Hazardous biological materials, also known as biohazards, are common. They can also be dangerous, even deadly. When you encounter biohazards, it’s important to treat them with appropriate respect for the risks they pose. Follow all these steps to make sure you’re safely and effectively cleaning up biohazards.
Should You Be Cleaning Up Biohazards?
Before you begin the biohazard cleanup process, ask yourself, “Am I qualified for this job?” Being qualified means that you have:
- Training in biological safety practices
- Equipment to protect yourself
- Tools to effectively clean and disinfect the area
Training in biological safety practices is essential for handling biohazards. You need to be able to identify the hazards you’re dealing with and know how to properly clean them. Personal protective equipment (PPE) is necessary to avoid exposure to the hazardous materials you’re cleaning. This helps you avoid personal exposure to the hazards so you don’t endanger yourself or others. Finally, you need the tools to effectively clean up biohazards.
If you don’t have all three elements, contact someone who does: specialty cleaning services will have workers qualified to handle all biohazards.
Contact Biohazard Authorities
Before you start any biohazard cleanup, you need to contact the relevant authorities. For example, if you come across a dead body, you need to contact the police. If you encounter a dead animal, contact animal control. If you have a backed-up sewer, contact your local Public Works agency.
If the biohazard might be a crime scene, you should wait until police have cleared you to clean the scene, but the authorities might have specific instructions for dealing with other hazards. For example, animal control might want to get an animal carcass for testing.
Failure to contact the proper authorities before beginning a cleanup can expose you to criminal charges, fines, and may expose you to lawsuits.
Put on PPE
PPE protects you from exposure to biohazards and helps to contain possible contamination. Depending on the amount, type, and distribution of biohazards, the right PPE might be:
- Gloves (perhaps 2 pair)
- Goggles and/or splash shields for the face
- Respirators or air-filtering masks
- Coveralls
- Hoods or caps
- Shoe or boot covers
If you aren’t sure what kind of PPE is recommended for the biohazard you’re dealing with, or if you don’t have the necessary equipment, you should contact specialty cleaning services to handle the biohazard cleanup for you.
Isolate the Area
Many biohazards can spread readily, even through the air. To try to reduce the risk of spreading contamination beyond the initial biohazard area, isolate the place where you found biohazard. This means more than just closing a door: you have to make sure the area has a separate air supply if there’s even a slight chance that the biohazard is airborne.
Clean Up Sharps and Solids
Once you have on your PPE, take time to remove all the sharps from the biohazard. These might be pieces of glass, needles, or even bone shards. No matter how strong you think your gloves are, don’t pick these up with your hands. Instead, use tongs to grab them and place them in a properly marked sharps container. Never just dispose of them in a biohazard bag.
Once you have the sharps cleaned up, clean up any solid materials, such as feces, flesh, skin, and organs. Put these in a sturdy and well-marked biohazard bag.
Absorb Liquids
Next, absorb all the biohazard liquids on the surface. You can use something simple like paper towels, but many people recommend absorbent powders to effectively absorb these liquids.
Repeat this step as often as required to completely eliminate all biohazard liquids. Dispose of all used absorbent materials in the biohazard bag.
Disinfect
Next, disinfect all nonporous surfaces with an appropriate disinfectant. Spray the liquid on the surface and wait long enough before wiping it away. Check the label directions to know how long you should leave the disinfectant on to be effective.
If porous materials were exposed to biohazards, contact specialty cleaning services. This includes drywall, carpet, wood flooring or paneling. Sometimes these substances can be cleaned, but they may have to be removed and disposed of with other biohazards.
Dispose
Remove all your PPE. Dispose of disposable PPE in the biohazard bag. Seal the biohazard bag. Then contact an appropriate firm to dispose of the biohazard bag. Don’t just throw biohazards in the trash, as this can be dangerous and may even be illegal.
Let JRCC Damage Restoration Experts Handle Biohazard Cleanup
If you’re not experienced, trained, or equipped in handling biohazard cleanup, it’s best not to attempt it. Instead, contact JRCC Damage Restoration Experts, where we can properly handle all manner of biohazards. We offer 24/7 emergency response so you can count on us to get to your site and begin cleanup right away. We might be able to get started more quickly than you can run to the store to pick up supplies.
Our experienced biohazard technicians know how to handle a wide range of materials safely. They know how to properly isolate biohazards for the safety of you, your family, and anyone else who uses the space. They also know what level of cleaning and disinfection is necessary for each biohazard.
It’s also important to remember that improper handling of biohazards can be a crime. It might get you fined, sued, or jailed. JRCC Damage Restoration Experts knows how to handle biohazards safely and legally.
Contact us today to get our team started on your biohazard cleanup. JRCC Damage Restoration Experts serves customers in the greater Seattle & Spokane Metro Area.