Biohazard Cleanup Services in Buffalo, NY

Biohazard cleanup often means working to clean up areas where a traumatic event has occurred, and requires professional cleanup of chemical spills, blood, or human and animal remains. Cleaning property during a biohazard cleaning involves the application of EPA approved hospital grade disinfectants and complete deodorization of the affected space.

Biohazard Cleanup Services Include

• 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 officials are finished collecting evidence from the scene, the responsibility of cleaning the property shifts to the property owner to employ biohazard cleaning services. Professional cleanup technicians can arrive onsite only after the police have gathered all evidence pertaining to the crime.

BOPIM Standard

The (BOPIM) standard stands for “blood or other potentially infectious materials”. Infectious pathogens can be 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).

Approximately 5.6 million workers are helped by this standard in healthcare jobs and related occupations, and includes biohazard remediation companies also. The BOPIM standard also covers the biohazard cleaning and restoration industry.

Additionally, the BOPIM standard includes several requirements, including:

• 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

PuroClean technicians face significant risk each and every time they handle materials that are potentially hazardous. For this reason, the use of proper training and safety precautions are critically important. The training and safety methods are important for both the technicians employed on the project as well as the tenants who will be occupying the premises once the biohazard work is complete.

Does Biohazard Cleanup Require Certification?

Biohazard technicians are not obligated to obtain a specific certificate to go to work. They are subject to OSHA requirements, however, to use the proper PPE when working with or close to bloodborne pathogens. We also suggest you find out the local city, state, and federal regulations for exact licensing obligations, laws, background checks, fingerprinting or other possible requirements to do biohazard restoration. For example, the state of Georgia put forth a new law that is connected to any company performing restoration services for crime scene and trauma remediation.

PPE protects the safety of employees and is the last line of protection. This equipment guards the skin, eyes, mouth, nose and other areas from being exposed to hazardous material. The extent of PPE used on each job may vary on different job sites. However, PPE should always include full face protection, cut resistant and nitrile gloves, properly assigned waterproof coveralls and a respirator.

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

The PuroClean Process of Biohazard Cleanup

• Upon mobilization, the remediation specialists will inspect and identify all affected areas, conduct a health and safety inspection, and make a decision as to the scope of the biohazard project. When the crew has 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 gather and dispose of all potentially infectious materials from the project.
• OSHA regulations will indicate how hazardous medical waste is handled. As an example, spinal fluid, peritoneal fluid, amniotic fluid, and other body fluids are carefully removed and taken to a certified hazardous medical waste incinerator.
• Per industry standards and state regulations, technicians have to get rid of porous materials such as fabric and carpeting that can’t be properly cleaned.
• Hospital-grade disinfectants are to 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 conditions and appearance. One method that ensures areas are totally cleansed and ready for people is to have a licensed industrial Hygienist perform clearance testing.
• Odors are normally controlled by the getting rid of uncleanable contaminated materials and cleaning with hospital-grade cleaning products. However, difficult situations may require further procedures of deodorization to achieve success.

Biohazard Cleanup Services Provided with Empathy

PuroClean restoration specialists are very aware of their actions and make attempts to not add to an already trying situation. With any sort of property damage, the feeling of loss experienced by the property owners is already quite high, and we try not to compound stress. Owners and technicians from PuroClean try very hard to be extra sensitive, with complete understanding of the vulnerable emotions and traumatic situations being experienced. PuroClean will constantly show empathy, extra care and compassion.

The PuroClean RapidDefense™ Program

PuroClean has adopted a cleaning process that we feel is the best way to clean. The PuroClean RapidDefense™ Program consists mainly of the application of EPA certified hospital-grade disinfectants in high traffic areas. The 2019 Novel coronavirus (COVID-19), Norovirus, Influenza and other pathogen-based illnesses are the goal of our PuroClean RapidDefense™ Program , helping to stop the spreading of such illnesses. Environmental Protection Agency-registered, safe solutions are used for this process for up to 90 days of protection against pathogens. Contact PuroClean to thwart an outbreak and help build a safe and clean environment.

For Biohazard Cleaning Services, Call PuroClean!

Contact your local PuroClean when you require biohazard restoration services. PuroClean technicians will clean and remediate your contaminated areas. 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 entire 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.

*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 recommended actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases, like coronavirus. Since any surface can be re-contaminated after cleaning, and because COVID-19 is also spread person-to-person, PuroClean’s cleaning services are not 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.