A truly challenging situation is a biohazardous situation in a residential setting. If you have a biohazardous situation in your home, you need to have a general understanding of the nature of a biohazard and the ins and outs of hiring a biohazard cleaning company in Bermuda Dunes, California.
Biohazard Defined
The basic definition of a biohazard is a biological substance that has the potential for causing illness, including serious illness, in humans exposed to it. Generally speaking, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identify four categories of biohazards:
- Bacteria
- Viruses
- Toxins
- Other microorganisms
Biohazardous Situations: Common Conditions in a Residential Setting
In a residential setting, there is a number of different types of biohazardous situations that are more likely than others to occur. These include:
- Blood Spills
- Unattended deaths
- Infectious diseases (MRSA, C Diff., and others)
- Sewage (plumbing or septic tank malfunction, flooding)
- Rodent droppings (rat, mouse, or other rodents)
- Suicide
- Attempted suicide
- Homicide
- Attempted homicide
- Other violent crimes (physical assault, sexual assault)
- Hoarding
- Homeless encampment (on private property)
- Accident
- Traumatic illness
These all represent situations in which biohazards can be present in the scene. For example, if a homicide occurs in a residence by way of a firearm or knife, there will be blood, bodily fluids, and other biomatter at the scene. These biological materials have the capacity for containing dangerous pathogens like bacteria or viruses. Thus, the scene of the homicide in such an instance has the potential for causing a person physical harm because of the presence of an infectious pathogen in the blood or other bodily fluids.
The reality is that at the scene of a homicide or similar incident, you can never be certain whether or not biomatter is contaminated with something that can cause a health risk. Thus, you always need to approach such a scene erring on the side of caution. You need to assume that it is contaminated with a potential biohazard.
Biohazard Cleaning: The Overall Process
Because of the inherent dangers, the biohazard cleaning process begins with the initiation of safety protocols. This includes ensuring that those involved in the cleanup process wear appropriate personal protective equipment:
- Gloves
- Mask or respirator
- Uniform or similar clothing protective covering
- Protective eyewear
The actual biohazard cleaning process commences with a thorough cleaning and the elimination of biomatter from the scene. The physical removal of biohazardous material involves the placement of this matter into approved biowaste containers. If there are items or objects contained at the site that is incapable of being cleaned, those items also need to be disposed of.
Once biomatter and uncleanable items are removed, the contaminated area is thoroughly deep cleaned. The same goes for any objects that are capable of being cleaned.
The next step in the overall biohazard cleaning process is sanitization of the objects in it. Sanitization necessitates the use of hospital-grade sanitizing agents and specialized equipment.
Sanitization is designed to thoroughly eradicate such pathogens like bacteria and viruses. The objective is to return the premises and objects in it to a safe status, to eliminate any health risk associated with the biohazardous situation.
Following sanitization, the next component of the biohazard cleaning process is deodorization. Deodorization involves the use of powerful agents designed to eliminate any foul odor or odors that might be associated with a biohazardous scene.
Once this comprehensive process is completed a residence is restored to a habitable condition. Evidence of an existing biohazardous situation is eliminated.
How to Hire a Skilled, Reputable Biohazard Cleaning Company
In the final analysis, if you want to ensure that a biohazard is fully remediated from your residence you want to give serious consideration to hiring a biohazard cleaning company in Bermuda Dunes, California. A Bermuda Dunes biohazard remediation company has the background, equipment, supplies, and skills necessary to ensure that your home is restored to a livable condition.
With that noted, you need to hire a professional that has experience in cleaning up the specific type of biohazardous situation you have at your residence. In addition, you need to make sure a biohazard cleaning company is duly insured and bonded.
You will want to make certain you understand the financial obligations associated with hiring a biohazard cleaning company. There can be significant price disparities from one remediation company to another. You need to make certain you select a professional that will work for you at a reasonable price.
A reputable biohazard cleaning company will provide you a comprehensive itemized bid. In addition, a reputable biohazard cleaning company charges for work at the conclusion of the process.