In most cases, dealing with biohazard materials means dealing with chemical spills, blood, human or animal remains. A traumatic event that resulted in injury or death are situations that require biohazard restoration. The actual biohazard cleanup consists of cleaning, applying EPA approved hospital grade disinfectants, and deodorizing locations where traumatic events have occurred.

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

Once police and investigators finish gathering all the evidence from a crime scene, they are no longer responsible for any of the actual cleanup of the scene. When police release the crime scene area, the responsibility falls on the owner of the premises to employ biohazard cleaning services. The biohazard cleaning technicians can only start doing their work after authorities have permanently released the scene.

The Blood or Other Potentially Infectious Materials (BOPIM) Standard

The (BOPIM) standard stands for “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 dangers due to blood or other possible infectious materials (BOPIM).

Approximately 5.6 million workers in the healthcare industry and related occupations are helped by this standard. The biohazard restoration and cleaning field is also covered under the BOPIM standard.

The BOPIM standard additionally consists of various requirements, such as:

• 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 Situations

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

Each time abatement specialists handle potentially hazardous items, they are doing so at significant risk. Thus, following correct proper training and safety procedures are crucial. This is important not only for their own personal safety but also for the individuals who will live or work in the property after the biohazard remediation is complete.

Is Certification Required to Perform Biohazard Cleanup?

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

To protect the safety of our employees, PPE is used as the final barrier of defense. PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) protects the body from coming into contact with hazardous items, through the skin, eyes, mouth, nose, or any other body parts. PPE types change with each project, but needs to always include cut resistant and nitrile gloves, full face protection, appropriately designated waterproof coveralls, and a respirator.

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

Our Biohazard Cleanup Process

• The first task of the restoration crew is to inspect and identify all areas that need biohazard cleanup, perform a health and safety inspection, and identify the scope of the biohazard cleanup. When the specialists have a plan mapped out, restoration begins immediately
• All technicians will take measures to ensure their safety and that of anyone near the biohazard affected areas.
• The PuroClean technicians will then remove and dispose of all possibly infectious materials from your property.
• OSHA rules 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.
• Per state regulations and industry standards, technicians are obligated to dispose of porous materials such as fabric and carpeting that cannot be sufficiently 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 cart off and dispose of the items.
• Following the cleaning procedures, technicians deodorize all affected locations 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 perform clearance testing.
• Odors can usually be controlled by the removal of unsalvageable affected materials and by cleaning items with hospital-grade cleaning products. However, difficult situations may call for additional procedures of deodorization to achieve success.

Providing Biohazard Cleanup Services with Empathy

The massive sense of loss felt from property damage is not lost on PuroClean specialists. Our restoration specialists and owners make all possible efforts to be extremely sensitive to those who have experienced property damage and may be emotionally vulnerable. This particular type of cleanup calls for additional care and sympathy. Our technicians truly empathize with the individuals that are unfortunately suffering from this unthinkable situation.

The PuroClean RapidDefense™ Program

The RapidDefense™ Program by Puroclean is the optimal cleaning process. The RapidDefense™ Program implements the application of EPA approved hospital-grade disinfectants in all public areas. This system aids in blocking the spread of illnesses of pathogen-based origin, like Norovirus, Influenza and also the Novel coronavirus of 2019 (COVID-19). The procedure’s process calls for using Environmental Protection Agency-registered products that are safe and offers protection against pathogens that last up to three months. To help you create a clean environment, contact PuroClean before an outbreak occurs.

For Biohazard Cleaning Services, Call PuroClean!

When in need of biohazard restoration services, call the PuroClean professionals to clean and restore the contaminated areas. Our technicians use state-of-the-art equipment and techniques to effectively clean and restore the damage.

The high standard of PuroClean’s restoration services, the timeliness that we can deliver a completed project, and our authentic compassion all exhibit why we are the perfect choice for your biohazard remediation cleanup needs. PuroClean promises to rescue and restore all properties within our service zones.

*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 and application of hospital grade cleaners 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 the coronavirus is also spread person-to-person, PuroClean’s cleaning services are not guaranteed to stop 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.