Biohazard restoration often means working to clean up areas where a devastating event has happened and requires professional cleanup of chemical spills, blood, or human and animal remains. Cleaning property during a biohazard cleaning involves the application of EPA-approved hospital-grade disinfectants and complete deodorization of the affected space.

Included Within The Biohazard Cleanup Services

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

It is useful to remember that state officials are not required to clean up a crime scene. When police officials are finished collecting evidence from the area, the duty of cleaning the area shifts to the property owner to seek biohazard cleaning services. Professional cleanup technicians can arrive on-site only when the police have gathered all evidence pertaining to the crime.

The Blood or Other Potentially Infectious Materials (BOPIM) Standard

The (BOPIM) standard stands for “blood or other potentially infectious materials”. Infectious pathogens are generally anything from Hepatitis B, HIV, and even the 2019 Novel coronavirus (COVID-19), and many others. In 1991, OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) set forth a standard to protect all workers from risks due to blood or other potentially infectious materials (BOPIM).

The standard helps protect approximately 5.6 million workers in the healthcare field and related occupations, which also includes biohazard remediation companies. Biohazard remediation falls within the scope of the BOPIM standard.

The BOPIM standard additionally consists of specific requirements, such as:

• 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)
• Record keeping
• Mandatory training
• Specific required vaccinations

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 time biohazard workers handle potentially hazardous materials, they are doing so at significant risk. Therefore, following correct proper training and safety procedures are very important. This is important not only for their own individual safety but also for the people who will live or work in the property after the biohazard restoration is complete.

Is Certification Required to Perform Biohazard Cleanup?

To be employed as a biohazard technician, a certification is not required. However, biohazard specialists are strongly required to wear correct PPE when working in areas with bloodborne pathogens. The state of Georgia recently passed legislation that affects any firm providing remediation services related to traumatic event locations and crime scene cleaning 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 additional factors that may apply to biohazard cleanup businesses.

Personal Protective Equipment or PPE stands as the final line of defense that aids in keeping workers safe. PPE prevents any hazardous materials from reaching the workers, through skin, eyes, nose, mouth, or any other contact. The type of PPE does vary depending on the surroundings, however, it should always consist of properly designated waterproof coveralls, nitrile gloves that are also cut resistant, a full-face guard, and a respirator.

Reputable remediation companies provide biohazard restoration training for workers. Learning OSHA’s on-the-job safety methods for handling biohazard waste is included in the training. The technician’s training greatly lessens the risk of potential lawsuits or injuries from accidents.

PuroClean Biohazard Cleanup Procedures

• First, the remediation crew identifies the affected areas, conducts a health and safety assessment, and determines the scope of the biohazard project. Once a plan is in place, remediation efforts begin as quickly as possible.
• Technicians then take steps to maintain their safety and that of other individuals near the cleanup site.
• All potentially infectious materials are eradicated from the site and properly disposed of.
• Hazardous medical waste, like spinal fluid, peritoneal fluid, amniotic fluid, and other bodily waste, is handled in strict accordance with OSHA regulations and given to a licensed hazardous medical waste incinerator.
• Porous materials like fabric and carpeting that can’t be effectively cleaned are disposed of following industry standards and state regulations.
• Non-porous items are either cleaned using hospital-grade disinfectants if they are salvageable, or removed and discarded if non-restorable.
• After cleaning is completed, technicians deodorize the affected locations, and will ensure all affected areas are returned to pre-loss conditions in appearance and cleanliness. One way to ensure that the areas have been cleaned and ready for occupancy is to have clearance testing performed by a licensed Industrial Hygienist.
• Removal of uncleanable contaminated materials, cleaning, and use of hospital-grade disinfectants are often enough to dissipate odors, and in some tougher situations, other means of deodorization are used to accomplish the desired goal.

Empathetically Provided Biohazard Cleanup Services

PuroClean restoration specialists are very cognizant of their actions and make efforts to not add to an already difficult situation. With any sort of property damage, the sense of loss felt by the property owners is already quite high, and we try not to add to this stress. Owners and technicians from PuroClean try very hard to be extra sensitive, with a full understanding of the vulnerable emotions and traumatic situations being experienced. PuroClean will always show empathy, extra care and attention.

The RapidDefense™ Program by PuroClean

PuroClean’s RapidDefense™ is the best way to clean, which includes the use of EPA-approved hospital-grade cleaning solutions in public areas. Our system helps stop 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 products to give up to three months of protection against pathogens. Contact us prior to an outbreak occurring to assist you in creating a clean atmosphere.

For Biohazard Cleaning Services, Call PuroClean!

Contact your local PuroClean when you’re in need of biohazard restoration professionals. PuroClean technicians will clean and remediate your contaminated property. State-of-the-art equipment, tools and methods will be used by our technicians to effectively treat your damage.

The quality of PuroClean’s remediation services, the quickness in which we deliver them, and the compassion we demonstrate during the process make PuroClean your ideal damage restoration company. We vow to do whatever it takes to clean, clear, restore and rescue properties in all the communities we serve.

*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 office that may be able to help you.

Cleaning and application of hospital-grade disinfectants of frequently touched items 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 since 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 about coronavirus, its spread, and prevention.