OSHA Approved Clean up of Contaminated Sharps

OSHA Approved Clean up of Contaminated Sharps

 OSHA (the Occupational Safety and Health Administration) regulates the proper disposal of contaminated sharp objects. Bloodborne diseases present on contaminated sharps are a hazard to those that handle them. Removal of the sharps potentially exposes workers to diseases such as HPV, HBV and HCV. Although needles are the first item that most people think of, sharps include scalpels, broken glass, capillary tubes and the exposed ends of dental wires. If any of these sharp objects have been contaminated by blood or other human fluids, OSHA requires that the cleanup procedure follow specific rules. 

Due to the length of complexity of the regulations, it is often a good idea to call a professional clean up company. These companies know how to handle sharp devices. OSHA requires that mechanical devices or a one handed "scooping" technique be used for removing sharps from an area. Professional cleaners may have a mechanical device that can remove the sharp from the area or they might be trained in the proper "scooping technique." 

Other OSHA regulations prevent sharps handlers from breaking or shearing sharps. Professional cleaners understand how to avoid accidentally breaking sharps. Bending, recapping and removing sharps are only allowable for specific medical and dental procedures. Professional cleaners can help companies comply with these regulations during clean-up. 

Professional clean up companies also provide OSHA approved containers for storing contaminated sharps. These containers, which must be bright red in color, are also puncture-proof and leak proof. They must also be able to close to prevent liquids from spilling out of the container. Cleaning companies have processes in place to make sure that the containers are not overfilled. When removing sharps from the storage container, professional cleaning companies follow strict regulations. Workers are not allowed to stick their hands into the storage containers to remove any sharps. Professional clean up companies have processes in place to avoid these scenarios. 

Some employers do have processes in place to handle routine use of sharps. For example, hospitals often have the proper disposal containers available for needles. Doctors and nurses are trained to properly dispose sharps into these containers. However, many areas that have been contaminated by sharps are not part of the routine. Suicides, murders and drug labs are an example. In these cases, there is typically no one within the building that is trained to handle any sharps that remain on the scene. In these cases, it is often a good practice to call a professional clean up company trained in the OSHA regulated handling of sharps.

Hazards on the job

When most people think of biohazard cleanup, they usually associate it with the process of cleaning up blood but there is so much more to what a professional biohazard technician does.  Being a biohazard cleanup expert is a dangerous job and many hazards associated with what we do are not known to untrained professionals.

As a biohazard cleanup professional Bio Scene Clean Up performs blood cleanup services which also entails murder scenes, suicide and violent crime scenes. While these are the most common jobs we perform, we also provide services for hoarding cleanup, junk removal, workplace related accidents, vehicle clean up services and even meth lab or other illegal drug cleanup.

It’s understood that blood cleanup has a huge potential for exposure to infectious pathogens that can be deadly if not handled properly. What’s not considered is the fact that hoarding, drug, junk and vehicle cleanup jobs also contain many hazards that are just as severe.  When cleaning drug scenes there are always chances of infection from contact with needles, explosive or deadly chemicals that could be ingested and even airborne pathogens that contain infectious bacteria from emergency vehicle cleanup jobs.

Because all incidents have a large level of uncertainty about the victims, it is imperative that extreme precautions be taken while handling the cleanup process of these jobs.  If an untrained individual were to attempt to clean up a biohazard scene without following proper protocols and decontamination practices, they may be held responsible if anyone were to become ill or die as a result of the improper cleanup.

If you experience a trauma or tragedy and are uncertain about the type of cleanup that may be needed, it is always best to contact a professional cleanup company like Bio Scene Clean Up who will be able to help you determine the level of services needed.

Questions about biohazard cleaning

The most important thing in handling the crime scene clean up is that affected things should be cleaned in a way by which life will be danger free in future. It is imperative that one employs the help of the experienced bio hazard technicians who are certified and well trained to remove the fluid materials of body and blood or other biohazard materials.  Often there are various items such as walls, carpet, furniture, wallpaper, flooring, etc that will need to be disposed of in the red bio-hazard bags.  Disposal can usually be taken to a state-regulated and federal- regulated site. Laws do not permit the use of dumpster to dispose the items. According to the laws of federal and state, a bio-hazard clean up will need to store the records of the place where disposal is taken place and include what was disposed. It is suggested that these records be stored for 30 years. It’s also important that permits and certification information be retained for the same amount of time should they ever need to be reviewed.

Why is trauma and crime scene clean up so dangerous? The cleanup process of a scene may be easy and simple. But, clean up technicians have to be trained in how to handle materials to avoid contact with deadly diseases such as HIV, hepatitis, and other diseases that can be occurred by affection of bio-hazards. Frequently sharp items that can puncture your skin are found to be present during clean up. It’s also possible that a cleaner’s mouth and eyes can be affected accidently during the removal of biohazard items.

Why should someone call a biohazard clean up company?  When it comes to cleaning and removal from a biohazard trauma scene, family members, friends or people associated want to clean the scene themselves.  Seldom do they realize that the tasks are physically and emotionally overwhelming. Bio Scene Clean Up is trained in the removal of biohazard items such as body fluids, decomposing bodies, human tissues, hypodermic needles, blood, etc.  Our technicians are fully trained and certified in the removal of these materials and have been specifically trained to restore a scene to a better than original condition. Utilizing a trained professional company like Bio Scene Clean Up enables you to avoid the emotional distress of the work. Anyone attempting to clean a biohazard scene may also run the risk of certain liabilities should someone cleaning become exposed to harmful items and substances.

Who pays for biohazard and crime scene clean up? Depending on the circumstances and where the incident occurs, ordinarily the insurance company pays for the clean up. Every insurance carrier is different and certain restrictions may apply.  Anyone having to hire a professional clean up company should contact the insurance company to review these limitations; if any.

Biohazard Waste Disposal Services

Most people recognize that there are proper procedures that must be followed in transporting and discarding of medical waste.  Occasionally there are some that either choose to ignore the procedures or are simply not educated on the disposal process and don’t realize they are doing anything wrong.

Bio Scene Clean Up provides commercial and residential cleanup services for death, crime, trauma, suicide and other biohazard incidents. Almost every clean up job that we perform contains biohazard waste that much be properly contained, transported and disposed of.  Regulations for biohazard protocols vary by state and can carry sever fines and penalties if not followed.

What you see in this article image is never the proper way to dispose of biohazard waste. Luckily, in this instance, these bags contain regular trash and paper from an office. You should never use biohazard waste bags as normal trash bags.  Red bags marked with a biohazard emblem found like this should be reported to the local health authorities who will investigate to determine who is responsible for the improper disposal and what type of biohazards they actually are.

Biomedical waste is any liquid or solid waste that may present a threat of infection to humans. Liquid waste includes blood and other body fluids from humans. Solid waste includes clothing, towels, rags, sheets, gloves, plastic bags, or any objects soiled with blood, or other body fluids. When biohazard waste is improperly managed , it places sanitation workers and the general public at risk for contracting dangerous diseases. We take every precaution and are certified in the handling, transporting and disposal of biohazard waste. 

We always suggest that you never attempt to clean these types of scenes yourself as there are very high chances that these scenes contain blood and other pathogens that can be extremely harmful if you come in contact with them.  Most state regulations suggest that you contact a biohazard clean up provider like Bio Scene Clean Up to assist you.

If you see disposal like the one pictured above, or suspect that someone is illegally disposing biohazard materials, we urge you to contact your local health agency (health department) or contact our office to report it.  If this type of disposal process continues, you may be placing your health and the health of others in jeopardy.

Blood Cleanup Procedures

Blood and other bodily fluid spills that occur inside or in an outside environment need to be decontaminated to prevent the possible transmission of communicable disease and other health risks. Bio Scene Clean Up provides blood cleanup and other biohazard decontamination services in the Tampa Bay and Sarasota Florida areas.
Even a tiny drop of blood, if splashed, can cover a large surface area so it’s important that you hire a professional biohazard cleanup company to assist you in restoring the site to completely safe condition quickly. Our technicians maintain specific bloodborne pathogen training and are familiar with the practices of safe biohazard handling and removal.

We frequently receive calls related to death, trauma, suicide and even violent crime scenes that contain the presence of blood and other biohazards. Once investigators or emergency personnel leave the site, it then becomes the property owners responsibility to have the aftermath cleaned up. Police and emergency personnel do not clean these area. They often times leave behind medical waste, blood soaked materials, fingerprint dust, luminol and other materials used in their investigation or on site treatment. Bio Scene Clean Up offers 24 hour emergency dispatch to help clients who are in need of biohazard decontamination.

These sites should not be cleaned using normal household chemicals. Chemicals not designed for biohazard cleanup can actually make the site much harder for professionals to re-clean. Our technicians work with specific equipment that will detect even the smallest traces of blood and we make certain that the scenes are completely free from any biohazard materials that could potentially affect the health of others.  This diminishes the risk of potential transmission of diseases and the liability of the property owner for not having it properly cleaned.

If you or someone you know has experienced an accident or traumatic event that requires biohazard cleanup, contact our office immediately for assistance.  We are familiar with all Federal and State biohazard cleanup regulations and can offer our assistance in helping file insurance and other financial assistance claims.

Have a SAFE and fun filled 4th of July Holiday!

Bio Scene Clean Up would like to take the opportunity to thank all of our clients and the industries that refer our company to them. We appreciate the opportunity to serve our Florida communities and offer assistance in a very traumatic or dangerous time in their lives.

We hope that everyone has a safe and fun filled Fourth of July weekend.  As certified cleanup technicians for Death, Trauma, Crime, Blood, Suicide and many other forms of biohazards our company sees increased service volumes during holidays like July 4th.  This is typically a time that families spend together, vacationing and travel increases. It also goes without saying that there is an increase in drug and alcohol consumption and other recreations that lead to death and injury scenes.

Many local towing and transport service providers offer discounted or free services during major holidays to help everyone arrive at their destination safely.  We are experienced in cleanup from traumatic auto and motorcycle accidents and we can’t stress enough the importance of utilizing these services.  We appreciate the business but would much rather our friends and neighbors not have to be faced with traumatic incidents that require our services.

If you need more information about the types of services that we provide or our qualifications and how we can assist you, please contact our office for complete details.  Again, we hope that everyone has a safe and happy holiday weekend and we look forward to offering continuing services in the years to come. 

National rise of suicide in the workplace

 

In past data collected, specifically from 2010 and 2011 census information, the United States Bureau of Labor shows a significant increase of workplace suicides.  As difficult as these types of scenarios may be, it’s important for employers and property owners take every precaution to protect co-workers and tenants.  

Bio Scene Clean Up provides death, trauma, suicide and biohazard cleanup services in workplaces, public buildings and private residential properties.

Whenever a trauma like this occurs there is immediate danger to others in proximity to the accident scene.  It’s imperative that property owners contact a professional, certified biohazard cleanup company like Bio Scene Clean Up to perform the tasks of cleaning and disinfecting the scene immediately.  Attempting to clean a scene that has a presence of blood, tissues and other bodily fluids or matter can pose a huge legal liability if not properly remediated.

 
When proper protocol and cleanup techniques are not followed, there may be trace elements of blood, tissue, matter and fluids that are not visible to the human eye.  These elements can cause airborne pathogens that can be ingested by others causing serious if not fatal complications.  There are major risks of infection and disease from these elements and most likely horrid odors that will keep recurring if they were only masked at clean up.  Each of these factors can be a potential legal matter in the event that an employee or tenant becomes ill as a result of inadequate removal and remediation of these scenes.

Bio Scene Clean Up is certified in the removal of blood, tissue, body fluids and matter associated with suicides and death. We are also capable of removal of all components that may be affected by the trauma and can perform total rehab construction on the affected areas. Please follow our blog for other important information about the services that we provide and how we can assist you with biohazard clean up and handling.  Please contact our office if you need more information about a specific service or if you have a biohazard area that you need cleaned. 

How Crime Scene Clean Up Works:

What your Tampa Bio Hazard Technicians Can Do For You.

As we’ve stated in previous posts, the site of a messy death poses severe danger that you can’t always visually see. Bloodborne pathogens from these scenes can cause infections affect someone for months or years later if not properly cleaned and decontaminated.

Depending on the severity of the death scene, clean up can range from only a couple of hours to 40 or more hours.  The Bio Scene technicians have to make certain that the areas are truly clean and properly disinfected, not just apparently clean on the surface. This is equally true of crime scenes, unattended and decomposing death scenes or suicides.

After death, the body swells, insects invade the body, organs self digest and the skin becomes liquefied.  Decomposing bodies expel ammonia gases that create an intense, unforgettable odor. Proper precautions need to be taken in cleaning of these scenes so pathogens are not ingested and the person cleaning the scene doesn’t come into direct contact with any substances or infectious remains.  It is not suggested that a family member, friend or any untrained professional attempt to clean this type of scene. BioScene Clean Up Technicians utilize hospital grade disinfectant to clean blood, matter and other materials from walls, ceilings, surfaces, fixtures and any contents contained in the affected area. This also can include the removal of blood-soaked carpeting and rugs, walls, flooring, furniture and any porous components that these bio-hazards cannot be removed from.  Special permits must be obtained and special handling for the disposal of these items must be adhered to.  These are not tasks that an ordinary individual would know.  You cannot simply discard these materials in a dumpster or trash bin because of the potential risk of infection to others, or possibly death not to mention the legal ramifications and fines from authorities if it’s discovered.

Contact a BioScene Clean Up Representative today for specific information on how we can be of assistance with your bio-hazard clean up.