So what exactly is a biohazard and why are they so dangerous to our health? A biological hazard (or biohazard for short) is a biological substance that poses a threat to the health of living organisms––predominantly humans. This could include a microorganism, virus, bacteria, or toxin that can negatively affect our health. Plus, a biohazard can also be harmful to our pets, other animals, as well as our surrounding environment.
What Constitutes a Biohazard?
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Biohazards include body fluids, blood, body tissue, and waste that are contaminated with infectious substances. Below is a list of the most common biohazards:
• Blood
• Human waste
• Animal waste
• Saliva
• Vomit
• Animal carcasses
• Human body fluid (vaginal secretions, semen, amniotic fluid, etc.)
• Sputum
• Nasal secretions
• Microbiological waste
• Human tissue
• Items contaminated with a biohazard material
Biohazard Cleanup Services That We Offer
Biohazards are commonly found at crime scenes, suicides, and accidents. Below we break down the different types of biohazard cleanup services that Steri-Clean® offers to residents and businesses in Maryland and Delaware :
• Human and Animal Waste: Animal and human waste is not only unsightly and smells pungent, but it can pollute the environment, the groundwater, and be dangerous to humans and animals. It can contain bacterial infections like cholera, dysentery, and salmonella.
• Pathological waste: This refers to any material that is infected with pathogens, such as animal bedding or anything that contains blood or body fluids.
• Microbiological waste: This type of waste is predominantly found in hospitals and includes substances such as cultures and specimens.
• Sharps: These are used needles that can still have living pathogens on them. If handled or touched, sharps can pose a real health risk to humans.
• Medical supplies: Equipment such as gloves, bandages, dressings, and blood sample tubes that have come into contact with biohazards also fall under biohazard waste.
What Are the 4 Levels of Biohazards?
According to the Center for Disease Control, there are 4 levels of biohazards. Below we unpack each level:
• Level 1: These include pathogens that pose a fairly minimal threat to humans and the surrounding environment. This includes E. coli and Bacillus subtilis.
• Level 2: Level 2 biohazards can cause severe illness in humans and are transmitted through direct contact with infected material. Examples of level 2 pathogens are HIV and Hepatitis B.
• Level 3: Level 3 pathogens can become airborne and infect humans causing serious diseases. This level of biohazard includes tuberculosis, typhus, and coronavirus.
• Level 4: Pathogens that pose a high risk of life-threatening disease for which there are no treatments. Examples of such include Ebola and the Lassa virus.
The Steri-Clean® Maryland / Delaware Biohazard remediation process involves
state of the art, proprietary equipment, technology and processes. Our highly skilled technicians are throughly trained to clean, disinfect and remediate all affected areas.
Pre and post testing can be performed to verify the scene is safe, and a
"Safe To Occupy" certificate can be provided.
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EXTREME CLEANING SERVICES WHEN YOU NEED THEM MOST®
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Call Steri-Clean® Maryland / Delaware Today!
1-888-577-7206
Our call center is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
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