Biohazard Removal & Cleanup in Tuscaloosa, AL

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 are circumstances that call for biohazard restoration. The actual biohazard waste removal consists of cleaning, applying EPA-approved hospital-grade disinfectants, and deodorizing areas where traumatic events have occurred.

Biohazard Removal & 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 the state is not responsible for restoring a crime scene. Once police investigators collect evidence from the scene, it is up to the property owner to employ biohazard cleaning services. A professional cleanup company can arrive onsite only after the police have gathered all evidence of the crime.

The Blood or Other Potentially Infectious Materials (BOPIM) Standard

The (BOPIM) standard means “blood or other potentially infectious materials.” Infectious pathogens can range from 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 employees from risks due to blood or other possible infectious materials (BOPIM).

This standard helps protect close to 5.6 million workers in the healthcare field and related occupations, including biohazard remediation businesses. Biohazard waste removal falls within the scope of the BOPIM standard.

The BOPIM standard also has 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

More Common Biohazard Scenarios

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

Every time PuroClean professionals handle potentially hazardous materials, they are taking a chance of serious risk to their safety. This is the reason that following precise safety methods and specific training procedures are so important. Following these procedures is important to the technician’s safety and the safety of property owners who will later reside and occupy the affected space once the biohazard removal and remediation are finished.

Biohazard Cleanup Certification Requirements

Biohazard technicians are not required to obtain a certificate for their work. However, by OSHA, biohazard technicians are required to wear appropriate PPE while working around bloodborne pathogens. Furthermore, for technicians to perform biohazard removal, local, city, state, and federal laws may call for licensing requirements. Laws may be in place that calls for the technicians to submit to background checks, fingerprinting, or additional actions. Georgia’s requirements are a perfect example. The state passed laws that affect businesses that provide 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 requirements change with each project, but needs to always consist of cut resistant and nitrile gloves, full face protection, appropriately designated waterproof coveralls, and a respirator.

Furthermore, reputable cleanup companies offer biohazard remediation classes for technicians. That includes learning OSHA’s on-the-job safety procedures when working with biohazardous materials. Doing so reduces the potential of accidents and probable legal action against you.

PuroClean Biohazard Removal Process

• Upon arrival, the remediation specialists will inspect and identify all affected areas, conduct a health and safety inspection, and determine the scope of the biohazard cleanup. When the technicians have a plan in place, remediation begins right away.
• PuroClean will first take precautions to ensure their safety and the safety of others near the affected areas.
• Technicians then remove and dispose of all potentially infectious waste from the project.
• OSHA regulations will dictate how hazardous medical waste is handled. For example, spinal fluid, peritoneal fluid, amniotic fluid, and other bodily fluids are carefully removed and taken to a certified hazardous medical waste incinerator.
• Per industry guidelines and state laws, technicians must dispose of porous materials such as fabric and carpeting that can’t be adequately cleaned.
• Hospital-grade disinfectants will be used on non-porous items that can be saved. If the items end up being non-restorable, our technicians will remove and dispose of such items.
• Following the cleaning procedure, technicians will deodorize the affected areas and assure the areas are returned to pre-contamination cleanliness and appearance. One procedure that ensures areas are totally cleansed and ready for people is to have a licensed industrial Hygienist perform clearance testing.
• Odors are usually controlled by the removal of uncleanable contaminated materials and cleaning with hospital-grade disinfectants. However, difficult situations may require further methods of deodorization to achieve success.

Empathetically Provided Biohazard Cleanup Services

Whether you’re the customer, occupant, or owner of the project location, PuroClean realizes and understands the magnitude of suffering you’re going through. Our restoration specialists strive to be exceptionally empathetic and understanding to not enhance the sense of loss that is already felt. Biohazard restoration particularly can be extra traumatic. Therefore, all technicians empathize with all individuals, showing the utmost compassion and respect throughout the cleanup process.

The PuroClean RapidDefense™ Program

PuroClean’s RapidDefense™ is the best way to clean, including 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). This procedure uses Environmental Protection Agency-registered, safe solutions to provide up to three months of protection against pathogens. Contact us before an outbreak occurs to assist you in creating a clean environment.

For Biohazard Removal & Cleaning Services, Call PuroClean!

If your home or business requires biohazard removal, cleanup, and remediation, contact PuroClean and our team of professionals to thoroughly clean and restore your contaminated areas. PuroClean technicians will effectively restore your affected areas using state-of-the-art techniques and equipment.

PuroClean’s commitment to quality, compassion and speed of delivery throughout the entire project propels us above all other cleaning companies and makes us the clear choice in the industry. PuroClean vows to put in the time to rescue, clean, and restore required locations in all communities within our service area.

*As not all PuroClean offices offer biohazard removal & 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 applying hospital-grade cleaners of frequently touched objects and surfaces are the recommended actions to help stop the spread of respiratory diseases like coronavirus. Since all surfaces and objects can be re-contaminated after cleaning, and because the coronavirus is also spread person-to-person, PuroClean’s cleaning services are not guaranteed to prevent coronavirus spread. Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html) for more information regarding coronavirus, spread, and prevention.