Biohazard Cleanup Services in Columbus

Biohazard restoration often means working to clean up areas where a devastating event has happened, and requires professional cleanup of chemical spills, blood, or human and animal remains. Cleaning areas during a biohazard cleaning includes the application of EPA approved hospital grade disinfectants and full deodorization of the affected space.

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

It is useful to remember that the state officials are not obligated to clean up a crime scene. When police investigators are finished gathering evidence from the area, the responsibility of cleaning the area shifts to the property owner to employ biohazard cleaning professionals. Professional cleanup teams can arrive onsite only after the police have gathered all evidence related to the crime.

The Blood Or Other Potentially Infectious Materials Standard

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

Nearly 5.6 million employees are helped by this standard in healthcare positions and related occupations, and includes biohazard restoration companies also. The BOPIM standard also covers the biohazard cleaning and removal industry.

Additionally, the BOPIM standard includes several 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)

More Common Biohazard Scenarios

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

PuroClean technicians face significant risk each and every time they handle materials that are potentially hazardous. For this reason, the practice of proper training and safety steps are critically important. The training and safety actions are important for both the technicians employed on the project as well as the tenants who will be occupying the space once the biohazard remediation is complete.

Biohazard Cleanup Certification Requirements

Biohazard workers are not obligated to obtain a specific certificate to perform their work. They are subject to OSHA requirements, however, to use the proper PPE when working with or around bloodborne pathogens. We also recommend you follow the local city, state, and federal regulations for certain licensing obligations, laws, background checks, fingerprinting or additional requirements to work in biohazard restoration. For example, the state of Georgia put forth a new law that is connected to any company performing restoration services for crime scene and trauma restoration.

PPE protects the safety of workers and is the last line of protection. This equipment guards the skin, eyes, mouth, nose and other areas from coming into contact to hazardous material. The extent of PPE used on each project may vary on different job sites. However, PPE should always consist of full face protection, cut resistant and nitrile gloves, properly designated waterproof coveralls as well as a respirator.

Reputable and trustworthy remediation companies train their employees to work in the biohazard restoration field. This training includes implementing OSHA’s directions for handling biohazardous materials. This training protects all involved: technicians, bystanders, and future occupants. Furthermore, the chance of accidents and potential lawsuits goes down greatly.

PuroClean Biohazard Cleanup Procedures

• First, the remediation crew identifies the affected areas, completes a health and safety evaluation, and determines the scope of the biohazard cleanup. Once a plan is in place, remediation work begins as quickly as possible.
• The crews then take precautions to maintain their safety and the safety of others near the cleanup site.
• All possible 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 fluids, is handled in strict accordance with OSHA regulations and sent to a licensed hazardous medical waste incinerator.
• Porous items like fabric and carpeting that can’t be effectively 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 discarded if non-restorable.
• After cleanup is completed, 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 areas have been cleaned and ready for occupancy 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 dissipate odors, and in some difficult situations, other methods of deodorization are implemented to accomplish the desired air cleanliness.

Providing Biohazard Cleanup Services with Empathy

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

The PuroClean RapidDefense™ Program

PuroClean’s RapidDefense™ is the best way to clean, which includes the use of EPA approved hospital-grade disinfectants 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 give up to three months of protection against pathogens. Contact us before an outbreak occurs to help you in creating a clean atmosphere.

For Biohazard Cleaning Services, Call PuroClean!

If you find yourself in need of biohazard cleaning and restoration expertise, 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 quality of our restoration services, the quickness in which we deliver these services, and the compassion of our team throughout this difficult time, helps to make PuroClean your go-to biohazard damage restoration choice. We vow 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 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 all surfaces and objects can be re-contaminated following cleaning, and because COVID-19 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.