Bodily Fluid Clean-Up Procedure: What Does It Involve?
Turn to the professionals at Restorerz-Emergency Services by calling (323) 970-4792 to clean any biohazard spill in the Los Angeles area.
After an incident involving bodily fluids, following the appropriate bodily fluid clean-up procedure is necessary to remove the mess. In some cases, hiring a professional clean-up crew is best. Biohazard clean-up companies have the skills, tools, and techniques to remove bodily fluids from absorbent surfaces and non-porous materials properly.
Restorerz-Emergency Services is a leading bodily fluid clean-up company serving Los Angeles, CA, and the surrounding areas. Biohazard cleanup by Restorerz includes strict guidelines that our certified technicians follow. Learn more about the process below.
What Are Bodily Fluids?
Bodily fluids include all fluids that come from the human body. Examples of bodily fluids include:
- Blood
- Vomit
- Urine
- Feces
- Saliva
- Amniotic fluid
Exposure to a person’s bodily fluids poses serious health risks. For instance, a small amount of contaminated blood on an unhealed paper cut can cause an infection or transmit a disease like HIV or Hepatitis.
Unfortunately, many people are unaware of the bloodborne pathogens they carry, which increases the risk of illness for anyone who makes contact with bodily fluids. Therefore, adhering to a proper bodily fluid clean-up procedure is a must.
What Types of Personal Protective Equipment Are Necessary for Bodily Fluid Clean-Up?
If an accident, illness, or incident leaves behind bodily fluids, whoever cleans the mess must protect themselves. Part of following a clean-up procedure is ensuring that you have the correct personal protective equipment or PPE available. PPE refers to any items that will shield you from bodily fluids that are wet enough to splash onto your body or spills bigger than a dinner plate.
Essential PPE for cleaning bodily fluids includes the following:
- Potent disinfectant, like a bleach solution, that can eliminate a broad pathogen spectrum
- Black trash bags and biohazard bags with the appropriate labels
- Waterproof coveralls or biohazard suit
- Waterproof disposable gloves
- Disposable towels
- Safety goggles
- Rubber boots
Sometimes, biohazard clean-up crews arrive after the bodily fluid dries, so there is little to no risk of anything splashing on them. In those cases, wearing disposable nitrile or rubber gloves and goggles without other protective garments may be acceptable. However, substantial bodily fluid spills involving raw sewage or blood with high splash potential require rubber boots, waterproof coveralls, and a dust mask.
The person supervising the project ensures everyone working on the project has the appropriate PPE items for the job. For a spill clean-up, everyone must wear their PPE while they clean and disinfect surfaces and dispose of contaminated materials.
How To Clean Up Bodily Fluids
Every biohazard clean-up company has its own bodily fluid clean-up procedure. Reputable companies adhere to regulations regarding biohazard cleaning permits and the best practices for safely cleaning surfaces and disposing of contaminated materials. Processes for cleaning bodily fluids include several steps, such as those below.
Small or Large Spills That Someone Can Splash
When cleaning a large or small bodily fluid spill with a high splash potential, the first step is to soak up the material using disposable towels, sand, or an absorbent powder. To disinfect the surface after gathering up the bulk of the fluid, pour a broad-spectrum disinfectant onto it. A solution with 10% bleach will work.
It’s best to leave the bleach solution on the surface for up to 30 minutes to disinfect the affected area properly. Scrub clean with fresh towels, and repeat as necessary. Put all materials with bodily fluid into biohazard bags with used PPE.
Dried Bodily Fluids or Small Spills Unlikely to Splash
If the blood, vomit, and other bodily fluids are somewhat dry and unlikely to splash, you can still soak up the residual moisture with an absorbent powder or towels. When you’ve soaked up as much fluid as possible, dispose of the used towels or powder in the appropriate bags. You can use a 10% bleach solution to clean and disinfect the area or any other disinfectant that will kill a wide spectrum of infectious agents.
It may be necessary to scrub the affected area more intensely than a wet spill. Cleaning from the affected area’s perimeter and working inward helps prevent the spread of pathogens on unaffected surfaces.
Throw away all of the towels, powder, sand, and used PPE.
Post-cleaning Hygiene Practices
After cleaning, it’s necessary to take additional steps to prevent contaminating yourself and others. During the bodily fluid clean-up procedure, pathogens contaminate everything they touch, including PPE and cleaning equipment.
Follow these steps to avoid accidental exposure:
- Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water as soon as you remove disposable gloves.
- Switch to clean gloves often.
- Disinfect all reusable tools and equipment.
- Use a generous amount of soap and water to cleanse accidental skin contamination.
- Flush your eyes with plenty of water if bodily fluids get in your eyes.
Disposing of Contaminated Materials
The final step in cleaning a biohazard scene is disposing of the contaminated materials. It’s acceptable to seal clean-up materials in several dark trash bags and put them in a dumpster in some places.
However, a spill involving a large amount of blood will require a professional biohazard clean-up crew to handle the disposal process according to the state’s Department of Health regulations. The team will follow the appropriate protocol for labeling, packaging, transporting, and disposing of the contaminated materials.
For instance, hypodermic needles, glass shards, and other sharp objects can be biohazards due to their exposure to disease, pathogens, and other hazardous agents. Proper disposal will require putting them in a puncture-proof container before disposing of them.
Receive the Best Emergency Biohazard Clean-Up Service in Los Angeles
Restorerz-Emergency Services is the go-to source for professional biohazard cleanup in Los Angeles, CA, and the surrounding areas. Our highly trained team uses the latest industry technology and an efficient bodily fluid clean-up procedure to clean, disinfect, collect, and dispose of contaminated materials. We respond to emergencies within an hour and give your property the utmost care and attention.
Call (323) 970-4792 to request service from Restorerz-Emergency Services for your Los Angeles home or business.
