Biohazard remediation involves cleaning, applying EPA-approved hospital-grade disinfectants, and deodorizing property where a traumatic event such as an accident, injury, or death has occurred. Thus, projects with biohazards often mean dealing with blood, human or animal remains, chemical spills and more.
Included Within The Biohazard Cleanup Services
- Hoarding Cleanup
- Crime Scene Cleanup
- Deodorization and Odor Control
- Sewage Cleanup and Sanitation
- Virus Decontamination and Protection
- Blood and Bodily Fluid Remediation
Bear in mind that the state is not responsible for restoring a crime scene. After police investigators gather evidence from the scene, it is the responsibility of the property owner to seek biohazard cleaning services. A professional cleanup company can arrive onsite only after the police have gathered all evidence related to the crime.
BOPIM Standard
In 1991, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) put forth a standard to protect workers from the dangers of blood or other possibly infectious materials (BOPIM). Infectious pathogens include the Hepatitis B virus, HIV, the 2019 Novel coronavirus (COVID-19), and many others.
The standard helps protect approximately 5.6 million workers in the healthcare field and related occupations, including biohazard restoration businesses. Biohazard remediation is within the scope of the BOPIM standard.
The BOPIM standard also consists of specific requirements, such as:
- Conduct a Health and Safety Assessment (OSHA requirement)
- Using work practice controls
- Using appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- Proper handling, transport, and disposal of hazardous medical waste materials
- Specific required vaccinations
- Mandatory training
- Record keeping
Common Biohazard Situations
- Blood and bodily fluid
- Suicide or death
- Crime or homicide scenes
- Coronavirus contamination
- Chemical hazards
- Animal waste or remains
- Hoarding scenes
PuroClean specialists face significant dangers every time they handle potentially hazardous items. For this reason, the practice of proper training and safety steps are critically important. The training and safety actions are important for both the technicians employed on the project and the persons who will be occupying the premises once the biohazard restoration is complete.
Is Certification Needed to Perform Biohazard Cleanup?
To work as a biohazard technician, a certificate is not required. However, biohazard specialists are obligated to wear proper PPE when working in areas with bloodborne pathogens. Georgia recently passed legislation that affects any business providing remediation services related to trauma and crime scene cleanup and restoration. Therefore, you need to review and follow local city, state, and federal regulations that may call for special licensing or have certain rules and regulations in place for licensing requirements, background checks, fingerprinting, or further factors that may apply to biohazard cleanup businesses.
Personal Protective Equipment or PPE stands as the final line of protection that helps keep workers safe. PPE guards against any hazardous materials from reaching the workers through skin, eyes, nose, mouth, or other exposure. Particular PPE does vary depending on the surroundings. However, it should always include properly designated waterproof coveralls, nitrile gloves which are also cut resistant, full-face protection, and a respirator.
Additionally, well-established restoration companies offer biohazard handling training for new employees. The training includes learning on-the-job safety procedures as set by OSHA for handling biohazardous materials. Learning these methods reduces the risks of accidents or even potential lawsuits.
The PuroClean Process of Biohazard Cleanup
- Upon mobilization, the remediation crew will inspect and identify all affected areas, conduct a health and safety inspection, and make a determination as to the scope of the biohazard project. When the crew has a plan put together, remediation begins right away.
- PuroClean will first take precautions to ensure their safety and the safety of any individuals near the affected areas.
- Technicians then remove and dispose of all potentially infectious items from the site.
- OSHA regulations will dictate how hazardous medical waste is handled. As an example, spinal fluid, peritoneal fluid, amniotic fluid, and other bodily fluids are carefully removed and transported to a certified hazardous medical waste incinerator.
- Per industry guidelines and state laws, technicians have to get rid of porous materials like fabric and carpeting that can’t be sufficiently cleaned.
- Hospital-grade disinfectants are to be used on non-porous items that can be saved. If the items end up being non-restorable, our technicians will remove and discard such items.
- Following the cleaning procedure, technicians will deodorize all affected areas and assure the areas are returned to pre-contamination cleanliness and appearance. One method that ensures areas are completely cleansed and ready for occupancy is to have a licensed industrial Hygienist conduct clearance testing.
- Odors are usually controlled by the getting rid of uncleanable contaminated items and cleaning with hospital-grade cleaning products. However, difficult situations may require further methods of deodorization to achieve success.
Empathetically Provided Biohazard Cleanup Services
As with any property damage, PuroClean remediation professionals ensure that their actions do not worsen the sense of loss of the property owners. PuroClean owners and technicians are exceptionally aware, understanding that those involved may be emotionally fragile. When working with this type of cleanup, it is imperative always to show extra care and compassion. PuroClean technicians empathize with all materially interested individuals dealing with these traumatic events.
The PuroClean RapidDefense™ Program
The RapidDefense™ Program by PuroClean is the most efficient way to clean, which involves using EPA-approved hospital-grade disinfectants in common areas, high traffic zones. This cleaning system helps halt the spread of pathogen-based sickness germs, like Influenza, Norovirus, and the 2019 Novel coronavirus (COVID-19). These cleaning procedures use Environmental Protection Agency-registered, safe cleaning solutions to give up to 90 days of protection against pathogens. Contact PuroClean before an outbreak occurs and to help you provide the cleanest premises possible.
For Biohazard Cleaning Services, Call PuroClean!
When in need of biohazard restoration services, call the PuroClean professionals to clean and restore the contaminated areas. Our professionals use state-of-the-art equipment and techniques to effectively remediate the affected areas.
The quality of our remediation services, the speed at which we deliver them, and the empathy we demonstrate throughout the process make PuroClean your ideal damage restoration company. We pledge to do whatever it takes to fully clean, remediate and rescue properties in all the cities and towns we serve.
*Please note that not all PuroClean offices offer biohazard cleaning services. Please contact the PuroClean home office at 1-800-775-7876, and we will help you find a PuroClean location that can help you.
Cleaning and applying hospital-grade disinfectants of frequently touched objects and surfaces are the much-needed actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases, like coronavirus. Since any surface can be re-contaminated after cleaning, and because the coronavirus is also spread person-to-person, PuroClean’s cleaning services are not guaranteed to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html) for more information regarding coronavirus, spread, and prevention.
