Bio-One of Augusta decontamination and biohazard cleaning services

Biohazard Remediation: Professional & Discrete Cleanup

Biohazard Remediation
Bio-One Biohazard Cleaning Crew

If you need any type of biohazard remediation, the team at Bio-One® of Augusta is always here to help, providing you with professional, discrete and compassionate cleanup services.

What Is Biohazard Remediation?

Biohazard remediation is the complete cleanup, removal and restoration of a space contaminated with any type of biohazard. This includes potentially hazardous materials such as blood and bodily fluids, animal waste, medical waste, tear gas and other chemicals. Anytime you are dealing with a substance or substances that could be toxic to humans or potentially infectious materials, professional biohazard cleanup is needed.

While homeowners and cleaning crews can handle typical cleaning tasks, handling biohazardous materials is another matter altogether. A professional biohazard cleaning company uses special cleaning products, cleaning equipment and personal protective gear to ensure that all traces of biohazardous materials are removed and that the crew is safe during the remediation process.

Homeowners, business owners and regular cleaning services don’t have the best cleaning products or safety gear, and they truly don’t understand the procedures necessary to ensure that a space is completely cleaned and disinfectd. Cleanup often necessitates removing furnishings, carpeting and even drywall to ensure that all contaminated areas are removed or disinfectd.

When we enter a biohazard situation, our first step is to study the area carefully, determine the location of any biohazardous materials and create a cleanup plan. As experienced, trained professionals, we can assess any situation quickly and get to work to restore and remediate the area.

What Are Biohazardous Materials?

Any material that could pose a danger to human health could be considered a biohazard. For instance, if blood or bodily fluids are present, there could be many bloodborne pathogens in these fluids, including viruses such as HIV or hepatitis. Likewise, any medical waste, such as syringes, IV tubes, bandages and other items can be potentially dangerous if not handled correctly.

Human and animal waste, especially rodent waste, also can be toxic. We often encounter human waste as we clean up homeless encampments or after a person has died. Rodent waste is particularly dangerous and can cause serious respiratory issues and diseases.

Many different types of chemicals also can be hazardous to humans if spilled. The chemicals could burn the skin and the fumes could burn your eyes or harm your lungs if inhaled. Other toxins include mold and mildew, which also can be harmful to your health, especially if you are prone to lung issues or have a weakened immune system.

Types of Biohazard Remediation

Trauma Cleanup  We can provide remediation services for any type of trauma scene cleanup. This includes suicide cleanup and unattended death scene cleanup as well as crime scene cleanup.

No family member, friend or landlord should ever have to handle these tasks on their own. Not only is this emotionally painful, but you will be risking your health, and our team can provide you with clean up services as quickly as possible during your time of need.

Hoarding Cleanup If a loved one is suffering from hoarding disorder, this can be difficult to handle in general, but family and friends (or landlords) should never tackle hoarding cleaning on their own. Not only is this horribly stressful and overwhelming, but it also can be dangerous.

When we provide hoarding cleaning services, we often find many toxic items including mold, rodent droppings and even dead and decaying animals. Our team will provide compassionate cleanup services and do our best to preserve any furnishings and items that can be preserved or donated.

Homeless Encampment Cleanup Homeless encampments pose a variety of serious health risks as we often find human waste, animal waste, needles and other dangerous items. With homeless cleanup, we strive to restore the site to a safe condition yet still treat the unhoused persons (and their belongings) with care.

Professional Odor Removal  If your home, office or vehicle is plagued with horrible odors that just won’t go away with multiple cleanings, it’s probably time to call in a professional. We can find the source of the smell and clean and disinfect and deodorize, restoring the air to a healthy state.

Many odors aren’t just unpleasant, they also can be toxic, which is why it’s important to have professional help. In some cases, there might be dead rodents or rodent waste in your walls or vehicle, and these require special handling and cannot simply be wiped up or vacuumed up. Vacuuming can spread toxins from animal waste in the air and damage your lungs. Rodent dropping cleanup must be handled very carefully, and we always recommend opting for a professional.

Chemical Cleanup One surprisingly common cleanup task is handling the aftermath of a crime scene that entailed the use of tear gas. Tear gas cleanup is one of our areas of specialization and no one should ever handle this task on their own. You must wear protective equipment and you must use very specific methods to remove tear gas residue.

With tear gas (and often other chemicals), we aren’t just cleaning up the visible residue. In many cases, tear gas can end up in your HVAC system or areas that most business owners or homeowners might not notice. This is why it’s so important to hire a professional biohazard remediation team to handle chemical spills or tear gas cleanup.

How Much Does Biohazard Cleanup Cost?

The cost for biohazard cleanup varies based on the scope of the job itself, however, many types of biohazard cleanup are covered by insurance. As we know that this is a difficult, stressful time for our clients, we can handle the insurance claim for you and have worked with all of the major insurance carriers in the August metro area.

We strive to make the cleanup process as easy as possible for our clients because we fully understand that we are helping you deal with a highly upsetting and traumatic situation. No matter the situation, we will provide you with compassionate, caring and discrete cleanup services.

Contact August Bio-One® 24/7

At Augusta Bio-One® we are available at any time for biohazard remediation services. We serve the entire Augusta metro area, and you can call us any time day or night, 365 days a year. If a tragedy has occurred, we are always here to help providing you with compassionate, caring cleanup services.

When people think about biohazard cleanup, they often think about some type of hazardous chemical or perhaps a crime scene. However, at Bio-One® Augusta, we are called in for a wide range of biohazard cleanup jobs and often we are helping families during the most challenging times of their lives.

Types Of Hazardous Materials

Anything that can pose a threat to a human being can be considered a hazardous material. After all, even household cleaners can be dangerous if ingested or, in some cases, the fumes can be dangerous. However, when we talk about biohazard remediation, we typically mean one of the following materials:

Human Bodily Fluids – There are many bloodborne pathogens, and blood and other bodily fluids can transmit a wide range of viruses (HIV, hepatitis, COVID-19) or bacteria (MRSA, E-Coli, salmonella, etc.)

Human & Animal Waste – Urine and feces from either humans or animals also can transmit disease. In homeless encampments, death cleanup and hoarding cleanup situations, we often remove human waste as well as rat dropping or pet waste.

Hazardous Chemicals – Hundreds of chemicals pose a danger to humans, and OSHA defines a chemical as hazardous if it poses a threat to your health, such as a toxin that could affect your lungs, skin or eyes. In some cases, the chemical or compound might be hazardous because it is flammable or explosive. These are just a few examples of what might constitute a hazardous chemical or substance.

When Should You Call Bio-One® Augusta?

If your home or facility has been contaminated by hazardous materials, it’s always best to use a professional biohazard cleanup service. Likewise, if a person dies, such as an unattended death or suicide, a professional should be called. Handling biohazardous material on your own is never a good idea.

Businesses must adhere to OSHA rules regarding biohazard situations and cleanup, so for a landlord/property owner or business owner, it’s always best to contact a professional cleanup service. Failure to properly clean up after an accident can result in fines and even set you up for lawsuits for negligence.

Proper biohazard cleaning requires the use of personal protective equipment as well as special OSHA-approved cleaners and equipment. Additionally, we ensure that all hazardous materials are removed from the area. In some cases, this requires removing furniture and other items, as well as removing carpet, padding, flooring and drywall. None of this should be handled by a family member, business owner or employee.

Additionally, for a family member, friend or even a landlord or boss, attempting to clean up after a traumatic event isn’t something you should have to handle. When a loved one has died, we can provide compassionate, discrete cleanup services and complete these tasks as quickly as possible for your peace of mind. 

When it comes to hoarding cleanup, this can be a horrific ordeal for families and landlords, and highly emotional. Hiring a biohazard cleaning company not only ensures complete biohazard remediation but also can lessen the grief of a difficult situation.

Our Biohazard Cleaning Services Include:

What To Expect: Fast & Compassionate Services

While some biohazard situations are more emotional than others, we know that any type of accident or hazardous situation can be stressful, so first and foremost you can expect compassionate services from the whole Bio-One® team. We understand that this is a difficult time, and do our best to be helpful, kind and discrete and work as quickly as possible to complete the cleanup.

We are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year. There is never a time when we aren’t available to help you with biohazard cleanup, so whether you need crime scene cleaners, suicide cleanup or there’s been a traumatic accident at your home or place of business, we are always here to help.

We work with all major insurance companies as well, so you don’t need to worry about paying upfront for our services. We understand that this is a trying time, and we do our best to limit paperwork and other minutiae at the time of service to make the cleanup process as easy as possible for our clients.

When we arrive at the scene, our first step is to complete an OSHA-mandated assessment of the area. We then secure the area and limit access to ensure that there is no cross-contamination of hazardous materials. The next step is to remove all traces of biological materials and other biohazards. After all biohazardous material has been removed, we disinfect and deodorize the area.

Our Service Area

As our name suggests, we serve the entire Augusta metro area and all of Richmond County. Our service area also includes Aiken, Barnwell, Burke, Columbia, Edgefield, Jefferson, Lincoln and McDuffie counties. If you need any type of biohazard cleanup, please don’t hesitate to give us a call at (706) 305-5029. We are here to help 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

hazmat cleaning services

For many cleanup tasks, it’s often wise to opt for professional hazmat cleaning services. While some cleanups can be handled by maid services or even by homeowners, there are times when hiring a pro is the best and safest option. At August Bio-One®, we can provide you with many different types of hazmat cleanup.

What Is A Hazmat Cleanup?

We are called in to provide hazmat cleaning services for a wide range of situations. For instance, we often provide crime scene cleanup, suicide cleanup services or unattended death cleanup services. When these types of traumatic events occur it’s important the any blood and bodily fluids are completely removed, and that we clean and disinfect any contaminated surfaces.

In some cases, we will need to dispose of carpeting and carpet pads, mattress and even remove drywall to ensure that all biohazardous materials are removed.  Of course, we always do our best to preserve any personal items when possible.

While removing blood borne pathogens and other potentially infectious materials is a common task for a hazmat cleaning company, we also are sometimes called in to clean up chemical contaminants, such as tear gas, or chemical spills. Tear gas (and many other chemicals) cannot simply be cleaned up with water or typical cleaning products.

Additionally, we often are called in to provide professional odor removal services or even rodent dropping cleanup or dead animal removal. There are many odors that simply cannot be removed using typical cleaning methods, so it can be wise to contact a professional for severe odor issues.

In general, none of these cleanup tasks should be handled by homeowners or landlords or a typical maid service. For professional biohazard cleanup services, we use special OSHA-approve cleaners and cleaning methods, and our crew also wears personal protective equipment to ensure safety.

Additionally, while it’s not safe for family or landlords to try and clean up potentially hazardous materials, it’s also can take a huge toll on your mental health. We often are called in to handle trauma cleanup after horrible tragedies have occurred and loved ones (and even landlords) should not have to handle these types of tasks. It’s important to note that we can provide hazmat cleaning services at just about any location, including residences and commercial properties, inside or outside. We also can provide hazmat cleanup for vehicles. Whether a tragedy has occurred or perhaps you need odor removal services after an animal dies in your car (this is quite common), we can help.

Hoarding Cleanup Services

Hoarding cleaning services are a unique type of hazmat clean up. This process can take longer to handle, depending on the size of the property and the scope of the hoarding situation.

Hoarder cleaning services require a team that not only understands how to provide complete biohazard remediation, but also a team that understands that this is a highly emotional situation. We will work with your family and provide compassionate, caring cleanup services and do our best to preserve any important personal items, if possible.

We know it can be difficult for a person to come to terms with their hoarding disorder and we have handled many of these cleanup jobs. It’s tough, but once we’ve restored order and disinfected the dwelling, it can make it much easier for a person to recover from this mental health issue.

Of course, safety is the most important factor, and our biohazard cleaning crews ensure that all contaminants are removed, including dead animals, rodent droppings, mold, mildew and any other hazardous materials.

Homeless Encampment Cleanup

This is another unique situation that necessitates a high level of expertise and compassion. Homeless encampments often require everything from feces and urine cleanup to needle and narcotics removal. Our goal is to ensure that the community’s safety needs are met, but we also want to treat these unsheltered people with as much dignity as possible and handle their belongings with care.

Types Of Equipment We Use

Depending on the situation, our crew has a myriad of personal protective equipment and cleaning equipment at their disposal. This includes protective suits and non-porous gloves, chemical-resistant boots and respirators or N95 masks, depending on the situation.

We also use special types of solvents and special containers and bags created to safely store biohazard materials. Other equipment we can use includes special brushes that can access hard-to-reach locations, fogging machines to aid with odor removal and equipment to help us remove carpeting and flooring. We also take pictures of the area before and after the cleanup is complete as this will be needed by the insurance company.

We Work With Insurance Companies

When a tragedy occurs, the last thing family members need to handle is wrangling with an insurance company. We know that you have enough on your mind, and we will handle the interaction with your insurance company. We work with most major carriers and can open the claim and work directly with the adjusters.

Contact Bio-One® Anytime!

At Augusta Bio-One® we are available to provide hazmat cleaning services at anytime night or day. You can call us 24/7 and 365 days a year at (706) 305-5029, and we will provide you with fast, comprehensive and compassionate biohazard cleaning services.

mold removal services

Whether you are a homeowner, a landlord or a business owner, if you spot mold anywhere on your walls, ceilings or cupboards, this toxic substance needs to be removed as quickly as possible and the mold remediation specialists at Augusta Bio-One can help.

It might seem like simply wiping away the mold with a strong cleaner might be adequate, but there are several reasons why using professional mold remediation services is your best option, including:

1. Mold Exposure Can Be Detrimental To Your Health

According to the Centers for Disease Control, mold exposure can cause an assortment of health issues. Some of the most common issues include chronic sore throat, stuffy nose, wheezing, skin rashes and coughing. These symptoms can be especially severe for anyone with asthma or lung diseases or anyone immune-compromised.

If you’ve rarely been bothered by seasonal allergies but have noticed that you are suffering from a mild sore throat and a general feeling of malaise or allergies, mold could be the culprit. It can be smart to hire a mold detection service to come into your home or business and check for signs of mold. Once the mold is removed, you should notice an improvement in indoor air quality.

2. Not All Mold Is Visible

One of the best reasons to hire a professional mold remediation service is that not all mold is visible. While you might be able to wipe away some of the mold you see, there are likely mold spores behind the walls, and these are just as toxic as the mold visible on your walls.

It is crucial that the mold behind the walls is removed, as this will help prevent a recurrence. You may have noticed that after cleaning away mold, it doesn’t take long for new spots of mold to reappear. This is because you only removed the mold that you could see, while the mold behind your walls just kept growing and growing.

While homeowners and business owners can remove some visible mold, it can be tough to tackle issues such as black mold, which does not come off easily. We used special cleaners and equipment to ensure that no trace of mold remains. We also will locate the non-visible and remove that as well, which sometimes requires removing drywall or moving dryers and washers to check for mold behind these appliances. We also can remove mold from under sinks and in attics and crawlspaces or anywhere in your home prone to humidity and dampness.

3. It’s Safer To Hire A Pro

Removing mold is not a simple or easy process, nor is it particularly safe for most homeowners or business owners. Coming into contact with mold or inhaling harsh cleansers can be dangerous, especially for people with allergies, asthma, or immune system issues.

Additionally, typical over-the-counter cleaning products just aren’t effective at mold remediation. At Augusta Bio-One, each member of our team wears special personal protective equipment and uses special chemicals to ensure that every trace of mold is removed from your home or office.

4. Mold Remediation Services Can Prevent Recurrence

A mold remediation specialist can ensure all of the mold in your structure has been removed and this is one of the best reasons to hire a pro. Even just a few mold cells can begin to propagate quickly, and our team of mold remediation experts will ensure that everything is cleaned properly.

Additionally, there are steps that you can take to ensure that mold doesn’t become a problem again. Using an air conditioner or dehumidifier can reduce humidity in your home and ensure that the temperature stays cool enough to inhibit mold growth. Once the room temperature rises above about 77 degrees, this becomes an ideal breeding ground for mold, and mold grows quickly in our naturally humid climate.

Ensuring proper airflow throughout your home also can help. Installing ceiling fans and ensuring that all vents and HVAC systems are clean and clear can help improve the airflow. Ensure that all bathrooms have exhaust fans that vent to the outside of your home and ensure that these fans are clean and working properly. We also recommend using cleaning products designed to kill mold.

There are also mold-resistant paints available, and we highly recommend that you use this type of paint, especially in rooms prone to dampness or exposure to water, such as the bathrooms and your kitchen.

If you have any type of roof leak or window leaks, fix these as quickly as possible. Not only can this prevent mold damage, but this moisture also attracts pests such as termites and we all know how costly it can be to remove termites and repair the damage they cause.

Our Mold Remediation Services

While any structure can have a mold problem, the Augusta Bio-One team often is called in to remediate mold in homes with hoarding situations or in homes or structures with recent water damage or perhaps roof leaks, as any of these situations can cause a mold issue. We also are often called in after a mold inspection or mold testing to remediate the issue.

In addition to removing mold from surfaces, we also remove any contaminated material in the affected area, including drywall and furnishings that might have mold damage. All of these contaminated materials must be disposed of properly otherwise spores could travel to other areas of your home. During the mold remediation process, it also may be necessary to include minor or major repairs, depending on the level of mold damage in your home or business.

Got Mold? Call Augusta Bio-One Today

At Augusta Bio-One, we offer complete mold remediation services for homes and businesses throughout August and Richmond County, as well as Aiken, Barnwell, Burke, Columbia, Edgefield, Jefferson, Lincoln and McDuffie counties. You can call us 24 hours a day, seven days a week at (706) 305-5029.

In addition to mold remediation services, we also can provide you with any type of biohazard cleanup or hazmat cleaning services, including hoarding cleanup services, trauma cleanup, crime scene cleanup, professional odor removal, emergency vehicle decontamination, rodent dropping removal, sewage backups and much more.


Bio-One What to Ask Before Hiring a Crime Scene Cleaner

The roots of crime- and trauma-scene cleaning companies can be traced to the 1990s, and at that time only a dozen or so companies existed. The industry was widely unregulated and awareness of contamination risks were relatively non-existant.

"I was young and dumb and saw something you only see in movies, so I quickly shut the door, took a deep breath, sat on the couch with the widow and told everyone else to get her out of here and take her to lunch, and we’ll clean this up for her," said Nick-Anthony Zamucen, Founder of Bio-One Inc. "We were just trying to help a lady in her greatest time of need, and that’s for me how I got into the crime scene and cleaning business."  Read Nick's story in Franchise Times

Today, there are hundreds of companies that advertise crime and trauma scene cleaning, and a simple Google search may prove overwhelming when you're experiencing one of the most traumatic moments in your life. To help, we've listed pre-qualifying questions to ask before choosing a crime and trauma scene company. 

Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Crime and Trauma Scene Cleaner

There are a number of key questions to ask crime and trauma scene cleaning technicians or business owners to properly root out which one is best for your goals and circumstances. 

  • Are you local? When there's a blood spill, response time is key to prevent biohazards from spreading and to ensure quick remediation. Several businesses may pay for online advertising in your city, but their technicians could be 3 or more hours away. Furthermore, avoid calling toll free numbers. "These numbers often lead to call centers. We're local. They're not," said Ginger Akemon, owner of Bio-One in Jacksonville, FL
  • Is your business certified and insured? Professional crime and trauma scene cleaning companies should have bloodborne pathogen certifications, they should follow OSHA personal protective equipment (PPE) guidelines and remediation processes, and they should have insurance for their business. 
  • What is your process for disposing biohazardous waste? Once the remediation is complete, the accumulated waste will need to be disposed in accordance to local state guidelines. Make sure the business owner or technician is aware of these guidelines and has an appropriate plan for disposal.  
  • What happens to valuable or personal items that are impacted? At Bio-One, we are trained to be mindful of valuable and perceived valuable items, such as pictures, wallets, or a baseball card collection. Professional crime and trauma scene cleaners should ask if there are valuable items to keep an eye out for, and they will keep the family informed if these items are found. 
  • How will you charge for your services? In most cases, home insurance will cover the cost of biohazard remediation - less your deductible. Ask if they can open a claim on your behalf, taking this burden off your shoulders. If you don't have homeowners insurance, it's OK to ask for a free estimate so you can compare costs between other local companies. 
  • Will you be discrete during and after the job? Michele Amoranto, Bio-One owner in Oceanside, CA, always assures her clients that discretion is top of mind while her team is onsite. Bio-One vehicles are unmarked and technicians will designate work areas to don and doff PPE out of view from neighbors. 
  • Do you have a list of resources that can help after the cleanup? You may need flooring replaced or fresh drywall installed, which will also be covered under your home insurance claim, and a recommendation could help speed up the reconstruction process. Additionally, many crime and trauma scene cleaners have connections with local counselors and victim's advocates. In west Texas, Bio-One owner, Garrett Spooner, always offers a list of free mental health resources and states that, "Being volunteers of our local Crisis Intervention Unit, we consider our job incomplete without making sure our clients' mental health, grief process, and other issues our clients may have, are addressed."

Last but certainly most important, make sure the business you speak with shows care and compassion for your situation. They should want to do everything possible to support you and your loved ones.

If you are searching for a crime and trauma scene cleaner, Bio-One is here for you. All of our offices adhere to our business motto Help First, Business Second and are available 24/7. Click here to search for a Bio-One team near you.