In response to the coronavirus pandemic, the Miami Dolphins are seeking to have Hard Rock Stadium accredited by the Global Biorisk Advisory Council under its STAR™ accreditation. If successful, the stadium would become the first public facility to achieve that distinction, marking Hard Rock Stadium as a standard bearer for cleanliness and disinfection practices.
In a press release announcing the move, team and Hard Rock Stadium Vice Chairman and CEO Tom Garfinkel said it sought out the GBAC for the additional accountability a third-party entity provides.
“When our fans, players and staff are able to return to Hard Rock Stadium, we want them to have peace of mind that we're doing everything we can to create the safest and healthiest environment possible," Garfinkel said. "We didn't want to create our own standard, we wanted to be accountable to the most credible third-party standard that exists. Working with GBAC ensures compliance with critical guidelines for the highest standard of cleanliness and it is our hope that other venues will follow suit as we navigate through these unprecedented times."
The GBAC is a Division of ISSA, the international cleaning industry association.
In order to receive accreditation, Hard Rock Stadium must meet specific performance criteria under 20 program elements. The press release states the program will help the venue to:
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Establish and maintain a cleaning, disinfection and infectious disease prevention program to control and/or minimize risk associated with infectious agents such as SARS-CoV-2 (responsible for COVID-19 disease) for employees, customers, the community and the environment.
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Provide assurance and establish confidence that proper cleaning, disinfection and infectious disease prevention work practices are in place and implemented.
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Establish a framework for communication and raising awareness of best practices as they relate to cleaning, disinfection and infectious disease prevention.
"Through the accreditation process, Hard Rock Stadium will illustrate that it has a comprehensive program in place to ensure a clean, safe and healthy environment for its numerous constituents,” GBAC executive director Patty Olinger said in the release. “We look forward to supporting the organization and many others as facilities open following the COVID-19 pandemic."
