To better understand biohazard cleaning, you need to know the meaning of biohazards first. Biohazards consist of biological materials that have the potential to cause infections and illnesses. Exposure to these materials occurs in various ways, for example, through touch, inhalation or ingestion.

Where Do Biohazards Come From?

Biohazards come from disease outbreaks (for example, the current COVID-19 virus), toxic chemicals, raw sewage, oozing from carcasses, unattended deaths, medical waste (for example, syringes and bloody bandages), mould growth, etc.

What Is Biohazard Cleaning?

Biohazard cleaning is the process of cleaning and disinfecting premises that have been exposed to biohazards. In the examples given above, biohazard cleaning can be defined as the process of:

• Disinfecting and cleaning a premise that was contaminated by people who have a disease that spreads easily
• Cleaning and disinfecting surfaces where toxic chemicals spill
• Treating raw sewage and installing sewage treatment plants
• Removing carcasses and unattended deaths, cleaning and disinfecting the surface 
• Removing medical waste, cleaning and disinfecting the area and disposing of it correctly
• Cleaning and disinfecting surfaces that have mould

What to Do When You Come Across Biohazard Substances

If you know that a particular area is a high risk for a biohazard, you should avoid exposing yourself. Don't try to clean or disinfect the affected area without the skills or experience required; you will end up exposing yourself and getting sick.

The solution is to contact a biohazard cleaning company immediately. Before doing this, confirm that the company specialises in cleaning the particular biohazard material you find. Additionally, ensure that the biohazard cleaning company specialises in cleaning biohazard materials from the kind of premises where you are located. For example, if you are in an industrial area, you want a biohazard cleaning company that offers biohazard cleaning services for industrial areas.

Biohazard Cleaning Process

The biohazard cleaning company sends specialists to your location to inspect what you saw. Based on what they find, they might take action immediately or go back to the company to grab the equipment and items needed to clean and disinfect the biohazard substances. You are also presented with a biohazard cleaning service quote after inspection; it highlights what actions are to be taken and breaks down the costs for you to see what the total amount is.

The pieces of equipment and items needed during biohazard cleaning include cleaning tools, disposal supplies (biohazard marked bags and hard containers), PPEs (personal protective materials), cleaning machines, cleaning and disinfecting products, etc.