Biohazard Cleanup Services in Chicago

Traumatic events or accidents that have resulted in injury or death, call for certified biohazard cleanup professionals. Our biohazard cleaning consists of the extensive cleansing and application of EPA approved hospital grade disinfectants and then thoroughly deodorizing the location. Chemical spills, blood, and human or animal remains are examples of biohazard materials that call for professional cleaning.

Biohazard Cleanup Services Include

• Sewage Cleanup and Sanitation
• Virus Decontamination and Protection
• Blood and Bodily Fluid Remediation
• Hoarding Cleanup
• Crime Scene Cleanup
• Deodorization and Odor Control

Keep in mind that state investigators aren’t required to clear crime locations. When the authorities and investigators have completed gathering their evidence, the responsibility falls to the property owner to arrange biohazard cleaning services. Only after police have collected all evidence and have re-opened the scene can biohazard cleanup technicians start their work.

BOPIM Standard

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) posted a standard in 1991 to help guard all workers from the dangers of blood or other potentially infectious materials (BOPIM). Hepatitis B virus, HIV, the 2019 Novel coronavirus (COVID-19), and many others are examples of Infectious pathogens.

Approximately 5.6 million employees are helped by this standard in healthcare jobs and related fields, and includes biohazard remediation companies also. The BOPIM standard also includes the biohazard cleaning and removal industry.

Additionally, the BOPIM standard includes several requirements, including:

• Record keeping
• Mandatory training
• Specific required vaccinations
• Proper handling, transport and disposal of hazardous medical waste materials
• Using appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
• Using work practice controls
• Conduct a Health and Safety Assessment (OSHA requirement)

More Common Biohazard Scenarios

• Blood and bodily fluid
• Suicide or death
• Crime or homicide scenes
• Coronavirus contamination
• Chemical hazards
• Animal waste or remains
• Hoarding scenes

Every single time that technicians need to handle potentially hazardous materials, it is performed at a significant risk. Therefore, adhering to safety procedures and proper training is necessary. The importance of these procedures are both for the technicians and residents who will later occupy the previously biohazard affected space. The technicians and residents depend on these safety procedures. The safety of both technicians and tenants from biohazard dangers is highly important during and after the project.

Bio-Forensic Restoration: Microbial Warrior

Commonly known as “crime and trauma scene cleaning,” forensic restoration is defined as the comprehensive cleaning and remediation of buildings and structures contaminated or suspected to be contaminated from biological materials. Site and risk assessments need to be completed that starts with the initial contact, acquiring critical incident data: the who, what, when, where and how, which begins to lay the foundation of knowledge that helps forensic operators to prepare physically, mentally, and even spiritually to perform at a top tier level. From our incident site/risk assessment, we determine the scope of work.

We at PuroClean of Lincoln Park/Bucktown have been certified as Bio-Forensic Restoration Specialist® which includes:

• Pandemic and infectious disease outbreaks
• Biorisk management
• Biosafety and biosecurity
• Crime and trauma scenes
• Hoarding conditions and unsanitary dwellings
• Unattended deaths
• Bioterrorism and the deliberate release of bacteria, viruses, insects, fungi, or toxins that can kill or disable people, animals, and food supplies
• Mass casualty incidents, including active shooter situations, terrorist acts, explosions, natural disasters, vehicle accidents, and mass transit mishaps (planes, trains, ships, buses).

Biohazard Cleanup Certification Requirements

Biohazard technicians are not required to procure a certificate for their employment. However, biohazard technicians are obligated, by OSHA, to wear proper PPE while working around bloodborne pathogens. Furthermore, for workers to perform biohazard remediation, local, city, state and federal regulations may call for licensing requirements. Regulations may be in place that call for the technicians to be subjected to background checks, fingerprinting, or additional actions. Georgia’s requirements are a prime example. The state passed laws that affect companies who provide trauma and crime scene restoration.

To protect the safety of our technicians, PPE is used as the last line of defense. PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) protects the body from coming into contact with hazardous materials, through the skin, eyes, mouth, nose, or any other body parts. PPE requirements change depending on the job, but needs to always consist of cut resistant and nitrile gloves, full face protection, properly designated waterproof coveralls, and a respirator.

Additionally, well known restoration businesses offer biohazard remediation training for new employees. The training consists of learning on-the-job safety methods as set by OSHA, for handling biohazardous materials. Learning these methods reduce dangers of accidents, or even potential lawsuits.

Our Biohazard Cleanup Process

• Upon mobilization, the remediation team will inspect and identify all affected locations, conduct a health and safety assessment, and make a decision as to the scope of the biohazard cleanup. When the technicians have a plan put together, remediation begins immediately.
• PuroClean will first take precautions to ensure their safety and the safety of others near the affected areas.
• Technicians then gather and dispose of all potentially infectious materials from the project.
• OSHA regulations will explain how hazardous medical waste is handled. For example, spinal fluid, peritoneal fluid, amniotic fluid, and other body fluids are carefully removed and taken to a licensed hazardous medical waste incinerator.
• Per industry standards and state laws, technicians have to get rid of porous materials like fabric and carpeting that can’t be sufficiently cleaned.
• Hospital-grade disinfectants will be used on non-porous items that can be salvaged. If the items prove to be non-restorable, our technicians will remove and discard such items.
• Following the cleaning procedure, technicians will deodorize the affected locations and assure they are returned to pre-contamination conditions and appearance. One method that ensures areas are fully cleansed and ready for people is to have a licensed industrial Hygienist conduct clearance testing.
• Odors are normally controlled by the removal of uncleanable contaminated materials and cleaning with hospital-grade cleaning products. However, difficult situations may require further methods of deodorization to achieve the desired goal.

Providing Biohazard Cleanup Services with Empathy

Whether you’re the customer, occupant or owner of the property, PuroClean completely grasps the magnitude of suffering you’re going through. Our restoration specialists strive to be exceptionally sensitive and understanding so as not to worsen the sense of loss that is already felt. Biohazard restoration particularly can be extra traumatic. Therefore, all technicians empathize with all individuals, showing the utmost delicacy and respect throughout the cleanup process.

The RapidDefense™ Program by PuroClean

PuroClean’s RapidDefense™ is the best way to clean, which includes the application of EPA approved hospital-grade cleaning solutions in public areas. Our system helps prevent the spread of pathogen-based illnesses, such as Influenza, Norovirus, and the 2019 Novel coronavirus (COVID-19). The process uses Environmental Protection Agency-registered, safe solutions to give up to three months of protection against pathogens. Contact us prior to an outbreak occurs to help you in creating a clean environment.

For Biohazard Cleaning Services, Call PuroClean!

If you find yourself in need of biohazard cleaning and restoration services, call PuroClean and allow us to clean and remediate the affected site. Our trained technicians use the latest, state-of-the-art equipment and methods to effectively and efficiently clean and restore your damaged property.

PuroClean’s commitment to quality, compassion and speed of delivery throughout the complete project propels us above all other cleaning companies, and makes us the clean choice in the industry. PuroClean vows to go the extra mile to rescue, clean and restore properties in all communities within our service area.

*As not all PuroClean offices offer biohazard cleaning services, please contact the PuroClean home office at 1-800-775-7876 to help you find a PuroClean location that may be able to help you.

Cleaning and application of hospital grade cleaners of frequently touched objects and surfaces are the recommended 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 coronavirus. Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html) for more information regarding coronavirus, its spread, and prevention.