WELL Building Institute Launches Safety Training

The International WELL Building Institute on Friday launched the WELL Health-Safety Rating for Facility Operations and Management, a third-party verified rating focusing on operational policies, cleaning protocols and design strategies to address a post COVID-19 environment. Industry leaders from sports and entertainment will advance the completion of the WELL Health-Safety Rating specific to these venues.

The WELL Health-Safety Rating, which will launch in June, also will apply to other facility types and market sectors, including offices, hotels, retail, grocery stores, warehouses, manufacturing, theaters, recreation, restaurants and schools.

Co-chairs for the effort are Dr. Richard Carmona, U.S. surgeon general during the George W. Bush administration; Tim Leiweke, CEO, Oak View Group (OVG is the owner of Pollstar and VenuesNow); Doug Behar, SVP and director of stadium operations, New York Yankees; Tim Romani, CEO, CAA Icon; Mike Biggs, VP for sports and entertainment partnerships, Jani-King; Bill Rhoda, president of global planning, Legends; and Dr. Allen Hershkowitz, environmental science adviser, New York Yankees.

“Given the current challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the sports and entertainment industries are going to be changed forever,” said Leiweke in a statement.  “We’re pleased to help lead the reopening of venues with the International WELL Building Institute, the world’s leading standard bearer and certifying body for healthy buildings, and to provide guidance on how best to ensure people can return safely to sports and entertainment facilities this year.”

Participation in the program will require submission of policies, protocols and strategies for third-party document review and annual compliance verification.

The rating will leverage extensive input gathered from a new group on industry leaders, the WELL Advisory on Sports and Entertainment Venues. Current WELL-registered projects and WELL Portfolio participants can earn the rating as part of their already established certification efforts. Advisory council members include the San Francisco 49ers’ Al Guido, Amy Latimer of TD Garden, Ilitch Holdings’ Chris Granger, Julia Palle of Sport and Sustainability International, and Charles Attal of C3 Presents.