In most cases, dealing with biohazard materials means dealing with chemical spills, blood, human or animal remains. A traumatic event that caused an injury or death is a situation that requires biohazard cleanup. The actual biohazard cleanup consists of cleaning, applying EPA-approved hospital-grade disinfectants, and deodorizing areas where traumatic events have occurred.
Included Within The Biohazard Cleanup Services
- Blood and Bodily Fluid Remediation
- Virus Decontamination and Protection
- Sewage Cleanup and Sanitation
- Deodorization and Odor Control
- Crime Scene Cleanup
- Hoarding Cleanup
Bear in mind that state employees aren’t required to clean crime scenes. When Police and investigators have completed gathering their evidence, the responsibility falls to the property owner to arrange biohazard cleaning professionals. Only after the authorities have collected pertinent evidence and have re-opened the scene, can biohazard cleanup technicians start their work.
BOPIM Standard
In 1991, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) put forth a standard to protect workers from the risk of blood or other potentially infectious materials (BOPIM). Infectious pathogens include the Hepatitis B virus, HIV, the 2019 Novel coronavirus (COVID-19), and many others.
BOPIM helps protect approximately 5.6 million workers in the healthcare industry and similar occupations, including biohazard remediation businesses. Biohazard restoration falls within the scope of the BOPIM standard.
Also, the BOPIM standard consists of several requirements, including:
- 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
More 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 instance that technicians need to handle potentially hazardous materials is done so at significant risk. Thus, adhering to safety rules and proper training are necessary. The significance of these procedures is both for the workers and residents who will later occupy the previously contaminated space. The technicians and residents depend on these safety guidelines. The safety of both technicians and residents from biohazard dangers is of utmost importance during and after the project.
Is Certification Required to Perform Biohazard Cleanup?
To work as a biohazard technician, a certification is not required. However, biohazard workers are obligated to wear correct PPE when working in areas with bloodborne pathogens. Georgia recently passed legislation that affects any company providing cleanup services related to traumatic event locations and crime scene cleanup and restoration. Therefore, you should refer to local city, state, and federal laws that may call for specific licensing or have certain rules and regulations in place for licensing requirements, background checks, fingerprinting, or additional factors that may apply to biohazard cleanup performance.
PPE is the last line of defense and aids to ensure the safety of workers. PPE equipment prevents hazardous material from contacting the body through the skin, eyes, mouth, nose, or any other area. Although PPE is different from job to job, it should always have full-face protection, cut-resistant, and nitrile gloves, properly designated waterproof coveralls, and a respirator.
Reputable restoration companies offer biohazard restoration training for employees. Learning OSHA’s on-the-job safety methods for handling biohazard waste is a significant part of the coursework. The technician’s training greatly reduces the risk of potential lawsuits and injuries from accidents.
The PuroClean Process of Biohazard Cleanup
- First, the restoration crew identifies the affected areas, completes a health and safety evaluation, and determines the magnitude of the biohazard remediation. Once a plan is in place, remediation work begins as quickly as possible.
- Technicians then take precautions to maintain their safety and the safety of others near the cleanup site.
- All possible infectious materials are eradicated from the site and disposed of correctly.
- Hazardous medical waste, such as spinal fluid, peritoneal fluid, amniotic fluid, and other bodily waste, is handled following OSHA regulations and transferred to a licensed hazardous medical waste incinerator.
- Porous materials like fabric and carpeting that can’t be sufficiently cleaned are disposed of following industry guidelines and state regulations.
- Non-porous materials are either cleaned using hospital-grade disinfectants if they are salvageable, or removed and discarded if non-restorable.
- After cleanup is completed, technicians deodorize the affected areas, and will ensure all of the cleaned areas are returned to pre-loss conditions in appearance and cleanliness. One way to ensure that the area has been cleaned and ready for occupants 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 control odors, and in some difficult situations, other procedures of deodorization are used to accomplish the desired effects.
Providing Biohazard Cleanup Services with Empathy
The huge sense of loss felt from property damage is not lost on PuroClean specialists. Our remediation specialists and owners make all possible efforts to be extremely empathetic to those who have suffered property damage and maybe emotionally vulnerable. This special type of cleanup calls for additional care and compassion. Our technicians truly empathize with the individuals that are unfortunately suffering from this unthinkable situation.
The PuroClean RapidDefense™ Program
PuroClean has implemented a cleaning process that we feel is the best way to clean. The PuroClean RapidDefense™ Program includes the application of EPA-certified hospital-grade disinfectants in common areas. The 2019 Novel coronavirus (COVID-19), Norovirus, Influenza, and other pathogen-based illnesses focus on our RapidDefense™ Program, helping to stop the spreading of such contaminants. Environmental Protection Agency-registered, safe solutions for up to three months of protection from pathogens are used for this process. Reach out to PuroClean to stop an outbreak and help create a safe and clean environment.
For Biohazard Cleaning Services, Call PuroClean!
If you find yourself needing biohazard cleaning and restoration services, call PuroClean and let us 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 affected property.
The expert level of our restoration work, the quickness that we deliver these services, and the compassion of our team throughout this difficult time, helps to make us your go-to biohazard damage restoration company. We vow to do whatever it takes to restore and rescue properties in all towns, cities, and communities with our service area.
*As not all PuroClean offices offer biohazard cleaning services, don’t hesitate to get in touch with 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 using hospital-grade cleaners of high-traffic 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 coronavirus spread. 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.
