Tragedy can strike anytime. A sudden death. A crime scene. Homicide. Accidents that lead to death. All of these situations require a biohazard cleanup as biohazards are released. A biohazard cleanup is not as simple as it looks as depicted in TV shows like CSI. It requires specialists who know how to handle different kinds of biohazards and to be able to deal with them under pressure.
What are examples of biohazards?
The following are biohazards: feces, urine, bacteria, blood, vomit, viruses, medicinal waste, and toxins.
Medicinal waste is also classified as biohazards and hospitals, and clinics are required to dispose of them properly.
It is critical the places where these biohazards get exposed get cleaned up and disinfected as soon as possible.
What does a biohazard cleanup involve?
A biohazard cleanup has three important phases. The first is the cleaning stage. All traces of the biohazards must be removed from the area and disposed properly.
The second process is disinfection. Biohazard experts will spray the surfaces with disinfectants, and then after that, they will do ATP fluorescence testing to confirm that sanitation is back to acceptable levels.
The third process is deodorization which will eliminate hideous smells and odors in the area.
When is a biohazard cleanup necessary?
One situation a biohazard cleanup is necessary is when a violent death happens in a home. There could be an attempted robbery and people ended up dying in the unfortunate tragedy.
Another possibility is when someone commits suicide.
When this happens, biohazard cleaners are tasked to remove any biohazards from that home, particularly at the crime scene area. All sorts of permits are also needed to move biohazards, so make sure to get only qualified biohazard experts in these moments.
A severe injury that leads to significant blood loss is also a common situation requiring a biohazard cleanup. Sometimes the injury is caused by a vehicular accident, and so it may involve several people getting injured and a lot of biohazards being released into the area.
What should you do during situations requiring a biohazard cleanup?
It is important that you leave it to the experts to clean up the area. You should keep a safe distance from the accident or death scene and avoid interfering or getting the belongings of the persons involved as it will be stained with biohazards. Call immediately the police if you witness an accident, suicide, homicide or any dangerous situation.
Why is a biohazard cleanup necessary?
The risks of not doing a biohazard cleanup are high. Diseases and infections can be caused by biohazards if improperly managed. The worst case scenario could be that these diseases and infections could spread rapidly in the neighborhood. Viruses and toxins spread easily, and many biohazards are harmful to animals as well.
Biohazard specialists are trained and wear protective equipment like gowns and gloves to ensure they will remain safe as they clean and neutralize the biohazards carefully.
What are some of the commonly used disinfectants during a biohazard cleanup?
Biohazard specialists will use isopropyl alcohol, chlorine, formalin and common disinfectants found in supermarkets like Lysol to disinfect the area and neutralize any possible spread of infection and disease.
