Biohazard Cleanup Services in Northbrook, IL

Biohazard cleanup 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 full deodorization of the affected space.

Biohazard & Crime Scene 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 employees aren’t required to clear crime scenes. When Police and investigators have completed gathering their evidence, the responsibility falls to the property owner to arrange biohazard cleaning services. Only after the authorities have collected pertinent evidence and have re-opened the scene can biohazard cleanup technicians start their work.

The Blood Or Other Potentially Infectious Materials Standard

In 1991, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) put forth a standard to protect workers from the dangers 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 about 5.6 million people in the healthcare industry and similar occupations, which also includes biohazard remediation businesses. Biohazard restoration falls within the scope of the BOPIM standard.

Also, the BOPIM standard consists of several requirements, including:

• 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

Common Biohazard Situations

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

Each and every time that PuroClean professionals handle materials that are potentially hazardous, they are taking a chance of significant risk to their safety. This is why following proper safety methods and specific training procedures are necessary. Following these procedures is not only important to the technician’s safety, but for the safety of property owners who will later reside and occupy the affected space once the biohazard cleanup and restoration is finished.

Is Certification Required to Perform Biohazard Cleanup?

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

To protect the safety of our technicians, PPE is used as the final barrier 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 types change depending on the job, but needs to always include cut resistant and nitrile gloves, full face guard, appropriately designated waterproof coveralls, and a respirator.

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

PuroClean Biohazard Cleaning Service Procedures

• First, the biohazard remediation crew identifies the affected areas, completes 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 the safety of others near the cleanup site.
• All potentially infectious materials are eradicated from the site and properly disposed of.
• Hazardous medical waste, such as spinal fluid, peritoneal fluid, amniotic fluid, and other bodily waste, is handled in strict accordance with OSHA regulations and sent to a licensed hazardous medical waste incinerator.
• Porous items like fabric and carpeting that can’t be effectively 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 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 guarantee that the areas have been cleaned and ready for occupants is to have clearance tests 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 methods of deodorization are used to accomplish the desired air cleanliness.

Empathetically Provided Biohazard Cleanup Services

The massive sense of loss experienced from property damage is not lost on PuroClean technicians. Our remediation specialists and owners make all possible efforts to be extremely sensitive to those who have suffered property damage and could be emotionally vulnerable. This particular type of cleanup calls for additional care and compassion. Our technicians genuinely empathize with the individuals that are unfortunately experiencing loss from this unthinkable situation.

The PuroClean RapidDefense™ Program

The PuroClean RapidDefense™ Program by Puroclean is the optimal biohazard cleaning process. The PuroClean RapidDefense™ Program implements the application of EPA approved hospital-grade cleaning products in all public areas. This process aids in blocking the spread of illnesses of pathogen-based origin, like Norovirus, Influenza and also the Novel coronavirus of 2019 (COVID-19). The procedure’s process calls for the use of Environmental Protection Agency-registered products that are safe and offers protection against pathogens that last up to three months. To help you maintain a clean environment, contact PuroClean before an outbreak affects you.

For Biohazard Cleaning Services, Call PuroClean!

When in need of biohazard or crime scene cleanup services, call the PuroClean professionals to clean and remediate the contaminated site. Our biohazard specialists use state-of-the-art tools and methods to effectively remediate the damage.

The quality of our remediation services, the speed in which we deliver them, and the empathy we demonstrate during the process make PuroClean your ideal damage restoration company. We vow to do whatever it takes to clean, clea, 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 800-775-7876 to help you find a PuroClean location that may be able to help you.

Cleaning and application of hospital grade disinfectants of frequently touched objects and surfaces are the suggested actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases, like coronavirus. Since any surface 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.