Infectious Control & Trauma Scene Cleanup

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Over the last 10 years we have been exposed to a wide variety of new bio-hazards as well as some that have existed for thousands of years. Recent outbreaks of SARS, hepatitis, noroviruses, bird flu viruses, legionnaires disease, as well as bio-hazards created by drug labs, marijuana grow ops, and various crime and trauma scenes have made the public, our governments, building owners and property managers more aware of the pressing need for the proper clean up and decontamination of bio-hazard scenes.
Knowledge of the potential risks and the proper protocol required to successfully decontaminate a bio-hazard scene has made Praxis Restoration Services the contractor of choice for many of our clients who have had been unfortunate enough to be faced with such environmental hazards.

What is a bio-hazard?

A biological hazard or bio-hazard is a substance derived from an organism that poses a threat to human health. They include bacteria, viruses, diseases, or toxic chemicals that can be present in blood or bodily fluids from humans and animals, or medical waste.

Federal and Provincial agencies have issued regulations outlining the precautions needed to handle blood and body fluids. Our decontamination and crime scene technicians provide regulatory compliant on site cleaning, decontamination and restoration of property damaged by the following

  • Crime Scenes / Murder / Suicides
  • Injury Scenes / Vehicle Impact or Work Related Accidents
  • Infection and Disease Control / SARS, Hepatitis, Noroviruses, Bird Flu Viruses, Legionnaires Disease
  • Body Decomposition / Human or Animal
  • Mass Casualty Scenes
  • Drug Lab Decontamination
  • Marijuana Grow Op Decontamination

At Praxis, our team of technicians are trained specifically to deal with all types of bio-hazard scenarios and their associated risks. Using state of the art equipment and following the most stringent protocols, as set forth by both Federal and Provincial regulations, our team can effectively and efficiently remove and dispose of all contaminated materials according to local bylaws, clean the affected areas and neutralize any odors, and finally sanitize all the affected areas thus rendering any bio-hazard harmless to our clients, their loved ones, their employees or their customers.

Did You Know

 

Fact: Your employer can not force you to clean up a spill of blood or bodily fluids (this is especially so in the janitorial industry). All employees have the right to refuse to work if the physical condition of the workplace or workstation is likely to endanger the worker. If an employee is asked to clean up a blood spill, management has an obligation to prove that they have performed “Due Diligence” (that they have taken every precaution reasonably necessary in the circumstances for the protection of the worker) i.e. ensuring that the workers are trained and are competent to deal with Blood Borne Pathogens, in order to prevent occupational exposure to blood, and to other infectious materials in the workplace which could result in the transmission of Blood Borne Pathogens causing disease or death.

Fact: All biohazardous infectious material must be transported by a licensed medial waste transporter and properly disposed of according to the Canadian Environmental Protection Act Regulation 347.

Fact: Bodily fluids are considered hazardous. According to the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information Systems (WHMIS) Classification D, Division 3 “Biohazardous Infectious Materials “, viruses live in bodily fluids (Blood, Urine) and they are therefore considered to be hazardous to humans.

Fact: Blood and other bodily fluids are still hazardous even after they are exposed to air e.g. the virus Hepatitis B is stable in dried blood for a maximum of 7 days at 25 degrees Celsius. Hand contact with blood-contaminated surfaces can transfer the virus through skin or mucous membranes.

Fact: In Ontario, the cleanup of human blood must be performed according to the standards of the Ontario Occupational Health & Safety Act, Section 25 (H), Section 26 (K), (L), as well as Regulation 833 Section 3 (1). Only designated and trained individuals should clean up blood and body fluids.