UNDERSTANDING WHAT CONSITUTES  A BIOHAZARD

The CDC defines a biohazard as one of those infectious agents that present a risk or potential risk to humans, animals, or the environment.

These hazards can include blood, bodily fluids, tissue, bacteria, fungi, viruses, sharps, human and animal feces and urine, as well as OPIM.

OPIM or “other potentially infectious materials” as defined in

OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens standard (29CFR 1910.1030(b) includes

human semen, vaginal secretions, spinal fluid, synovial fluid, pleural fluid, pericardial fluid, amniotic fluid (from childbirth), saliva in dental procedures or any body fluid that is visibly contaminated with blood and all body fluids where it is impossible or difficult to differentiate between fluids; tissues or organs that have been infected with a biological pathogen.

There are 4 types of biohazards, also termed as biological hazards:

Type 1: Biological agents: These include bacteria, molds and yeasts, parasites and viruses, including Covid 19 and flu viruses. These are usually harmless, while some, like Covid 19 and flu viruses can cause serious risks.

Type 2: Biotoxins: These are poisonous and toxic to humans and are produced by plants, bacteria, insects and certain animals. They can cause inflammatory reactions to the body. These can include ricin, tetanus, staph and botulism.

Type 3: Blood and Blood Products: Although blood itself may not be considered a biological hazard, it can still be a risk if contaminated with

diseases like Hep A, B and C and HIV. Unless properly handled, these diseases can be transferred to humans.

Type 4:  Environmental : This generally refers to plants, soil or water that may be contaminated by  soil or water runoff that is contaminated with harmful diseases such as cholera .

As you can see, there are many biohazards that can occur in our daily lives, such as molds, bacteria, viruses ( such as Covid19 and the flu). Most of the time, our exposure is usually harmless.  However, molds and fungi can cause asthma and other respiratory diseases. Covid 19 and the flu cause other symptoms that can impact our health and daily lives.

However, it is not usual to be exposed to blood and blood products

On a daily basis unless you work in a laboratory, hospital or healthcare setting, it is imperative that you have a trained, certified biohazardous remediation company, such as CleanScene BioRecovery Services handle any biohazardous situation that you may encounter. We are trained and certified by the American BioRecovery Association , which is a worldwide certifying agency that maintains a strict standard of ethics and training . We handle crime/trauma scenes, suicides, unattended deaths, sanitizing, disinfecting, surface mold treatment, hoarder houses and biohazardous medical waste.

You can be assured that CleanScene Biorecovery Services and all of their employees are already trained in all of the above procedures, you, as the customer, can simply rely on us to perform the necessary services needed with full confidence that they will be done professionally, expediently, and cost effectively.

WHAT ARE BIOHAZARD SAFETY LEVELS?

Biohazard safety levels were originally designed for laboratory work by the Center for Disease Control. However, after it became apparent that many diseases needed to be included in the biohazard safety levels, these levels then began being used by CleanScene BioRecovery Services  in the biohazardous assessments of risk to our clients and communities.

The biohazard safety levels are as follows:

BioSafety Level 1 :

This area includes microbes or bacteria that present a low-risk health or safety hazard to individuals and communities, such as e-coli.  Biohazard trained technicians should wear personal protective equipment (PPE) at this level.

BioSafety Level 2:

Microbes in this area include HIV and hepatitis A,B, C, flu, HIV measles , etc.  These present a moderate health risk to an individual or a low risk safety hazard to the community, as these pathogens have effective treatments and preventative measures that are available. Biohazard trained technicians are to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) at this level.

BioSafety Level 3:

Microbes at this level can cause serious or potentially lethal diseases through respiratory exposure, such as anthrax, West Nile virus, SARS TB and malaria. Biohazard trained  technicians must wear PPE and respirators at this level.

BioSafety Level 4:

This level is rarely seen outside of laboratories. The infections caused here are usually fatal without treatment and include Ebola and other hemorrhagic diseases.

Be aware that these biohazards are not found only in labs.  Any of these microbes can be found in blood or bodily fluids found at crime/trauma scenes, unattended deaths, suicides, etc.

Exposure to any biohazardous pathogen  should always be remediated by biohazardous trained technicians . All biohazardous pathogens, including OPIM (Other potentially infected materials) will be rendered safe according to EPA and OSHA standards.

CleanScene BioRecovery Services uses a Risk Assessment Plan for each biohazardous situation that we encounter.  This lets the client know the exposure to them and their environment.  The level also dictates the type of PPE needed to be used for the situation. This can include hazmat suits, respirators, gloves and other applicable PPE , along with the appropriate EPA registered chemicals to remediate and treat the scene.

You can be assured that CleanScene Biorecovery Services and all of their employees are already trained in all of the above procedures, so, you, as the customer, can simply rely on us to perform the necessary services needed with full confidence that they will be done professionally, expediently, and cost effectively.

WHAT TO DO SHOULD THERE BE A TRAUMATIC EVENT ON ONE OF YOUR PROPERTIES

This information was written by the owner of CleanScene BioRecovery Services, 3000 E. Main St., Suite 161, Columbus, OH 43209, 614-235-7915, a BioRecovery Technician trained by the founder of the biorecovery industry and certified by the American BioRecovery Association, the National Institute of Decontamination Specialists, and in OSHA and EPA standards on Bloodborne Pathogens, to assist you should a homicide, suicide, or other incident involving blood and bodily fluids, or an unattended death (human decomposition) occur on one of the properties you manage or own.

Of course, the first step is to contact local law enforcement immediately. Once you have contacted the local police or sheriff’s department, lock and secure the unit or residence. Should there be an unattended death found (say, due to a wellness check), do not open the windows; but do turn on the air conditioning system. This will prevent flies, and henceforth, maggot infestation.

The investigation of the incident will be handled by law enforcement once they’re on site. During the investigation, they will evaluate the scene, and they may interview your employees and/or residents to document the circumstances related to the event. You and your staff should be available to answer any questions and provide access to the property. In addition to coordinating access to the property and your staff, your management of the incidence may include (1) Support of normal business and maintenance operations during the incident and its investigation; (2) Counseling any employee or resident impacted by the event; (3) Property owner and/or corporate office communication; (4) Fielding (or shielding) media questions or managing their presence on the property; and contacting CleanScene BioRecovery Services (614.235.7915)(www.cleanscene-biorecovery.com) for the cleaning of the contaminated environment created by the event, as well as containing and disposing of the waste generated by the event.

The property is responsible for the cleaning once the body has been removed and the police release the scene. This can take a few days, depending on the law enforcement investigation. This type of cleaning is not for your maintenance staff. Not only is BioHazardous remediation potentially upsetting, but it also puts your staff and residents at risk of HIV, Hepatitis, other bloodborne pathogens, and bacterial hazards. And, it could subject your company to OSHA fines, unnecessary scrutiny, medical expenses, and employee/resident liability. For these types of biohazardous remediation services, you need to call CleanScene BioRecovery Services that specializes in these cleaning processes. In addition to their technical specialty, CleanScene is licensed and insured and is OSHA and

EPA compliant (EPA # 25-T-00307). The waste produced from events, as mentioned, is federally regulated by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 (RCRA). Under this act, a “cradle-to-grave- tracking system was and is in place to ensure that biological waste that is recovered from contaminated environments is contained, transported, and disposed of properly to protect public health.

Upon your call to CleanScene BioRecovery Services, you should be able to (1) provide the circumstances of the event, as their technician will ask a series of brief questions for a proper description; (2) gain the technician’s name and provide your direct email address and Cell Phone number, AND PURCHASE ORDER NUMBER, to receive a copy of the invoice as generated by CleanScene; or, a copy may be dropped off at your office depending on CleanScene’s schedule; and then, allow the units’ air circulation (HVAC) to help dissipate the antimicrobials for 24 hours; and, (4) inspect the unit according to your company’s processes. CleanScene BioRecovery Services, 3000 E. Main St., Suite 161, Columbus, Ohio (614.235.7915), fully complies with all federal, state and local laws.© CleanScene

Disclaimer: Nothing written above should be construed to supersede any companies’ internal working processes. This is for general educational purposes designed to provide basic knowledge to what to do “IF”. ! (WI)