Blood spill scenes pose major safety hazards that can result in disease outbreaks if not handled correctly by certified biohazard cleaning technicians. While blood spills are most commonly found in healthcare facilities, they can occur in just about any commercial building, especially in the event of a crime scene.
Due to the serious health and safety risks associated with blood spill scenes, it’s important to understand that you should never try to clean up blood-borne pathogens on your own. This job must be handled by professionals. At Just Right Cleaning & Construction, our biohazard cleanup team has extensive experience addressing blood spill scenes throughout the greater Seattle & Spokane Metro Area, and we’ll make sure this process is handled correctly.
What Are Blood-Borne Pathogens?
Blood-borne pathogens are viruses, bacteria and parasites that can potentially spread disease when they are found in blood. These infectious pathogens can also be found in other bodily fluids such as diarrhea or vomit.
While there are a wide range of blood-borne pathogens, the most common are:
- Hepatitis B (HBV)
- Hepatitis C (HCV)
- HIV
How Are Blood-Borne Pathogens Transmitted?
Blood-borne pathogens can be transmitted in the following ways:
- Direct Contact – Infected blood or bodily fluids from one person directly enter someone else’s body through an opening such as a cut, abrasion or needle stick.
- Indirect Contact – Exposed skin from an open wound comes into contact with an object that contains the blood-borne pathogen.
- Airborne Transmission – Infected droplets or particles from an infected person are inhaled by someone else. Airborne transmission often occurs through a sneeze or cough.
- Vector-Borne Transmission – Viruses and bacteria from blood-borne pathogens are transmitted from human to human via a parasite such as ticks, mosquitoes or lice.
Our Blood-Borne Pathogen Cleanup Process
To ensure your blood-borne pathogen cleanup remains compliant with OSHA standards, our technicians utilize the following process:
- Wear PPE
- Isolate the Affected Area
- Select Proper Cleaning Supplies
- Bulk Spill Cleanup
- Deep Clean and Disinfection
- Safe Disposal and Waste Management
Wear PPE
Our certified biohazard technicians will always wear all necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) throughout the blood-borne pathogen cleanup process. This includes:
- Disposable gloves designed for biohazard removal
- Masks
- Protective eyewear
- Gowns
We also recommend that you keep a kit with these PPE items at your facility to prevent your employees from coming into direct contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials immediately following the incident.
Isolate the Affected Area
Our team will isolate the area to prevent others from coming into contact with these potentially infectious pathogens. If the spill is small, we can mark off the area with signs. However, for large spills, we typically surround the area with barricades to prevent others from getting too close.
Select Cleaning Supplies
It’s important to use the proper cleaning and disinfecting supplies to address the specific bodily fluids at the spill scene. Our team will evaluate the site and choose the right cleaning supplies to do the job correctly.
We use the following supplies for any jobs involving blood-borne pathogens:
- Disposable absorbent towels or pads
- EPA-registered disinfectants
- Disposable biohazard bags
- Thick plastic bucket or similar rigid container
- Mechanical pickup tools such as forceps, tongs, or a brush and dustpan
Bulk Spill Cleanup
The initial phase of the blood-borne pathogen cleanup process involves using disposable absorbent towels and pads to soak up the majority of the blood or bodily fluid spill. Our team will:
- Place towels over the entire spill area
- Give the towels sufficient time to soak up the fluids before picking them up
- Place the towels in disposable biohazard bags and secure them in a rigid container to prevent leaks that may contaminate your facility
If there are any sharp objects in the spill area, we’ll place them in the disposable biohazard bag using a mechanical pickup tool. Anytime there are sharp objects in your biohazard bag, our team will place the bag in a rigid container since there is a greater risk that the bag may tear.
Deep Clean and Disinfection
Once the bulk of the spill has been cleaned up during the initial phase discussed above, our team will thoroughly clean and disinfect the area to restore safe conditions. We’ll pour the appropriate disinfectant solution over the spill area to ensure all pathogens are killed. After the disinfectant has had time to work, we’ll scrub the area from the outside toward the center to avoid spreading the contamination. This process will completely clean and disinfect the area. Our team will then dispose of the cleaning materials in a biohazard bag.
Safe Disposal and Waste Management
Our biohazard cleaning specialists adhere to all regulations for safe disposal of blood-borne pathogen materials. We’ll use a biohazard bag to secure all spill materials and place the bag in a rigid container to prevent any tears or punctures.
Reporting the Incident
It’s important to write up a report of the incident to create an official record of what occurred. This should include:
- Date and time
- Circumstances of exposure
- Actions taken to address the incident and restore safe conditions
If medical assistance was required at your facility, you should note this in your report as well.
JRCC Damage Restoration Experts Can Help with Blood-Borne Pathogen Cleanup
Biohazard cleanup requires specialized handling and should never be attempted by your team. By working with a certified, licensed biohazard cleanup professional, you can ensure this process is completed properly and all potentially infectious waste material is disposed of safely. At JRCC Damage Restoration Experts, we have you covered.
JRCC Damage Restoration Experts is the leading specialty cleaning company in the greater Seattle & Spokane Metro Area. Our team offers 24/7 emergency response services and will arrive at your commercial facility shortly after receiving your call ready to begin the cleanup process. Our team is equipped to handle all types of biohazard cleanup associated with blood-borne pathogens, and we adhere to strict guidelines that exceed OSHA standards when cleaning blood spill scenes. You’ll have peace of mind that your facility is safe to inhabit after we’ve completed the cleanup process.
Contact us today to schedule an appointment. JRCC Damage Restoration Experts provides comprehensive biohazard cleaning services throughout the greater Seattle & Spokane Metro Area.