USAA announced today it is the first company in the insurance industry to earn the WELL Health-Safety Rating for 12 of its facilities in San Antonio, TX; Chesapeake, VA; Colorado Springs, CO; Phoenix, AZ; Plano, TX and Tampa, FL, representing more than 7.5 million square feet of office space. Created by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), the WELL Health-Safety Rating is an evidence-based and third-party verification focusing on operational policies, maintenance protocols, stakeholder engagement and emergency plans to address a post-COVID-19 environment now and into the future.

Designed to empower organizations to take the necessary steps in order to prioritize the health and safety of their workforce, visitors and stakeholders, the WELL Health-Safety Rating can help guide businesses in preparing their buildings for re-entry in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, instilling confidence in those who come through the facilities as well as the broader community.

“To be considered for this prestigious accomplishment, our facilities had to show evidence of meeting or exceeding several requirements, ranging from air and water quality management; emergency preparedness; and cleaning and sanitization,” said Andrew Walker, USAA chief administrative officer. “While many of our practices have been in place for years, this certification is a testament to the quality of our COVID-19 response and an important step to help position the safe and healthy return of employees back to our offices.”

In order to achieve the WELL Health-Safety Rating, USAA implemented or already had in effect 19 features in each of its facilities, such as reducing surface contact, improving cleaning practices and assessing and maintaining air treatment systems. These features are intended to help protect USAA’s workforce as they transition from working from home and return to the office in the future.

“USAA’s leading efforts to earn the WELL Health-Safety Rating highlight the critical role that buildings, and those that own and operate them, can play in supporting people’s health, safety and well-being,”

Jessica Cooper, IWBI Chief Commercial Officer

“At IWBI, we are proud to celebrate this achievement with USAA as they lead the way toward a healthy, resilient recovery and help drive transformative action across the country.”

USAA’s facilities were awarded the WELL Health-Safety Rating following the successful completion of third-party documentation review by Green Business Certification, Inc. to confirm USAA has met the feature specific intents and requirements.

Source: USAA