Biohazard Cleanup Services in Thousand Oaks

In many cases, working with biohazard materials means dealing with chemical spills, blood, human or animal remains. A traumatic event that resulted in injury or death are situations that require biohazard cleanup. The actual biohazard cleanup involves cleaning, applying EPA approved hospital grade disinfectants, and deodorizing locations where traumatic events have occurred.

Included Within The Biohazard Cleanup Services

• Hoarding Cleanup
• Deodorization and Odor Control
• Sewage Cleanup and Sanitation
• Virus Decontamination and Protection

Bear in mind that the state is not responsible for restoring a crime scene. Once police investigators collect evidence from the scene, it is up to the property owner to employ biohazard cleaning services. A professional cleanup team can arrive onsite only after the police have gathered all evidence pertaining 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 working individuals from the risk of blood or other potentially infectious materials (BOPIM). Infectious pathogens for example are the Hepatitis B virus, HIV, the 2019 Novel coronavirus (COVID-19), and numerous others.

This standard helps protect close to 5.6 million workers in the healthcare industry and similar occupations, that also includes biohazard remediation businesses. Biohazard restoration falls within the bounds of the BOPIM standard.

Additionally, the BOPIM standard includes several prerequisites, as follows:

• 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)
• Record keeping
• Mandatory training
• Specific required vaccinations

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 time abatement specialists handle potentially hazardous materials, they are doing so at significant risk. Thus, following correct proper training and safety procedures are very important. This is important not only for their own individual safety but also for the individuals who will reside in the property after the biohazard remediation is complete.

Biohazard Cleanup Certification Requirements

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

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

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

Our Biohazard Cleanup Process

• First, the remediation crew identifies the affected areas, completes a health and safety evaluation, and determines the scope of the biohazard remediation. Once a plan is in place, remediation will take place as quickly as possible.
• Technicians then take steps to maintain their safety and the safety of others near the cleanup site.
• All possible infectious materials are removed 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 disposed of following industry standards and state regulations.
• Non-porous items are either washed with hospital-grade disinfectants if the items appear to be salvageable, or removed and disposed of if non-restorable.
• After cleaning 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 guarantee that the area has 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 control odors, and in some tougher situations, other procedures of deodorization are implemented to accomplish the desired effects.

Empathetically Provided Biohazard Cleanup Services

As with any type of property damage, PuroClean remediation professionals ensure that their actions do not worsen your feeling of loss of the property owners. PuroClean proprietors and technicians are exceptionally sensitive, understanding that those involved can be emotionally vulnerable. When dealing with this type of restoration, it is imperative to always show additional care and compassion. PuroClean technicians sympathize with all materially interested individuals dealing with these traumatic events.

The PuroClean RapidDefense™ Program

PuroClean has implemented a cleaning program that we feel is the most adequate way to clean. The PuroClean RapidDefense™ Program consists mainly of the application of EPA certified hospital-grade disinfectants in common areas. The 2019 Novel coronavirus (COVID-19), Norovirus, Influenza and many more pathogen-based germs are the focus of our RapidDefense™ Program, helping to stop the spread of such illnesses. Environmental Protection Agency-registered, safe solutions are used for this method for up to three months of protection from pathogens. Reach out to PuroClean to prevent an outbreak and help build a safe and clean atmosphere.

For Biohazard Cleaning Services, Call PuroClean!

When in need of biohazard remediation services, call the PuroClean team to clean and restore the contaminated areas. Our biohazard specialists use state-of-the-art equipment and techniques to effectively remediate the affected areas.

The quality of PuroClean’s remediation services, the speed in which we deliver them, and the empathy we demonstrate during the process make PuroClean your perfect damage restoration company. We promise to do whatever it takes to fully clean, remediate and rescue properties in all the cities and towns we serve.

*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 recommended actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases, like coronavirus. Since any surface 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.