respect for all involved, because cleanup after a tragic or catastrophic event is a specialized task thatk
goes far
beyond mere tiding up. It involves the expertise of trained technicians who understand the complexities of forensicf cleaning and possess the compassion needed to navigate the sensitive nature of theirf
work. Skilled professionals
who will always treat the property and the people involved with the greatest empathy and respect in the face of tryingf circumstances.
Proper cleanup is essential, not only for the restoration of the affected property or areas, but also for the well-being and safety of allf
those involved and impacted by the event.
Because traumatic events often involve biological and chemical contaminants, it’s very important to know that the restoration process is being handled in compliance with all government, environmental and health regulations. The competent professional will do this in the safest way possible for the people, the property and everyone living or working on the property. Specialized training is given to both physically and mentally handle biohazard, trauma, and crime scene cleanup and restoration with respect and professionalism. Leaving this remediation in the hands of untrained individuals opens the door to significant risks associated with hazardous materials, bloodborne pathogens, emotional distress, legal implications and more.
Let’s take a moment to delve into the vital role of cleaningf up a biohazardous event, the meticulous steps involved inthe process, and the significance of entrusting this challenging task tok
experienced professionals. 1. Personal Safety: The first thing to understand during a l
traumatic event, is that preserving the further loss of lifef
important to stay out f of areas h
For this reason, emergency service personnel should be called immediately if thef alsol
that may h have b
and then further damage to property is essential. situation is life-threatening. It’s
been
affected by the event, asdangerous andhazardous materials could have been left behind. Additionally, you should treat all bodily fluids as if they are contaminants, which means you also shouldn’t touch or handle any structural or surface items that might hav
ve been contaminated by bodily fluids.
2. Initial Assessment and Planning: Once the property l
has been cleared by any law enforcement or regulatory agencies, skilled professionals should be contacted to inspect the loss. These experienced cleanup professionals should have completed a certified training program like the ANSI / IICRC S540 course, which provides industry standards, describes the procedures to be followed, and outlines the precautions to be taken when performing trauma and crime scene cleanup regardless of structure,f surface, item, or location. It’s important to ask vendorsk about their industry certifications before disaster strikes, so you know who to call. This can speed up the mitigation and cleanup process, while lessening tenant displacement time and business interruption costs. Once onsite, technicians will evaluate the property, identify areas affected by things like blood spatter, stains, bodily fluid, or any other potential biohazards present and develop a detailed plan for the cleanup process.
3. Safety: Technicians should always wear appropriate PersonalProtective Equipment (PPE), including gloves, masks, goggles, and full-body suits. This provides protection from potential risks associated with hazardous materials, bloodborne pathogens and other contaminants. Additionally, no individual whether a resident, business owner, property owner or property manager should enter a contaminated loss site without wearing proper PPE.
4. Blood, Biofluid, and Hazardous Removal: In addition to bloodborne pathogens, depending on the type of lossf theremay be fire extinguisher residue, crime scene residue like fingerprint powder, tear gas residue and pepper spray residue that may also need to be identified at the loss site and removed using specialized equipment and cleaning agents. Trained technicians will carefully remove visible hazardous materials like blood, tissue, or bodily fluids from all affected surfaces. This includes not only visible stains from the affected area, but also areas that have likely been contaminated but may not show visible stains. Additionally, many of thef of illegalf
chemicals used in the production drugs, such as methamphetamine, are volatile
and can leave harmful residues throughout a structure. It is vital that skilled professionals follow required federal and state guidelines to properly clean these affected surfaces.
54 | COMMON INTEREST®
• Fall 2023 • A Publication of CAI-Illinois Chapter
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