Biohazard Cleanup vs. Regular Cleaning: What's the Difference?

Name: Bio-One of Marion County
Brand: Bio-One of Marion County
Rating: 4.9 (64 reviews)

Introduction

Cleanliness is essential for maintaining a safe and healthy environment, whether at home, in the workplace, or in any public space. However, not all cleaning tasks are created equal. There's a distinct difference between regular cleaning and biohazard cleanup; understanding this difference is crucial for ensuring the safety and well-being of individuals in various settings.

Regular Cleaning: Maintenance for Everyday Living

Regular cleaning refers to the routine maintenance of spaces to keep them neat, organized, and free from dirt and clutter. This type of cleaning is part of our daily lives, involving tasks such as dusting, sweeping, mopping, vacuuming, and wiping surfaces. Regular cleaning is aimed at maintaining appearances, preventing the buildup of dirt and grime, and improving the overall aesthetic of a space. We do it to keep our living and working areas comfortable and visually appealing.

Biohazard Cleanup: Dealing with Dangerous Contaminants

On the other hand, biohazard cleanup goes far beyond the surface-level tidying associated with regular cleaning. Biohazards are biological materials that threaten human health, such as blood, bodily fluids, medical waste, and other potentially infectious substances. Biohazard cleanup involves the removal, cleaning, and disposal of these hazardous materials in a safe and regulated manner. This type of cleanup is necessary after traumatic events, accidents, crime scenes, industrial accidents, or in places where contamination from pathogens is suspected.

Key Differences: Biohazard Cleanup vs. Regular Cleaning

Safety Concerns: The primary difference between biohazard cleanup and regular cleaning is the level of safety concerns involved. Regular cleaning focuses on making spaces look tidy, while biohazard cleanup centers on preventing the spread of infectious diseases and maintaining the health of individuals who may come into contact with the contaminants.
Equipment and Training: Biohazard cleanup requires specialized training, equipment, and protective gear to ensure the safety of those performing the cleanup. Professionals in this field, like Bio-One of Marion County, are trained to handle potentially dangerous materials, use disinfectants effectively, and follow strict protocols to avoid cross-contamination. Regular cleaning typically involves basic cleaning tools and does not require the same level of specialized knowledge.
Regulations and Compliance: Biohazard cleanup must adhere to strict regulations and guidelines set by health and safety authorities. There are legal requirements for handling and disposing of biohazardous materials properly. Regular cleaning does not have the same stringent regulations associated with it.
Severity of Contamination: Biohazard cleanup addresses situations where the risk of contamination is high due to bloodborne pathogens, bacteria, viruses, and other harmful agents. Regular cleaning deals with everyday dirt and debris that do not pose the same health risks.
Psychological Impact: Biohazard cleanup often involves emotionally distressing situations like crime scenes or accidents. Professionals in this field must be equipped to handle the psychological toll of these scenarios. Regular cleaning typically does not involve such emotional challenges.

Conclusion

In summary, the difference between biohazard cleanup and regular cleaning lies in the level of risk, specialized training, and equipment required. While regular cleaning is essential for maintaining a comfortable and appealing environment, biohazard cleanup is critical for preventing the spread of diseases and ensuring the safety of individuals in spaces contaminated by hazardous materials. Understanding these differences is vital for making informed decisions when it comes to addressing cleaning needs in various settings.

Bio-One of Marion County is a locally owned and operated biohazard and hoarding cleaning company serving Indianapolis and surrounding areas. We specialize in blood, bodily fluid, feces removal, rodent droppings, sewage cleanup, hoarding, pet hoarding, gross filth cleanup, tear gas remediation, and odor removal services. Helping people facing difficult situations get their surroundings and lives back in order is our #1 priority.

Bio-One is here to help you 24/7, 365 days a year! Call (317) 499-0614, and you'll speak directly to one of us when you call; there is never an answering service. We'll treat you like a person with the compassion and respect that you deserve.

Suicide is a difficult topic most people prefer to avoid altogether. Our societal aversion to the topic means most people don’t know what they need to do if the unthinkable happens.

Unfortunately, in spite of the best efforts of many, suicide happens. This leaves surviving loved ones to navigate a confusing and difficult healing and cleanup process.

Many resources offering help following suicide launch right into how to cope with grief. But if you are still in the phase of trying to manage the logistics, you may be looking for different information.

As a biohazard cleanup company, our work at Bio-One often involves families coping with the loss of a loved one to suicide. Because of this, we strive to do our part to help by providing some helpful information for navigating this difficult time.

What Do I Need To Do Now?

If you are here because you need information, it’s likely you’ve already contacted emergency services about the death. After the police, coroner, and/or medical examiner have released the scene and your loved one’s body has been transported to a medical facility there are a few things that need to happen next:

Identification - If you are the immediate next of kin but were not the person who discovered and identified the body at the scene, you may be asked to identify the body in person or through photographs. If the prospect is too traumatic or overwhelming for you, this is completely understandable and you can ask someone else to do the identification.

Transportation for Funeral Preparation - The coroner’s office or medical examiner’s office will usually release the body to the family within 1 to 3 days. At that point, if you have chosen a funeral home, you can contact them to make arrangements to transport the body there to begin preparations for the funeral if you’re having a service.

Cleanup of the Scene - Unfortunately, the coroner or medical examiner do not make any arrangements for cleanup after a suicide. At this point, it becomes the responsibility of the property owner or the friends and family to arrange for cleanup.

Do not try to clean up the scene yourself. Though the property owner or next of kin is responsible for arranging for cleanup, it’s critical that you do not actually do the cleanup yourself. The blood and fluids left behind after a death are a biohazard. Attempting to do the cleanup yourself can be dangerous as well as deeply traumatic.

Suicide cleanup is a job that should be entrusted to professionals. If you are currently in the position of needing to arrange for cleanup, please contact Bio-One right away at 303-625-6543.

We have all the equipment and expertise needed for the job, and we will treat the scene, the situation, and any belongings with respect and care. We will also help you to get the insurance process underway to get cleaning costs covered by your homeowner’s insurance. Through this difficult and traumatic time, this is the last thing you should have on your plate. We are here to help.

What’s Involved in a Suicide Scene Clean-Up?

Even though you are not participating in the cleaning itself, understanding what’s involved can be an important part of the grieving process. Some people may need to know exactly what is involved in cleaning up the scene.

The time required for a clean-up and the extent of what’s required can vary depending on how much bio-matter is left at the scene and how long the body was there. Bio-One has a tried-and-true process to restore the scene to a safe and habitable state in a way that is both thorough and respectful.

Our process is as follows:

Inspection - First, we thoroughly inspect the scene to assess what supplies will be needed, how much bio-hazardous material will need to be removed, and the extent of any damage that could be caused by decomposition.

Bio-matter Disinfection and Disposal - Next we clean and dispose of any visible blood, body fluids, and compromised porous items. We then contain, disinfect, and dispose of all bio-matter properly in accordance with state laws to ensure everyone’s safety. Sometimes this involves removing sections of soiled carpeting, floorboards, baseboards, or other household items to ensure no hazardous material is left behind.

Personal Belongings - We will take care to preserve any personal items that can be safely cleaned. Porous materials like clothing and stuffed animals can’t be truly disinfected, but upon request we can clean them to the best of our ability and return them to the family.

Restoration Prep - Once everything has been thoroughly cleaned and disinfected, we work to get everything to a point where it can be handed off to contractors for restoration work if necessary. We are not involved in the restoration process, but we will ensure the site is clean and ready for whoever you hire to get to work. We will also take care of filing the claims with your insurance company for the cleaning services.

We hope these details will help to take some weight off your mind during this difficult time so you can focus on any preparations you need to make.

What’s Next?

With cleaning out of the way, your remaining responsibilities may focus on informing family and friends and/or making funeral arrangements. Be sure to take care of your own mental health as you take the next steps. You are going through something very painful, but hopefully the help from your family, friends, loved ones, and community will ease some of the stress.

Bio-One is here for you as you weather this tragic time. We hope our service will help ease your burden. Though the circumstances may be difficult, we are honored to be a part of your community at this incredibly challenging time.

Most homeowners' insurance policies cover the cleaning and decontamination of biohazard contaminants and damage resulting from a suicide, unattended death, crime, accident, medical emergency, and infectious disease. In addition, the policy likely covers any repairs or replacement of structural elements (flooring, carpet and pad, baseboards, drywall) that must be removed as part of the remediation process. When a claim is first opened, the situation and details must be explained in a manner that helps to ensure coverage. How the situation is explained to the claims representative can impact whether or not you are covered and how much is covered and mitigates delay in cleaning your home or property.

Bio-One Marion County has filed many claims on behalf of its clients. It can help you file a claim with your insurance company, guide you through the process and be your advocate to ensure that your insurance company provides all that you are entitled to based on your policy.

What if You Haven't Found the Homeowner's Insurance Policy?

Bio-One Marion County understands that the policy information is often not readily available or needs to be found inside the home after the cleanup is completed. If a loved one has passed in their home, we can help you find and recover the policy information as part of our cleanup efforts.

It is important not to delay the biohazard remediation and to avoid further damage to your property and emotional well-being. Bio-One Marion County is here to help, and we want you to be physically and emotionally safe; thus, the biohazard cleanup should be done without delay.

The Claim Process

Bio-One Marion County will schedule with you a time and day to inspect and remediate the scene where the death or accident occurred.
Bio-One Marion County will take the necessary photos and measurements to document the scene before, during, and after the biohazard remediation process.
Bio-One Marion County will collect the homeowner's insurance policy information necessary to file a claim on your behalf. We will need the insurance company's name, the insured's name, and the policy number.
Bio-One Marion County will call the insurance company's national claim line and provide detailed information to the claim handler so you don't have to. The claim handler will open a claim and, in most cases, provide us with a claim number and the assigned adjuster's name and contact information. To protect our client's emotional well-being by not having to relive the details of the situation, we ask the adjuster to contact us directly so we can explain the situation in detail and the work that was done and discuss the next steps for any work that still needs to be done to remediate odor, cross contamination or repairs.
Once the adjuster and Bio-One have spoken, the adjuster will contact you to verify the claim, get additional information, if necessary, and then discuss coverage with you.
Once the job is complete, Bio-One will submit the documentation, a properly formatted invoice, a report, and photographs to the adjuster. We inform the adjuster what repairs, if any, must be made to the structure.
The adjuster may call you to schedule an appointment so a field adjuster can visit the property to inspect and take measurements for funding the repair and replacement of covered items and structures.
The insurance company will mail you a check for less than the deductible or send Bio-One Marion County a check directly for our portion of the claim, and we will invoice you for the deductible.

Bio-One Marion County has your best interest in mind when filing a claim and dealing with the assigned adjuster. How the case is presented, and the documents submitted are essential to helping to ensure that the only out-of-pocket expense is deductible.

Please note that most biohazard claims are covered; however, all policies are different, and coverage varies based on the type of policy and named peril exclusions. Deductibles typically vary between $250-$2,500 but could be higher depending on the policy. Not all insurance companies will permit third parties to file a claim on behalf of the insured. In those few cases, we will file the claim alongside you, guide the process for you, and do our best to shield you from reliving the details.

Bio-One of Marion County is a locally owned and operated biohazard and hoarding cleaning company serving Indianapolis and surrounding areas. We specialize in blood, bodily fluid, and feces removal, rodent droppings cleaning, sewage cleanup, hoarding and pet hoarding cleaning, gross filth cleanup, and odor removal services. Helping people who are faced with difficult situations to get their surroundings and lives back in order is our #1 priority.

If you or someone you know may be considering suicide, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 (en español: 1-888-628-9454; deaf and hard of hearing: dial 711, then 1-800-273-8255) or the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741.

Girl Upset - Suicide Prevention Resources

According to the American Psychiatric Association, suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States and the second leading cause of death (after accidents) for people aged 10 to 34. And according the CDC, published reports from 2020 suggest that the pandemic has had a negative effect on children’s mental health.

“Beginning in April 2020, the proportion of children’s mental health–related ED visits among all pediatric ED visits increased and remained elevated through October. Compared with 2019, the proportion of mental health–related visits for children aged 5–11 and 12–17 years increased approximately 24%. and 31%, respectively.”

Researchers have yet to link recent suicides to the pandemic since 2020 suicide data is not yet available. But on the ground, there's growing concern.

The February 2021 NPR article “Child Psychiatrists Warn That The Pandemic May Be Driving Up Kids' Suicide Risk” explores possible correlation. Takeaways include:

NPR spoke with providers at hospitals in seven states across the country, and all of them reported a similar trend: More suicidal children are coming to their hospitals — in worse mental states.
The number of kids with suicide attempts coming to the emergency room at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland, in California, in the fall of 2020 was double the number in the fall of 2019.
At Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis, the number of children and teens hospitalized after suicide attempts went up from 67 in 2019 to 108 in 2020. And October 2020 saw a 250% increase in these numbers over the previous October.

For ways to help kids at risk, NPR encourages readers to read Part 2 of their story, “Make Space, Listen, Offer Hope: How To Help A Child At Risk Of Suicide”.

Suicide Prevention Resources

Whether you have struggled with suicide yourself or have lost a loved one, know you are not alone. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention has collected real stories from people in whose lives have been impacted by suicide.
The American Association of Suicidology offers a national directory for support groups for both attempt and loss survivors of suicide.
The SAVE organization (Suicide Awareness Voices of Education) has a variety of help guides including restricting access to lethal means, warning signs of suicide, and suicide prevention.

Survivors of Suicide – What to Do Next

The loss of a loved one by suicide can be a deeply painful and traumatizing experience; however, it’s important to know that everyone experiences suicide loss in their own way. As you begin the process of healing, consider reading the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s guide for to talk to others about what happened and identify ways to take care of yourself.

Additionally, if you have lost someone to suicide, there may be a cleanup required. There is no need for family or friends of the loved one to be further traumatized or overwhelmed with trying to figure out how to clean the impacted area. Bio-One is here for you. Learn more about Bio-One’s suicide remediation services.