Do you really know what a BIOHAZARD is???

1/20/2016 (Permalink)

SEWAGE BACKUP CLEANUP .. we have the right equipment and gear to keep everyone safe

Biohazard

What is a considered a biohazard? It is any waste products that have a risk of carrying human pathogens. They can be found pretty much anywhere.

So what is a pathogen?  It is a virus, fungus, or bacterium that can cause disease in another organism. These disease-causing organisms can be spread in several ways ranging from airborne to direct contract

With the technical stuff is out of the way we can focus on the problems you may see and their solutions. What does all this mean for your home or business?  It means you have to fully understand what things are considered a biohazard and to know when more than just surface cleaning will do.

Biohazard materials are not just limited t the doctors or a hospital it can also be found in your home, work and places you and your kids play. Be it indoors or out.  Knowing what is considered a biohazard and how to respond to it will keep you, your friends, family, co-workers and employees safe.

Some examples of this type of biohazard  waste are:

• Human blood and blood products. This includes items contaminated with blood that will release blood in a liquid or semi-liquid form when compressed. To prevent infection, it is recommended to apply a universal precautions approach to all blood and body fluids. This means

• Human body fluids. Examples include, but are not limited to, vomit, urine, semen, vaginal secretions, amniotic fluid, saliva, and pleural fluid.

• Pathological waste. Waste biopsy materials and any human tissues or body parts from autopsy, surgery, or other procedure.

• Microbiological waste. Discarded live and attenuated viruses, discarded specimen cultures, and disposable culture dishes.

To make sure you are not infected use the same precautions for all of the above scenarios. This means making sure you are handling all biological materials as if they contain an infection disease. If you are facing a blood spill, unattended death, or other trauma you do not have to face it alone. Many restoration companies offer these clean up services.  If you are choosing not to utilize a professional service make sure you are following safety protocols.

Still want to tackle this biohazard on your own. Ok here goes. Getting up as much solid material as possible is the first step. Hydrogen peroxide and baking soda is a great way to start the cleaning process on these materials. **ALWAYS TEST A SMALL AREA BEFORE APPLYING ANY CLEANER*** some dyes used are sensitive and may change or fade with different products natural or otherwise. If there is a remaining stain, most commercial rug cleaners will take out the stain and smell. Flush or double bag the poop or vomit and any toweling (don’t flush the toweling) you used and dispose of it with the garbage.

Hard non-porous surfaces: 

Metals,Glass, hard plastic: Clean hard surfaces by getting up as much solid material as possible and using a disinfectant cleaner. Spray until thoroughly wet let it sit and wait minutes to give the disinfecting agent time to work before wiping away.

First contain the biohazard

Make sure you are keeping the mess as contained as possible. First things first get some disposable gloves. Section off the area to prevent others from going through and potentially tracking the material into other areas of the building. You must also determine which type of materials need to be cleaned porous or non-porous.

Porous Surfaces are much harder to clean:

          These materials are designed to allow things through. Be it wanted or unwanted. Cleaning these materials is much more difficult. They can include but are not limited to Wood floors, Tile with grout, Carpets ect. It is always worthwhile to have a professional come in as they have specialized equipment that reaches deep down into the materials to extract as much of the contamination as possible.

Still want to tackle this biohazard on your own. Ok here goes. Getting up as much solid material as possible is the first step. Hydrogen peroxide and baking soda is a great way to start the cleaning process on these materials. **ALWAYS TEST A SMALL AREA BEFORE APPLYING ANY CLEANER*** some dyes used are sensitive and may change or fade with different products natural or otherwise. If there is a remaining stain, most commercial rug cleaners will take out the stain and smell. Flush or double bag the poop or vomit and any toweling (don’t flush the toweling) you used and dispose of it with the garbage.

Cleaning the Biohazard:

          Carpet and rug floors may retain a stain after the initial clean up. If there is a remaining stain, most commercial rug cleaners will take out the stain and smell. When cleaning the poop or vomit make sure you are properly disposing of not only the hazardous materials but any and all towels or rags used to clean it up(don’t flush the toweling) you used and dispose of it with the garbage. Make sure that you double bag everything.

Discarding the Biohazard:

Find some rags or other clean up materials that you do not mind discarding. Make sure whatever you are going to place the material into has a strong plastic liner. It is also important to make sure that there are no sharp objects that could pierce the bag and cause the hazardous material to escape.  Is it advised to double whatever bag you are using to ensure it is secured. Scoop as much of the biohazard you can into the container using a dustpan or similar item.

Should the material be liquid such blood or urine use heavy paper towel or other cloth you do not mind throwing away. If there are none around you can also use kitty litter or salt to contain and absorb the fluids.

The cleanup process does not end there once the Biohazard has been picked up, removed, and disposed of there is still you. The person who cleaned it all up. You must now treat yourself with the same care and caution. Remove the clothes used and place separate from your other garments. Ideally in a plastic bag, depending the severity you may want to discard them. If not ensure that they are washed as soon as possible. Washing your hands immediately will prevent any cross-contamination. Make sure you shower as soon as possible as well.

Properly cleaning the affected area is vital to keeping all involved healthy and safe. Make sure that once the mess is fully cleaned up and you, your hands and clothing are all thoroughly washed. Knowing when the mess is beyond surface cleaning is a pivotal part of that process. If there is any question please call a professional and obtain a free estimate and their expert opinion. Better safe than sorry. Tackling a project like this your own or asking your untrained staff to do so could be putting you all at risk. ……HAPPY CLEANING