In most cases, dealing with biohazard materials means dealing with chemical spills, blood, human or animal remains. A traumatic accident that caused an injury or death are situations that call for biohazard cleanup. The actual biohazard cleanup consists of cleaning, applying EPA approved hospital grade disinfectants, and deodorizing locations where traumatic events have taken place.

Included Within The Biohazard Cleanup Services

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

It is important to remember that the state officials are not required to clean up a crime scene. When police officials are finished gathering evidence from the area, the duty of cleaning the area shifts to the property owner to employ biohazard cleaning professionals. Professional cleanup technicians can arrive onsite only when the police have gathered enough evidence related to the crime.

The Blood or Other Potentially Infectious Materials (BOPIM) Standard

The (BOPIM) standard means “blood or other potentially infectious materials”. Infectious pathogens can be 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 workers from dangers due to blood or other possible infectious materials (BOPIM).

This standard helps protect about 5.6 million employees in the healthcare industry and related occupations, which also includes biohazard remediation businesses. Biohazard remediation falls within the scope of the BOPIM standard.

Also, the BOPIM standard has several requirements, including:

• 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

Common Biohazard Scenarios

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

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

Is Certification Required to Perform Biohazard Cleanup?

It is not mandatory to obtain a certificate to become a biohazard technician. Although OSHA does require biohazard technicians to correctly wear PPE when working with bloodborne pathogens. Furthermore, you will want to check your local city, state, and federal regulators for possible licensing requirements, laws, background checks, fingerprinting, or any other procedures that may be required to perform remediation services. As an example, the state of Georgia passed a law that affects companies providing restoration services linked to trauma and crime scene cleanup.

Personal Protective Equipment or PPE stands as the final line of protection that helps keep workers safe. PPE guards against any hazardous materials from reaching the workers, through skin, eyes, nose, mouth, or any other exposure. Exact PPE does vary depending on the particular work, however, it should always include properly designated waterproof coveralls, nitrile gloves that are also cut resistant, full-face protection, and a respirator.

Additionally, well known restoration firms offer biohazard handling training for new technicians. The training consists of learning on-the-job safety methods as set by OSHA, for handling biohazardous waste. Learning these things reduce risks of accidents, or even potential litigation situations.

Our Biohazard Cleanup Process

• Upon mobilization, the remediation team will inspect and find all affected locations, conduct a health and safety assessment, and make a determination as to the scope of the biohazard project. When the crew has a plan laid out, remediation begins right away.
• Technicians will first take precautions to ensure their safety and the safety of any individuals near the affected areas.
• Technicians then gather and dispose of all potentially infectious materials from the site.
• OSHA regulations will indicate how hazardous medical waste is handled. For example, spinal fluid, peritoneal fluid, amniotic fluid, and other body fluids are carefully handled and transported to a licensed hazardous medical waste incinerator.
• Per industry standards and state laws, technicians have to get rid of porous materials like fabric and carpeting that can’t be sufficiently cleaned.
• Hospital-grade disinfectants are to be used on non-porous items that can be saved. If the items prove to be non-restorable, our technicians will remove and dispose of such items.
• After the cleaning process, technicians will deodorize the affected locations and assure they are returned to pre-contamination cleanliness and appearance. One method that ensures areas are fully cleansed and ready for occupancy is to have a licensed industrial Hygienist conduct clearance testing.
• Odors are normally controlled by the removal of uncleanable contaminated materials and cleaning with hospital-grade disinfectants. However, difficult situations could require further methods of deodorization to achieve the desired goal.

Providing Biohazard Cleanup Services with Empathy

No matter if you’re the customer, occupant or owner of the property, PuroClean completely grasps the magnitude of suffering you’re going through. Our restoration specialists 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 especially traumatic. Therefore, all technicians empathize with all individuals, showing the utmost delicacy and respect throughout the cleanup process.

The PuroClean RapidDefense™ Program

PuroClean’s RapidDefense™ is the most effective 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 solutions to give up to three months of barrier against pathogens. Contact us prior to an outbreak occurs to help you in creating a clean environment.

For Biohazard Cleaning Services, Call PuroClean!

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

PuroClean’s commitment to quality, compassion and speed 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 put in the time 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 application of hospital grade cleaners of high traffic touched objects and surfaces are the recommended actions to aid in stopping the spread of respiratory diseases, like coronavirus. Since any surface can be 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.