Types of Biohazard Scenarios Requiring Cleanup

7/26/2021 (Permalink)

A biohazard cleaning consists of a team with regulated plan and procedures, dressed in personal protective equipment, and an intense training process

What is a Biohazard?

A biohazard, short for a biological hazard, is just any biological material that poses a risk or threat to human or animal health. Some examples of biohazards include mold, human bodily fluids, animal waste, industrial chemicals and much more. These dangerous biological materials may contain deathly viruses, bacteria, and parasites which can potentially lead to diseases such as tuberculosis, E coli, Lyme disease, and salmonella.

What is a Biohazard clean up?

Because these wastes can present serious harm to human health, it is important to be aware of which biohazard situations require professional cleaning. A biohazard cleaning consists of a team with regulated plan and procedures, dressed in personal protective equipment, and an intense training process to keep professional safe.

Here are some of the most common biohazard scenarios that require a cleanup:

Presence of blood/other bodily fluids:

In the unfortunate case of suicide, homicide, or a deathly incident, often a biohazards cleanup is required. However, for small accidents, like bleeding from accidentally cutting your finger while cooking, a biohazard cleanup is not required. If the pool of blood is larger than a typically dinner plate, a professional is needed to take care of the cleaning. In addition to the physical dangers of biohazard waste, there are also intense emotional and psychological consequences that may come with viewing an unattended death. In this case, it is important to let a professional take control of the situation.

Hoarding

When dealing with an intense hoarding situation, you likely have no idea what lies beneath the surface. An intense cleanup from hoarding should not be taken lightly, as human waste, dead animals, bug infestations, and mold are likely discovered in these situations and should be treated with immense professional biohazard care.

Animal infestation

Any type of animal carcass or feces are a spot where harmful pathogens and other viral organisms  can  thrive. Because this animal waste may contain dangerous biological material and can present a serious health hazard, it is important to remove it safely.

Industrial and workplace accidents (chemical spills)

While most labs and locations dealing with chemicals have protocols in place to deal with minor spills, for any major industrial or workplace chemical spill, biohazard professionals should be contacted to clean up.

Criminal activity/crime scene cleanup (meth labs, tear gas residue)

You should never attempt to clean up a site where chemical materials have been discovered, as chemicals used in illegal drugs, such as meth production, can contain serious health risks. Let professional handle the biohazard clean up!

At SERVPRO of Pompano Beach, we have years of experience in biohazard cleanups. Our biohazard team is trained to safely remove biohazards and dispose of them according to OSHA and health regulations. Contact us today for all of your biohazard cleanup and restoration needs.