Biohazard Cleanup Services in Albany

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 areas during a biohazard cleaning involves the application of EPA approved hospital grade disinfectants and full deodorization of the affected space.

Included Within The Biohazard Cleanup Services

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

Keep in mind that state employees aren’t required to clear crime scenes. When the authorities and investigators have completed gathering their evidence, the responsibility falls to the owner of the property to arrange biohazard cleaning professionals. Only after the authorities have collected pertinent evidence and have released the scene will biohazard cleanup professionals start their work.

BOPIM Standard

In 1991, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) put forth a standard to protect workers from the risk of blood or other potentially infectious materials (BOPIM). Infectious pathogens include the Hepatitis B virus, HIV, the 2019 Novel coronavirus (COVID-19), and many more.

This standard helps protect approximately 5.6 million workers in the healthcare field and related jobs, which also includes biohazard restoration businesses. Biohazard remediation is within the scope of the BOPIM standard.

The BOPIM standard also has a few requirements, as follows:

• 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 Situations

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

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 the reason that following precise safety methods and specific training procedures are necessary. 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 restoration is finished.

Is Certification Needed to Perform Biohazard Cleanup?

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

PPE is the final line of defense and helps ensure the safety of workers. PPE equipment stops hazardous material from coming into contact with the body through the skin, eyes, mouth, nose, or any other area. Although PPE is different from job to job, it should always include full-face protection, cut resistant and nitrile gloves, properly designated waterproof coveralls, and a respirator.

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

PuroClean Biohazard Cleanup Procedures

• First, the cleanup crew will identify the affected areas, conducts a health and safety evaluation, and determines the magnitude of the biohazard project. Once a plan is devised, remediation efforts begin as quickly as possible.
• The crews then take steps to maintain their safety and the safety of others near the cleanup site.
• All potentially infectious materials are eradicated from the site and properly disposed of.
• Hazardous medical waste, such as spinal fluid, peritoneal fluid, amniotic fluid, and other bodily waste, is handled following OSHA regulations and given to a licensed hazardous medical waste incinerator.
• Porous items like fabric and carpeting that can’t be sufficiently cleaned are removed following industry standards and state regulations.
• Non-porous materials are either washed with hospital-grade disinfectants if they are salvageable, or removed and disposed of if non-restorable.
• After cleaning is finished, technicians deodorize the affected locations, and will ensure all of the cleaned areas are returned to pre-loss conditions in appearance and cleanliness. One way to ensure that the area has been cleaned and ready for occupants is to have clearance tests 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 methods of deodorization are implemented to accomplish the desired air cleanliness.

Empathetically Provided Biohazard Cleanup Services

As with any type of property damage, PuroClean restoration professionals ensure that any actions do not worsen your feeling of loss of the property owners. PuroClean owners and employees are exceptionally aware, understanding that the individuals involved may be emotionally fragile. When working with this type of cleanup, it is important to always show extra care and compassion. PuroClean technicians empathize with all materially interested individuals working through these traumatic situations.

The PuroClean RapidDefense™ Program

The RapidDefense™ Program by PuroClean is the absolute most efficient way to clean, which involves the use of EPA approved hospital-grade disinfectants in common areas, high traffic zones. This cleaning process helps halt the spread of pathogen-based sickness germs, like Influenza, Norovirus, and the 2019 Novel coronavirus (COVID-19). These cleaning methods use Environmental Protection Agency-registered, safe products to give up to three months of protection against pathogens. Contact PuroClean before an outbreak can occur, and to help you provide the cleanest conditions possible.

For Biohazard Cleaning Services, Call PuroClean!

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

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 top choice in the industry. PuroClean vows to go the extra mile 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 1-800-775-7876 to help you find a PuroClean location that may be able to help you.

Cleaning and the use of hospital grade disinfectants of high traffic touched objects and surfaces are the required 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 thwart 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.