Construction, renovation and maintenance projects are an Inevitable part of the operation of medical care facilities. Often, t!iese projects requre penetration of existing ceiling and wall spaces in which the ~mater~als of construction may have become reservoirs for biological and non-biological contaminants. These contaminants are a normal par: of our indoor environments and arise from the complex interactions of materials, equipment, operations systems and practices of the occupants. They can range from simple nuisance lmaterials to irritants to life threatening contagions. Dissemination of these contaminants into the hospital environment can present a clear and present danger to staff and patients. It is essential that hospitals and other imedical care facilities establish standards or policies for renovation, construction, and maintenance projects. The infection control practitioner must be involved in the policy development and should play a major role in the planning and operational phases of the project to protect the staff and patients from airborne contaminailts. In July. 1990, a lmaintenance and construction hygiene committee was formed in our 160 bed cancer hospital and reseal-cl? institute with the sole purpose of identifying precautiow necessary to contain airborne contaminants during construction, renovation, and normal imaintenance. These precautions included understanding of the potential for airborne transmiwon of disease, appropriate containment of the work area: proper cleantip and disposal of materials, and protective equipment needed for staff and patients during these projects. Representatives from various hospital departments participated on the workmg committee, including facilities engineering, infection control, environmental services, safety department and the Office of the Architect. The committee was successful m initiating a working construction policy that is still used today and has been adopted by our sister hospital, a large 715 bed University based teaching hospital.