There may come a time, whether it’s in your personal life or at work, when you need to hire a company that offers hazmat cleanup.
In a nutshell, hazmat cleanup refers to the process of cleaning up and getting rid of hazardous materials. These materials, including lead, human/animal waste, toxic waste, and corrosives, can be incredibly harmful to both the surrounding environment and nearby people. As such, hazmat suits, which are specifically designed to protect technicians from breathing in and absorbing these materials, are required for certain cleanups.
If you’re considering hiring a hazmat cleanup crew or wondering whether you should, keep reading for some helpful information. Below, we answer the most commonly asked questions about hazmat safety and procedures.
Do I Need to Hire Someone? What Does Hazmat Cleanup Include?
A good rule of thumb is if you think your situation requires hazmat cleanup, then it probably does. As briefly mentioned above, hazmat cleanup involves the removal of hazardous materials followed by a deep clean.
Though hazmat cleanup can include a wide range of situations, these are the most common:
- Crime scenes
- Death
- Industrial/chemical accidents
- Exposure to bodily fluids
- Trauma scenes
- Animal waste and/or decomposition
- Hoarding environments
If you relate to any of these, then please reach out to a Portland-based hazmat cleanup service.
How to Stay Safe from a Biohazard While Awaiting Help
This will depend on the type of biohazard situation that occurred. However, generally speaking, you will be removed from the area once a biohazard exposure occurs. Typically, this is because the police are called right after an incident happens or is discovered.
As such, an investigation into what happened is usually conducted. During this period, you won’t be allowed in, nor will anyone from the hazmat cleanup team. Why? Because keeping the scene free from bystanders preserves evidence.
That’s why, even if you call a hazmat company, they won’t go in until law enforcement gives them the all-clear to do so.
Hazmat Cleanup Procedures
If you have a biohazard but it’s minor, you may be wondering what you should do to keep the area contained prior to your cleanup crew arriving.
Here are a few helpful tips to protect yourself and your home or place of business:
- Isolate the infected area, whether by putting up a barrier or shutting the door so no one can enter that room until the techs arrive
- Put on protective gear, including but not limited to rubber gloves and goggles
That last step is critical to protect yourself. Though blood may appear harmless, it’s impossible to determine if it’s contaminated. Always err on the side of caution and schedule a hazmat cleanup appointment.
How Long Does Hazmat Cleanup Take?
The answer is that it depends. If law enforcement is involved, then your tech will have to wait until they’re given permission to enter the premises. As briefly mentioned above, this is so any important evidence can be preserved and not accidentally tampered with. This could take days, weeks, or months, depending on the details.
However, once they’re able to arrive, it may take anywhere from a few hours to a few weeks. It really depends on the severity of the scene and how many rooms/areas were affected.
Does Hazmat Treatment Only Apply to Homes and Offices?
No. You can get hazmat treatment for any area of a property, including but not limited to the backyard, patio, garage, or swimming pool.
Sometimes, accidents occur outside in different settings. As such, our technicians are trained to clean up all sorts of areas, both indoors and outdoors.
Do Hazmat Cleaners Need to Be Certified to Handle Hazardous Materials?
Cleaning up biohazards, regardless of what they are, isn’t as simple as clearing out other trash. Since these hazards are dangerous, they can’t just be thrown out on the curb or taken to a local dump.
It’s because biohazards require so much detailed care that hazmat professionals are trained and certified to handle these materials. When you hire a professional, you can trust the experience and expertise you’re receiving. If you are dealing with a biohazard, don’t wait. Get the help you need from the pros at PNW Restoration.
Contact the Professional Hazmat Cleanup Team From PNW Restoration
If you require any sort of hazmat cleanup, please do not hesitate to reach out to the team at PNW Restoration. We handle every case with the compassion and decorum the situation requires.
Our hazmat cleanup team can be reached via phone at (971) 247-3470. If you have questions beforehand, please don’t hesitate to call and ask. We’re here to help in any way we can. These services are available throughout Oregon, including Portland, Aloha, and West Linn.
Whether minor or severe, you can trust the pros at PNW Restoration to restore your premises after it’s experienced an accident or any type of trauma.
