Biohazard remediation involves cleaning, application of EPA approved hospital grade disinfectants, and deodorizing locations where a traumatic event such as an accident, injury, or death has happened. Thus, dealing with biohazards often means working with blood, human or animal remains, chemical spills, and more.

Our Biohazard Cleaning Services:

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

Bear in mind that state employees aren’t required to sanitize crime locations. When the authorities and investigators are finished 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.

The Blood Or Other Potentially Infectious Materials Standard

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

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

The BOPIM standard also has several requirements, as follows:

• Conduct a Health and Safety Assessment (OSHA requirement)
• Using work practice controls
• Using appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
• Proper handling, transport, and disposal of hazardous medical waste materials
• Specific required vaccinations
• Mandatory training
• Record keeping

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

Each and every time technicians handle potentially hazardous materials, 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 person or persons who will live or work in the property after the biohazard remediation is complete.

Is Certification Needed to Perform Biohazard Cleanup?

Biohazard specialists are not required to procure a certificate for their employment. However, biohazard technicians are obligated, by OSHA, to wear appropriate PPE while working with bloodborne pathogens. Furthermore, for workers to perform biohazard restoration, local, city, state and federal regulations may call for licensing requirements. Regulations may be in place that require the technicians to be subjected to background checks, fingerprinting, or additional actions. Georgia’s requirements are a good example. The state passed laws that affect companies who provide trauma and crime scene remediation.

PPE ensures the safety of workers and happens to be the last line of defense. This equipment guards the skin, eyes, mouth, nose and other body parts from being exposed to hazardous material. The extent of PPE used on each project may be different on different projects. However, PPE should always include full face protection, cut resistant and nitrile gloves, properly designated waterproof coveralls as well as a respirator.

Furthermore, reputable cleanup companies offer biohazard remediation training for technicians. That includes learning OSHA’s on-the-job safety methods when handling biohazardous materials. Doing this reduces the risk of accidents and probable lawsuits.

PuroClean Biohazard Cleanup Process

• The first step of the remediation crew is to inspect and identify all areas needing biohazard cleanup, perform a health and safety inspection, and identify the magnitude 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 the safety of anyone close to the biohazard affected areas.
• The PuroClean technicians will then eradicate and dispose of all possibly infectious materials from the project.
• OSHA rules dictate exactly how hazardous medical waste is to be handled. As an example: spinal fluid, peritoneal fluid, amniotic fluid, and any other bodily fluids are carefully handled and relocated to a licensed hazardous medical waste incinerator.
• According to state regulations and industry guidelines, technicians are required to eradicate porous materials such as fabric and carpeting that cannot be properly cleaned.
• Non-porous items that are salvageable will be cleaned with hospital grade disinfectants. If these items are unable to be restored, our technicians will cart off and dispose of the items.
• Following the cleaning process, technicians deodorize all affected locations and return these places to pre-contamination shape and appearance. One thing to do that proves areas are completely cleaned and ready again for habitation is to have a licensed industrial Hygienist perform clearance testing.
• Odors can usually be managed by the removal of unsalvageable contaminated materials and by cleaning items with hospital-grade cleaning products. However, tough situations may call for additional procedures of deodorization to accomplish success.

Empathetically Provided Biohazard Cleanup Services

PuroClean restoration specialists are very cognizant of their actions and make efforts to not add to an already difficult 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 from PuroClean try very hard to be extra sensitive, with complete understanding of the extreme emotions and traumatic situations present. PuroClean will constantly show empathy, extra care and attention.

The PuroClean RapidDefense™ Program

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

For Biohazard Cleaning Services, Call PuroClean!

Contact your local PuroClean when you’re in need of biohazard restoration services. PuroClean technicians will clean and restore your contaminated areas. State-of-the-art equipment, tools and procedures will be used by our specialists to effectively treat your damage.

The quality of our remediation services, the speed in which we deliver them, and the empathy we demonstrate throughout the process make PuroClean your perfect damage restoration company. We vow to do whatever it takes to fully clean, remediate and rescue properties in all the communities we serve.

*Please note that not all PuroClean offices offer biohazard cleaning services, please contact the PuroClean home office at 1-800-775-7876 and we will help find a PuroClean location that can help you.

Cleaning and application of hospital grade cleaners of frequently touched items and surfaces are the much needed actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases, like coronavirus. Since any location can be re-contaminated after cleaning, and since the coronavirus is also spread person-to-person, PuroClean’s cleaning services can’t be guaranteed to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html) for more information about coronavirus, its spread, and prevention.