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

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

It is important to remember that the state officials are not required to clean up a crime scene. When police investigators are finished gathering evidence from the area, the responsibility of cleaning the property shifts to the property owner to seek biohazard cleaning professionals. Professional cleanup technicians can arrive onsite only after the police have gathered all evidence pertaining to the crime.

The Blood or Other Potentially Infectious Materials (BOPIM) Standard

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued a standard in 1991 to help guard all workers from possible 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.

BOPIM helps protect about 5.6 million workers in the healthcare industry and related occupations, which also includes biohazard remediation businesses. Biohazard remediation falls within the scope of the BOPIM standard.

The BOPIM standard also consists of various requirements, such as:

• 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)

Common Biohazard Scenarios

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

Every time technicians handle potentially hazardous materials, they are doing so at significant risk. Thus, following specific proper training and safety procedures are crucial. This is necessary not only for their own individual safety but also for the individuals who will reside in the property after the biohazard restoration is complete.

Is Certification Needed to Perform Biohazard Cleanup?

It is not mandatory to obtain a certification to become a biohazard technician. Although OSHA does require biohazard technicians to correctly wear PPE when working with bloodborne pathogens. Furthermore, you will want to check your local city, state, and federal regulators for possible licensing requirements, laws, background checks, fingerprinting, or any other factors that may be required to perform remediation work. As an example, the state of Georgia passed a law that affects companies providing restoration services related to trauma and crime scene cleanup.

PPE protects the safety of employees and is the last line of defense. This equipment protects the skin, eyes, mouth, nose and other areas from coming into contact to hazardous material. The extent of PPE used on each job may differ on different projects. However, PPE should always consist of full face protection, cut resistant and nitrile gloves, properly designated waterproof coveralls as well as a respirator.

Furthermore, reputable restoration companies offer biohazard remediation training for technicians. That includes learning OSHA’s on-the-job safety methods when handling biohazardous waste. Doing so reduces the risk of accidents and probable lawsuits.

PuroClean Biohazard Cleanup Process

• The first task of the remediation crew is to inspect and flag all areas that need biohazard cleanup, perform a health and safety assessment, and identify the magnitude of the biohazard cleanup. When the technicians have a plan in place, restoration will start immediately
• All technicians will take precautions to ensure their safety and that of anyone near the biohazard affected areas.
• The PuroClean technicians will then eradicate and dispose of all potentially infectious materials from the project.
• OSHA regulations dictate exactly how hazardous medical waste should be handled. For example: spinal fluid, peritoneal fluid, amniotic fluid, and any other bodily fluids are carefully handled and moved to a licensed hazardous medical waste incinerator.
• Per state regulations and industry guidelines, technicians are obligated to eradicate porous materials like fabric and carpeting that cannot be sufficiently cleaned.
• Non-porous items that are salvageable will be cleaned with hospital grade disinfectants. If these items are non-restorable, our technicians will remove and dispose of the items.
• Following the cleaning process, technicians deodorize all affected locations and return these areas to pre-contamination shape and appearance. One procedure that proves areas are fully cleansed and ready again for occupancy is to have a licensed industrial Hygienist perform clearance testing.
• Odors can normally be managed by the removal of unsalvageable affected materials and by cleaning items with hospital-grade cleaning products. However, tough situations may call for further procedures of deodorization to accomplish success.

Biohazard Cleanup Services Provided with Empathy

As with any sort of property damage, PuroClean remediation professionals ensure that their actions do not worsen your feeling of loss of the property owners. PuroClean owners and employees are exceptionally aware, understanding that those involved may be emotionally fragile. When dealing with this type of restoration, it is imperative to always show additional care and compassion. PuroClean technicians empathize with all materially focused individuals dealing with these traumatic situations.

The PuroClean RapidDefense™ Program

PuroClean’s PuroClean RapidDefense™ Program is the most effective way to clean, which includes the application of EPA approved hospital-grade disinfectants 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 products to give up to three months of protection against pathogens. Contact us prior to an outbreak occurs to assist you in creating a clean atmosphere.

For Biohazard Cleaning Services, Call PuroClean!

If your home or business is in need of biohazard restoration, contact PuroClean and our team of professionals to thoroughly clean and restore your contaminated areas. PuroClean technicians will sufficiently restore your contamination and damage using state-of-the-art techniques and equipment.

PuroClean’s commitment to quality, compassion and timeliness of delivery throughout the entire project propels us above all other competition, 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 the use of hospital grade disinfectants of frequently touched objects and surfaces are the required 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 stop 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.