their role in controlling infection as part of the overall engineering risk assessment (facilitated by Andrew Bradley)

Social distancing
Risk management in engineering
Risk assessment and best practice

How will I benefit?

Upon completion you will be able to:

Understand the science of respiratory infections such as COVID-19 and the evidence for transmission Understand what this means for environmental, management and behavioural control strategies to apply safer working practices within their work environment
Assess the advantages and disadvantages of a variety of engineering solutions and how they can be applied to reduce risk
Analyse risk in the context of current best practice guidelines
Understand the published guidance for infection control engineering including support provided through the IMechE COVID-19 handbook
Identify “big picture” considerations for engineering infection controls
Understanding how engineering infection controls can be applied beneficially across the built environment – from homes to trains, buses, taxis, open air activities and within buildings
Learn of the necessary procedures for the safe re-opening of buildings after lockdowns and a return to the ‘new normal’
Learn of the engineering measure needed to be applied to buildings – living with COVID-19 as an endemic disease with a vaccinated population
Describe specific engineering systems and equipment which can be applied – ventilation, filtration, UV air sterilisation and how to decide which should be applied and where.
Understanding the importance of ongoing operation for safe occupancy and that if engineering systems falter or fail it could be necessary to evacuate a building.
Provide useful case studies and reference projects
Provide further resource information for application of reliable, effective engineering infection controls.

Contributes 6 CPD hours

Key topics

COVID-19 transmission and behavioural science
Engineering solutions to infection control
Risk assessment and COVID-19
Living with the virus
CO₂ monitoring indoors

Meet our trainers

These trainers regularly teach Airborne infection control for engineers.

Professor Catherine Noakes OBE FIMechE FIHEEM

Cath is a chartered mechanical engineer, with a background in fluid dynamics. She leads research into ventilation, indoor air quality and infection control in the built environment. Since April 2020 she has been involved in the COVID-19 response, leading the Environment and Modelling sub-group of the UK Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) focusing on the science underpinning environmental transmission of COVID-19.
Frank Mills BSc(Hons) FCIBSE FIMechE MASHRAE

Frank is a leading specialist in sustainable and energy efficient building engineering design. His experience includes the design, management, supervision, construction and operation of building services engineering across a range of building types including sports stadia, large-scale mixed-use developments sports facilities, leisure centres and hotels, retail and community schemes - both in the United Kingdom and internationally.
Andrew Bradley CEng FIMechE FRAeS

Andrew Bradley is a Chartered Engineer, a Fellow of both the Institute of Mechanical Engineers and of the Royal Aeronautical Society. Andrew has recently retired from Rolls-Royce where he was an Associate Fellow in gas turbine design and was Project Chief Design Engineer for several engines during development phases and as technology demonstrators. He is currently Chair of the IMechE Aerospace Board and from the middle of 2020 he has been part of the IMechE Covid-19 Task Force.
Paul Waldeck CEng MICE MIStructE MASHRAE

Paul is Chief Technical Officer at PPL-Biosafety and has 35 years of experience in design, construction, maintenance and refurbishment of safety-critical environments & facilities. He has worked in nuclear, chemicals, food production, pharmaceuticals, laboratories, health, transport, and all the conventional sectors of the built environment during his career. Today he is focussed on the practical application of ventilation and germicidal filters, especially UV-C, to eliminate and control Coronavirus risk within conventional indoor environments.

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