Biohazard Cleanup in Milwaukie, OR

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 areas during a biohazard cleaning includes the application of EPA approved hospital grade disinfectants and complete deodorization of the affected space.

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

It is important to remember that the state officials are not obligated to clean up a crime scene. When police investigators are finished gathering evidence from the area, the duty of cleaning the area shifts to the property owner to employ biohazard cleaning services. Professional cleanup technicians can arrive onsite only when the police have gathered all evidence related to the crime.

BOPIM Standard

In 1991, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued a standard to protect workers from the risk of blood or other possibly infectious materials (BOPIM). Infectious pathogens include the Hepatitis B virus, HIV, the 2019 Novel coronavirus (COVID-19), and many more.

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

Additionally, the BOPIM standard includes several requirements, as follows:

• 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 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 PuroClean professionals handle materials that are possibly hazardous, they are taking a chance of significant risk to their safety. This is why following precise safety methods and exact training procedures are necessary. Following these procedures is not only important to the technician’s safety, but for the safety of tenants who will later reside and occupy the affected space once the biohazard cleanup and remediation is finished.

Does Biohazard Cleanup Require Certification?

To work as a biohazard specialist, a certification is not required. However, biohazard workers are strongly required to wear proper PPE when working around bloodborne pathogens. The state of Georgia recently passed a law which affects any business providing restoration services related to trauma and crime scene cleaning and restoration. Therefore, you need to review and follow local city, state, and federal laws that could call for special licensing or have certain laws in place for licensing requirements, background checks, fingerprinting or additional factors that may apply to biohazard cleanup companies.

PPE is the final line of defense and aids to ensure the safety of workers. The equipment stops hazardous material from reaching the body through the skin, eyes, mouth, nose, or any other area. Although PPE is different from job to job, it should always include full-face protection, cut resistant and nitrile gloves, properly designated waterproof coveralls, and a respirator.

Reputable and trustworthy remediation companies train their employees to work in the biohazard restoration field. This training includes implementing OSHA’s directions for handling biohazardous materials. This training protects all involved: technicians, bystanders, and future occupants. Furthermore, the chance of accidents and potential lawsuits reduces greatly.

PuroClean Biohazard Cleanup Procedures

• First, the remediation crew will identify the affected areas, conducts a health and safety assessment, and determines the scope of the biohazard project. Once a plan is devised, remediation efforts begin as quickly as possible.
• The crews then take precautions to maintain their safety and the safety of others near the cleanup site.
• All potentially 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 fluids, is handled following OSHA regulations and transferred to a licensed hazardous medical waste incinerator.
• Porous items like fabric and carpeting that can’t be sufficiently cleaned are removed following industry standards and state regulations.
• Non-porous materials are either washed with hospital-grade disinfectants if the items appear to be salvageable, or taken away and disposed of if non-restorable.
• After cleaning is finished, technicians deodorize the affected areas, and will ensure all affected areas are returned to pre-loss conditions in appearance and cleanliness. One way to guarantee that the areas have 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 usually enough to dissipate odors, and in some tougher situations, other methods of deodorization are implemented to accomplish the desired goal.

Biohazard Cleanup Provided with Empathy

No matter if you’re the customer, occupant or owner of the project location, PuroClean completely grasps the magnitude of pain you’re going through. Our restoration crews strive to be exceptionally empathetic and understanding so as not to worsen the sense of loss that is already felt. Biohazard remediation particularly can be especially traumatic. Therefore, all PuroClean employees empathize with all individuals, showing the utmost compassion and respect throughout the restoration process.

The PuroClean RapidDefense™ Program

The RapidDefense™ Program by PuroClean is the absolute most efficient way to clean, which involves using of EPA approved hospital-grade disinfectants in public locations. This cleaning process helps halt the spread of pathogen-based illnesses, like Influenza, Norovirus, and the 2019 Novel coronavirus (COVID-19). These cleaning procedures use Environmental Protection Agency-registered, safe products to give up to 90 days of safe-guard against pathogens. Call PuroClean before an outbreak can occur, and to help you to maintain the cleanest conditions possible.

For Biohazard Cleaning Services, Call PuroClean!

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

PuroClean’s commitment to quality, compassion and timeliness 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 required locations in all communities within our service area.

*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 find a PuroClean location that can help you.

Cleaning and application of hospital grade disinfectants of frequently touched objects and surfaces are the suggested actions to help stop the spread of respiratory diseases, like coronavirus. Since all surfaces and objects can be re-contaminated following cleaning, and because the coronavirus is also spread person-to-person, PuroClean’s cleaning services cannot be 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.