Biohazard Cleanup Services in Chicago, IL

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

Our Biohazard Cleaning Services:

• Blood and Bodily Fluid Remediation
• Virus Decontamination and Protection
• Sewage Cleanup and Sanitation
• Deodorization and Odor Control
• Crime Scene Cleanup
• Hoarding Cleanup

Keep in mind that state employees aren’t required to clean crime locations. When Police and investigators are finished gathering their evidence, the burden falls to the owner of the property to arrange biohazard cleaning services. Only after the authorities have collected all evidence and have released the scene will biohazard cleanup technicians start their work.

The Blood or Other Potentially Infectious Materials (BOPIM) Standard

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) posted a standard in 1991 to protect all workers from possible dangers of blood or other potentially infectious materials (BOPIM). Hepatitis B virus, HIV, the 2019 Novel coronavirus (COVID-19), and many others are examples of Infectious pathogens.

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

The BOPIM standard also consists of specific requirements, such as:

• 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

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

Each and every time that PuroClean technicians handle materials that are potentially hazardous, they are taking a chance of serious risk to their safety. This is why following precise safety methods and specific training procedures are so important. 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 remediation is finished.

Biohazard Cleanup Certification Requirements

To be employed as a biohazard specialist, a certificate is not required. However, biohazard specialists are strongly required to wear proper PPE when working around bloodborne pathogens. The state of Georgia recently put into law which affects any business providing cleanup services related to traumatic event locations and crime scene cleanup and restoration. Therefore, you need to review and follow local city, state, and federal requirements that could call for specific licensing or have certain rules and regulations in place for licensing requirements, background checks, fingerprinting or more factors that may apply to biohazard cleanup performance.

PPE ensures the safety of workers and is the last line of defense. This equipment guards the skin, eyes, mouth, nose and other body parts from being exposed to hazardous material. The extent of PPE used on each job may differ on different projects. However, PPE should always include full face protection, cut resistant and nitrile gloves, properly designated waterproof coveralls and a respirator.

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

PuroClean Biohazard Cleanup Process

• First, the cleanup crew identifies the affected areas, conducts a health and safety evaluation, and determines the scope of the biohazard remediation. Once a plan is in place, remediation will take place as quickly as possible.
• The crews then take steps to maintain their safety and the safety of others near the cleanup site.
• All possible 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 in strict accordance with OSHA regulations and given to a licensed hazardous medical waste incinerator.
• Porous items like fabric and carpeting that can’t be sufficiently cleaned are disposed of following industry guidelines and state regulations.
• Non-porous materials are either cleaned using hospital-grade disinfectants if they are salvageable, or taken away and discarded if non-restorable.
• After cleaning is completed, technicians deodorize the affected areas, and will ensure all of the cleaned areas are returned to their previous state in appearance and cleanliness. One way to ensure that the area has 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 control odors, and in some tougher situations, other means of deodorization are used to accomplish the desired air cleanliness.

Biohazard Cleanup Services Provided with Empathy

Whether you’re the customer, occupant or owner of the property, PuroClean realizes and understands the magnitude of suffering you’re going through. Our restoration teams strive to be exceptionally sensitive and understanding so as not to worsen the sense of loss that may be felt. Biohazard restoration particularly can be extra traumatic. Therefore, all technicians empathize with all involved, showing the utmost delicacy and respect throughout the cleanup process.

The PuroClean RapidDefense™ Program

The PuroClean RapidDefense™ Program by PuroClean is the absolute best way to clean, which involves the use 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 cleaning solutions to give up to three months of protection against pathogens. Call PuroClean before an outbreak can occur, and to help you to maintain the cleanest premises possible.

For Biohazard Cleaning Services, Call PuroClean!

If you find yourself needing biohazard cleaning and restoration services, call PuroClean and let us clean and remediate the affected site. Our trained technicians use the latest, state-of-the-art equipment and methods to effectively and efficiently clean and restore your damaged property.

The expert level of our restoration services, the quickness that we deliver these services, and the compassion of our team throughout this trying time, helps to make PuroClean your go-to biohazard damage restoration company. We promise to do whatever it takes to help and rescue properties in all of the towns, cities, and 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 with the use 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 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.