Traumatic events or accidents that may have resulted in injury or death, call for certified biohazard restoration professionals. PuroClean’s biohazard cleaning consists of the extreme cleaning and application of EPA approved hospital grade disinfectants and then completely deodorizing the area. Chemical spills, blood, and human or animal remains are examples of biohazard materials that call for professional cleaning.
Biohazard Cleanup Services in Springfield, VA Include
When police and investigators have gathered all the evidence from a crime scene, they are no longer responsible for any of the actual sanitizing of the scene. Once police release the scene, the responsibility is with the owner of the property to hire biohazard cleaning services. The biohazard cleaning technicians can only begin their work after police have actually released the scene.
BOPIM Standard
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) posted a standard in 1991 to protect all workers from the 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.
Nearly 5.6 million workers are helped by this standard in healthcare jobs and related occupations, and includes biohazard restoration companies also. The BOPIM standard also includes the biohazard cleaning and removal industry.
Also, the BOPIM standard has several requirements, including:
- 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)
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
Every instance that technicians need to handle potentially hazardous materials, it is done so at a significant risk. Thus, adhering to safety rules and proper training is necessary. The importance of these procedures are both for the technicians and people who will later occupy the previously contaminated space. The technicians and residents depend on these safety procedures. The safety of both technicians and tenants from biohazard dangers is highly important during and after the project.
Biohazard Cleanup Certification Requirements
It is not mandatory to obtain a certificate to become a biohazard technician. Although OSHA does require biohazard technicians to correctly wear PPE when dealing with bloodborne pathogens. Additionally, you may want to check your local city, state, and federal regulators for certain licensing requirements, laws, background checks, fingerprinting, or any other factors that may be needed to perform remediation services. As an example, the state of Georgia passed a law that includes companies providing restoration services related to trauma and crime scene cleanup.
To help ensure 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 materials, through the skin, eyes, mouth, nose, or any other area. PPE requirements change depending on the job, but should always include cut resistant and nitrile gloves, full face guard, properly designated waterproof coveralls, and a respirator.
Additionally, well known restoration firms offer biohazard cleanup training for new employees. The training consists of learning on-the-job safety methods as set by OSHA, for handling biohazardous materials. Learning these methods reduce risks of accidents, or even potential litigation situations.
PuroClean Biohazard Cleanup Process
- First, the restoration crew identifies the affected areas, completes a health and safety evaluation, and determines the scope of the biohazard cleanup. Once a plan is devised, remediation efforts begin as quickly as possible.
- Technicians then take precautions to maintain their safety and that of other individuals near the cleanup site.
- All potentially 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 transferred to a licensed hazardous medical waste incinerator.
- Porous items like fabric and carpeting that can’t be effectively cleaned are disposed of following industry guidelines and state regulations.
- Non-porous items are either cleaned with hospital-grade disinfectants if they are salvageable, or removed and disposed of if non-restorable.
- After cleanup is finished, technicians deodorize the affected locations, and will ensure all affected areas are returned to pre-loss conditions in appearance and cleanliness. One way to guarantee that the area has been cleaned and ready for occupancy is to have clearance testing performed by a licensed Industrial Hygienist.
- Removal of uncleanable contaminated materials, cleaning, and use of hospital-grade disinfectants are often enough to dissipate odors, and in some difficult situations, other procedures of deodorization are used to accomplish the desired goal.
Biohazard Cleanup Provided with Empathy
No matter if you’re the customer, occupant or owner of the property, PuroClean realizes and understands the magnitude of pain you’re going through. Our restoration crews strive to be exceptionally sensitive and understanding so as not to enhance the sense of loss that is already felt. Biohazard cleanup particularly can be extra traumatic. Therefore, all technicians empathize with all involved, showing the utmost compassion and respect throughout the restoration process.
The RapidDefense™ Program by PuroClean
PuroClean has implemented a cleaning process that we feel is the most adequate way to clean. The PuroClean RapidDefense™ Program consists mainly of the application of EPA approved hospital-grade disinfectants in high traffic areas. The 2019 Novel coronavirus (COVID-19), Norovirus, Influenza, and many more pathogen-based illnesses are the goal of our RapidDefense™ Program, helping to stop the spread of such contaminants. Environmental Protection Agency-registered, safe solutions are used for this method for up to 90 days of protection from pathogens. Contact PuroClean to stop an outbreak and help build a safe and clean atmosphere.
For Biohazard Cleaning Services in Springfield, VA, Call PuroClean!
When in need of biohazard restoration services, call the PuroClean team to clean and remediate the contaminated areas. Our professionals use state-of-the-art tools and methods to effectively remediate the damage.
The quality of our restoration work, the quickness in which we deliver these services, and the compassion of our team throughout this difficult time, helps to make us your ideal biohazard damage restoration choice. We promise to do whatever it takes to help and rescue properties in all of the towns, cities, and communities with 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 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 all surfaces and objects can be re-contaminated following cleaning, and because the coronavirus 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.
PuroClean of Springfield 
PuroClean of Springfield 