A tragic death, accident or chemical emergency is a devastating situation. Outside of the emotional trauma and potential health risks, maintaining compliance and ensuring environmental standards is imperative to safely restoring a property affected by hazardous materials. A biohazard cleanup provides a crucial service for the well-being of individuals and physical structures affected by a biohazard or trauma emergency.
No one should have to face the trauma of a cleanup in the immediate aftermath of the passing of a friend or family member. Crime scenes and biohazard emergencies require professional services with compassion, experience, specialized equipment, and the right certifications.
What is a Biohazard Cleanup?
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), biohazard waste is “material contaminated with an infectious agent or substance derived from an organism, which poses a threat to human health.” Biohazard waste can include any of the following that might impact human health or the environment:
- Regulated medical waste
- Biohazard incident waste
- Trauma scene waste
- Human remains management waste
- Prion (infectious agent) or animal prion waste
- Animal contaminated food supply waste
- Samples of microorganisms or toxins from a biological source
A biohazard cleanup involves comprehensive remediation of biohazard materials that may cause harm to the environment or humans and animals within an environment.
United States governmental agencies including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) all help define and regulate hazardous materials.
With regulation comes the need for certified, experienced professionals who can not only sanitize and remove any hazardous materials, but properly (and legally) dispose of them.
When a Biohazard Cleanup is Required
A biohazard cleanup is required in any instance that hazard materials are exposed to people or the environment. Violent crimes, undiscovered deaths, chemical spills, and medical facilities are all incidents that require a biohazard cleanup.
However, extreme, traumatic cases are not the only instances that may put you at risk of hazardous materials. Incorrectly combining chemical household cleaners (especially in businesses that store them in high volume), gasoline/diesel/oil spills, and lab facility leaks are all potential examples of biohazard emergencies. Especially when it concerns corrosive chemicals that might cause environmental damage, injury, or illness.
Additionally, crime scenes aren’t limited to violent events or deaths. Any areas contaminated by bodily fluids or hazardous materials (i.e. drug manufacturing) also require proper remediation to ensure the safety of future occupants.
A professional biohazard cleanup includes expert, compassionate services for every biohazard emergency, including:
- Decomposition/undiscovered death
- Suicide/trauma cleanup
- Crime scene cleanup
- Odor removal /deodorization and odor control
- Homeless encampment cleanup
- Blood spill cleanup
- Virus/bacteria disinfection
- Feces/ urine cleanup
- Meth lab cleanup
- Emergency vehicle decontamination
- Medical waste
- Hoarding cleanup
- Chemical cleanup
What to Do If You Require Biohazard Cleanup Services
Quick response times in the face of a biohazard emergency are crucial. Prompt action from individuals and authorities prevents further contamination and minimizes health and safety risks. While the goal of biohazard cleanups is to remediate and restore properties, lessening the emotional stress of occupants is another major factor.
In the event of a biohazard emergency, always call professionals first. Never attempt a DIY cleanup. While you may have face masks and cleaning gloves on hand, professional biohazard cleanup technicians utilize advanced personal protective equipment (PPE) for the right situation to protect themselves and others from dangerous conditions. Not to mention the training and certification to properly handle and dispose of hazardous materials.
If a crime has occurred, the proper authorities need to perform a crime scene investigation with as little interference as possible. Preserving any physical evidence is paramount for law enforcement, and any potential tampering could undermine a future prosecution.
After an initial investigation, authorities will document and remove all evidence and any physical remains. Unfortunately however, occupants are tasked with cleaning and removing any other remainders of the crime. Attempting to clean the aftermath of a crime yourself is not only dangerous, but extremely emotionally taxing. Which is why professional biohazard cleanups should always be contacted.
For chemical spills or risky medical waste situations, prompt individual action to call the proper authorities and report the accident limits personal exposure and can reduce the harm inflicted on physical properties as well as the environment.
Risks of Not Using Professional Services
Outside of the potential legal issues of not reporting a crime, severe risks like exposure to infectious diseases, long-term property contamination, and environmental damage are all in play without the help of professional biohazard cleanup services.
1. Health and Safety Risks
Blood, bodily fluids, toxic chemicals, animal waste, and microbiological waste can lead to serious infections and health threats. Professionals with the proper PPE and training limit exposure and restore environments to safety.
2. Prevent Contamination Spreads
Fast action from professionals helps contain biohazard situations so they do not spread to other areas of the home, business, or property. Biohazard emergencies require complex cleanups, and cross-contamination can occur without professional help.
3. Retain Property Value
In an emergency, the last thing on your mind is money. But biohazardous incidents can cause significant damage to a property, especially in extreme circumstances. If not addressed quickly, hazardous materials can settle into a structure and cause lasting damage. Acting fast will not only save money in the long-term, but also address the present risk of dangerous exposure to hazardous materials.
4. Minimize Emotional Trauma
Traumatic events are exactly that: traumatic and extremely emotional for all involved. Especially when it occurs in intimate spaces like a home or business or involves an individual with a personal connection. Professional biohazard cleanup companies offer discrete services that are sensitive and compassionate to the situation and emotional tolls they inflict.
What to Expect from a Professional Biohazard Cleanup
Biohazard cleanups are critical for the health and safety of individuals and environments they occur in. Spaces contaminated by hazardous materials require the help of trained professionals to safely decontaminate and restore spaces while removing all hazardous materials.
Should you experience a traumatic event in your home or business, expect professional services that not only follow all regulatory and compliance measures, but work with compassion and empathy for the emotional toll inflicted on all individuals involved.
Experienced biohazard cleanup teams come prepared and equipped for every situation, which includes the proper PPE and any necessary respiratory tools required in the biohazard remediation process.
As for the actual cleanup itself, licensed biohazard cleanup technicians will remove any materials affected by the hazardous materials. Think drywall, flooring, furniture, or any absorbent materials like carpeting and cloth in the environment.
Any materials removed from the contaminated area, including the cleaning equipment, protective clothing, and PPE, will also be treated as biohazard waste. Which means it will be properly documented, safely removed and transported, and legally disposed of.
A biohazard cleanup service should meet all federal and state environmental and safety requirements for handling and transporting regulated hazardous, chemical, or medical waste.
The Flood Response Biohazard Cleanup Process
Once a police investigation leaves your property, or the proper authorities have secured the safety of a chemical spill environment, the IICRC trained and certified technicians, experienced licensed general contractors, and restoration experts at Flood Response will arrive quickly to provide cleanup and decontamination services aligned with all government, environmental, and health regulation compliances.
The Flood Response biohazard cleanup process includes:
- Assess the situation. Our team will connect with you onsite, walk through the property and gain a full understanding of the situation and requirements.
- Cleanup and decontamination. IICRC trained and certified technicians will diligently work to clean and properly dispose of all biohazardous substances.
- Salvage your space and belongings. While working our team will also pack out and store your unaffected belongings from any affected rooms.
- Restore your space. After services are complete, your home or business will be fully and safely habitable and operational.
No matter when tragedy strikes, the team at Flood Response is standing by and ready to help you get back to your life and home.
We have specialized tools and expertise to assess the biohazard aftermath and recommend what services you need. When your family’s health and happiness is crucial and time is of the essence, get a biohazard cleanup team at your door as quickly as possible.
Make Your First Response, Flood Response Whenever Disaster Strikes.
Whether it’s a tragic accident or the aftermath of a crime, the team at Flood Response is there for you when disaster strikes. Our trained and certified biohazard cleanup teams will leave your property fully habitable and operational after decontamination services are complete.
Home disasters and biohazard emergencies can be scary and overwhelming, but you don’t need to face the unknown alone. For over 20 years, we’ve helped families and business owners in the Coachella Valley area take the right steps to restore their properties and rebuild their lives in the face of disaster.
Are you looking for a reliable, full-service disaster recovery service in the Coachella Valley or the surrounding area? Contact Flood Response today!
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