Biohazard Cleanup Services in Orland Park and Tinley Park, IL

Biohazard cleanup involves cleaning, application of EPA approved hospital grade disinfectants, and deodorizing property where a traumatic event like an accident, injury, or death has happened. Thus, dealing with biohazards often means working with blood, human or animal remains, chemical spills, and more.

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 useful to remember that the state officials are not obligated to clean up a crime scene. When police investigators are finished collecting evidence from the area, the responsibility of cleaning the property shifts to the property owner to employ biohazard cleaning services. Professional cleanup teams can arrive onsite only when the police have gathered enough evidence pertaining to the crime.

The Blood or Other Potentially Infectious Materials (BOPIM) Standard

In 1991, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued a standard to protect working individuals from the potential dangers of blood or other potentially infectious materials (BOPIM). Infectious pathogens include the Hepatitis B virus, HIV, the 2019 Novel coronavirus (COVID-19), and numerous others.

This standard helps protect approximately 5.6 million workers in the healthcare industry and related occupations, which also includes biohazard remediation companies. Biohazard remediation falls within the scope of the BOPIM standard.

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

• 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 Scenarios

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

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 correct safety methods and specific training procedures are imperative. Following these procedures is not only significant 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 remediation is finished.

Is Certification Required to Perform Biohazard Cleanup?

It is not particularly necessary to obtain a certificate to become a biohazard technician. Although OSHA does require biohazard technicians to correctly wear PPE when working with bloodborne pathogens. Also, you will want to check your local city, state, and federal regulators for possible licensing requirements, laws, background checks, fingerprinting, or any other procedures that may be needed to perform remediation work. For example, the state of Georgia passed a law that involves companies providing restoration services linked to trauma and crime scene cleanup.

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 project to project, it should always have full-face protection, cut resistant and nitrile gloves, properly designated waterproof coveralls, and a respirator.

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

PuroClean Biohazard Cleanup Process

• Upon arrival, the remediation crew will inspect and find all affected areas, conduct a health and safety assessment, and make a decision as to the scope of the biohazard project. When the technicians have a plan put together, remediation begins immediately.
• Technicians will first take precautions to ensure their safety and the safety of any individuals near the affected areas.
• Technicians then gather and dispose of all potentially infectious items 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 handled and taken to a certified hazardous medical waste incinerator.
• Per industry guidelines and state regulations, technicians have to dispose of porous materials like fabric and carpeting that can’t be sufficiently cleaned.
• Hospital-grade disinfectants will be used on non-porous items that can be saved. If the items prove to be non-restorable, our technicians will remove and discard such items.
• After the cleaning procedure, technicians will deodorize all affected locations and assure the areas are returned to pre-contamination conditions and appearance. One procedure that ensures areas are totally cleansed and ready for occupancy is to have a licensed industrial Hygienist conduct clearance testing.
• Odors are usually controlled by the removal of uncleanable contaminated items and cleaning with hospital-grade cleaning products. However, difficult situations could require further methods of deodorization to achieve success.

Biohazard Cleanup Services Provided with Empathy

As with any type of property damage, PuroClean remediation professionals ensure that their actions do not worsen the sense of loss of the property owners. PuroClean proprietors and employees are exceptionally sensitive, understanding that the individuals involved may be emotionally fragile. When dealing with this type of restoration, it is important to always show additional care and compassion. PuroClean technicians sympathize with all materially focused individuals dealing with these traumatic situations.

The PuroClean RapidDefense™ Program by PuroClean

PuroClean’s PuroClean RapidDefense™ Program is the most effective way to clean, which includes the use of EPA approved hospital-grade cleaning solutions in public areas. Our system helps eliminate the spread of pathogen-based illnesses, such as Influenza, Norovirus, and the 2019 Novel coronavirus (COVID-19). The process uses Environmental Protection Agency-registered, safe solutions to provide up to three months of barrier against pathogens. Contact us before an outbreak occurs to assist you in creating a clean environment.

For Biohazard Cleaning Services, Call PuroClean!

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

PuroClean’s dedication to quality, compassion and timeliness of delivery throughout the complete project propels us above all other competition, and makes us the clean choice in the industry. PuroClean vows to put in the time to rescue, clean and restore properties 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 with the use of 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 COVID-19 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.