In many 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 situations that call for biohazard restoration. The actual biohazard cleanup involves cleaning, applying EPA approved hospital grade disinfectants, and deodorizing areas where traumatic events have taken place.

Our Biohazard Cleaning Services:

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

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

BOPIM Standard

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

Nearly 5.6 million workers are helped by this standard in healthcare positions and related fields, and includes biohazard remediation companies as well. The BOPIM standard also covers the biohazard cleaning and removal industry.

The BOPIM standard also has several requirements, 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

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

PuroClean technicians face significant dangers each and every time they handle items that are potentially hazardous. For this reason, the implementation of proper training and safety precautions are critically important. The training and safety actions are important for both the technicians working on the project as well as the individuals who will be occupying the space once the biohazard restoration is complete.

Is Certification Needed to Perform Biohazard Cleanup?

Biohazard technicians are not required to obtain a certificate for their work. However, biohazard technicians are obligated, by OSHA, to wear appropriate PPE while working with bloodborne pathogens. Furthermore, for workers to perform biohazard remediation, local, city, state and federal regulations may call for licensing requirements. Laws may be in place that call for the technicians to submit to background checks, fingerprinting, or additional actions. Georgia’s requirements are a perfect example. The state passed legislation that affects businesses who provide trauma and crime scene remediation.

Personal Protective Equipment or PPE is the final line of protection that helps keep workers safe. PPE stops any hazardous materials from reaching the workers, through skin, eyes, nose, mouth, or any other contact. The type of PPE can differ depending on the project, however, it should always consist of properly designated waterproof coveralls, nitrile gloves which are also cut resistant, full-face guard, and a respirator.

Reputable and trustworthy remediation firms train their employees to work in the biohazard restoration field. This training includes teaching OSHA’s guidelines for handling biohazardous waste. This training protects everyone involved: technicians, bystanders, and future occupants. Furthermore, the risk of accidents and potential lawsuits is limited greatly.

The PuroClean Process of Biohazard Cleanup

• The first step of the remediation crew is to inspect and flag all areas needing biohazard cleanup, perform a health and safety inspection, and identify the magnitude of the biohazard cleanup. When the technicians have a plan mapped out, restoration begins immediately
• All technicians will take measures to ensure their safety and that of anyone close to the biohazard affected areas.
• The PuroClean technicians will then remove and dispose of all possibly infectious materials from your property.
• OSHA regulations dictate exactly how hazardous medical waste should be handled. As an example: spinal fluid, peritoneal fluid, amniotic fluid, and any additional bodily fluids are carefully handled and transported to a licensed hazardous medical waste incinerator.
• According to state regulations and industry guidelines, technicians are required to dispose of porous materials like fabric and carpeting that cannot be properly cleaned.
• Non-porous items that can be salvaged will be cleansed with hospital grade cleaning products. If these items are unable to be restored, our technicians will remove and dispose of these items.
• Following the cleaning procedures, technicians deodorize all affected areas and return these places to pre-contamination shape and appearance. One procedure that proves areas are fully cleansed and ready again for habitation is to have a licensed industrial Hygienist conduct clearance testing.
• Odors can usually be managed by the removal of unsalvageable affected materials and by cleaning items with hospital-grade cleaning products. However, tough situations may call for additional procedures of deodorization to accomplish success.

Biohazard Cleanup Provided with Empathy

PuroClean restoration specialists are very aware of their actions and make attempts to not add to an already stressful situation. With any type of property damage, the sense of loss felt by the property owners is already very present, and we try not to compound stress. Owners and technicians of PuroClean strive to be extra sensitive, with complete understanding of the vulnerable emotions and traumatic situations being experienced. PuroClean will constantly show empathy, extra care and attention.

The PuroClean RapidDefense™ Program

PuroClean’s PuroClean RapidDefense™ Program is the best way to clean, which includes the application of EPA approved hospital-grade cleaning solutions in public areas. Our system helps stop 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 products to provide up to three months of protection against pathogens. Contact us prior to an outbreak occurs to assist you in creating a clean atmosphere.

For Biohazard Cleaning Services, Call PuroClean!

When in need of biohazard remediation services, call the PuroClean team to clean and remediate the contaminated areas. Our professionals use state-of-the-art equipment and techniques to effectively clean and restore the affected areas.

The quality of PuroClean’s remediation services, the speed in which we deliver them, and the compassion we demonstrate during the process make PuroClean your perfect damage restoration company. We promise to do whatever it takes to fully clean, remediate and rescue properties in all the cities and towns we serve.

*As not all PuroClean offices offer biohazard 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 with the use of hospital grade disinfectants of frequently touched objects and surfaces are the recommended actions to help stop 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 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.