Recent Biohazard Posts

Blood, Stool, and Secretions - New Bedford 02745

10/29/2019 (Permalink)

Every quarter, we host a continuing education course for insurance agents, realtors, and property managers. Our most recent curse was definitely our yuckiest one: Biohazards & Hazmat Cleaning.

While this course had everything to do with everything you don’t want to see. It’s important that your insurance professional, realtor, or property manager knows what to do in the event that a situation like that arises. 

Our certified instructor taught us just how important it is to have a reputable cleaning and restoration company, such as SERVPRO of Dartmouth / New Bedford to do the cleaning and sanitation. What may look like a simple blood spill could potentially be life-threatening if the correct precautions aren’t put in place. Having the correct personal protective equipment is one of the key things we put in place to protect our crews and technicians from contracting any blood-borne pathogens or diseases. Aside from that, it’s important to note that any kind of bodily fluid is potentially harmful to those who come in contact with it. 

Some of the Hazmat & Biohazards we clean up after are:

  • Trauma Scene Cleanup
  • Blood Cleanup
  • Sewage Backups
  • Chemical Spills
  • Asbestos Removal
  • Meth Lab Cleanup
  • Tear Gas Cleanup
  • Animal Waste Removal
  • Hoarding
  • Fire Extinguisher Cleanup

These are just some of the common cases you can call on SERVPRO of Dartmouth / New Bedford to respond to. If you have any questions, feel free to call us at 508-999-2380 for a free estimate.

That's Gross! - New Bedford 02746

6/13/2019 (Permalink)

There is no such thing as being over cautious when it comes to biohazards.

At SERVPRO of Dartmouth / New Bedford South, our crews and technicians are trained to deal with every level of “Gross!” and “Ewww!” you can imagine. That ranges from mold in the basement, to sewage backups in the bathroom, and even to crime scene clean-ups! 

Yes, our crews have seen and smelled it all. This is why when our customers call with any kind of biohazard disaster, they know they’re getting experienced and trained technicians who know exactly what they’re dealing with. 

It’s often we find our customers in these situations not knowing exactly what to do. Thankfully we have a few tips! If you find yourself in a biohazard situation, it’s important to call the professionals who have the proper personal protective equipment (PPE) and industry grade product to clean up the mess.

SERVPRO of Dartmouth/New Bedford South has all the equipment and expertise needed to handle any and all kinds of biohazard clean-ups!

Biohazards - What Are They?

10/8/2018 (Permalink)

Bio-hazardous Substances

SERVPRO of Dartmouth/New Bedford South offers an array of bio-hazard cleanup services. Our highly trained team of technicians follow rigorous OSHA and EPA regulations when dealing with blood borne pathogens to ensure that a once unsafe environment is restored back to safe living conditions. If you or someone you know is suffering from a biologically hazardous situation, contact us today at (508) 999-2380.

What classifies as a Bio-hazard?

A bio-hazard is defined as being a risk to human or environmental health through biological work, especially with microorganisms. There are many forms of bio-hazards that some of us may come into contact with on a daily basis. For example, Waste Management Workers are exposed to infectious diseases in their working day-to-day lives. Luckily, with the help of modern medicine, we can protect ourselves from contracting some of those hazardous diseases (i.e. hepatitis A, B and tetanus) by receiving the proper vaccinations. Though, other forms of bio-hazardous materials are not as easy to prevent as receiving a shot in the arm.

Below is a list of common bio-hazard scenarios you’ll want to seek professional help for in the event of contact. Follow the link on each one to learn more about our cleanup protocol.

Sewage & Toilet Overflows

Trauma & Crime Scene

Volatile Materials

Team Member Tuesday - Jordin

6/26/2018 (Permalink)

Our Estimator/Crew Chief, Jordin

Meet Our Team!

Jordin Desnoyers

Jordin is our Estimator/Crew Chief and has been with SERVPRO of Dartmouth/New Bedford for 10 years, with 13 years overall industry experience. He has truly seen everything there is to see in this business and is typically referred to as a walking textbook of Disaster Cleanup & Restoration knowledge. When Jordin isn’t working, he enjoys spending time with his daughter and fiancée, along with playing sports such as basketball and tennis after work and on the weekends. He is also on a Billiards League that meets locally. Jordin’s favorite aspect about working for SERVPRO of Dartmouth/New Bedford is the ability to help people in their time of need. He is ready at all times for any size disaster and looks forward to making every single one of them "Like it never even happened."

It's Better to Give... Safely - Westport, MA 02790

12/1/2017 (Permalink)

They say it brings more joy to give, especially during the holidays! Taking the time to pick out thoughtful gifts shouldn't end with 'if they'll enjoy it' but also 'is it safe?'. 

We've all heard it's important when choosing toys for infants or small children to avoid small parts that might prove to be a choking hazard. Here are some additional gift-related safety tips:

  • Select gifts that are not heavy or awkward to handle for older adults
  • Be aware of dangers associated with coin lithium batteries; the ingestion of button batteries is of particular concern.
  • For answers to more of your holiday toy safety questions, check out this Consumer Product Safety Commission blog
  • See which toys have been recalled here

This information was provided by the National Safety Council shared by SERVPRO of Dartmouth/New Bedford South in hopes to reduce incidents this holiday season. 

The three types of contaminated water- Somerset, MA 02725

11/10/2017 (Permalink)

Category 1: "Clean Water"

This is water from a clean source, such as a broken clean water supply line or faucet. If left untreated, category 1 water can quickly degrade into category 2 or 3 water depending upon such factors as time, temperature, and contact with contaminants.

  • Water from a clean source like a broken water line
  • If left untreated, can degrade into category 2 or 3

Category 2: "Gray Water"

This water has a significant level of contamination that could cause discomfort or illness if ingested. Sources for category 2 water may include washing machine overflow; toilet overflow with some urine, but no feces; or dishwasher overflow.

  • May contain bacteria and viruses
  • Can quickly degrade into category 3 if left untreated

Category 3: "Black Water"

This water is grossly unsanitary and could cause severe illness or death if ingested, and any contact should be avoided. Sources for category 3 water could include flooding from rivers or streams, water from beyond the toilet trap, water from the toilet bowl with feces, or standing water that has begun to support microbial growth.

  • May contain untreated sewage, harsh chemicals, and microbes
  • Water from flooding rivers or sewer backup

SERVPRO of Dartmouth/New Bedford is here to help with the cleanup and disinfecting of all categories of water. Call us today to schedule a free on-site estimate (508)999-2380

The Aftermath of Rogue Tenants- Sconticut Neck, MA 02719

11/6/2017 (Permalink)

If you are a landlord or property manager you understand the importance of the tenant screening process. Unfortunately, there is only so much information you can gather before renting your property to tenants. So what do you do when a previous tenant has left your property in ruin?

We have all seen, in one way or another, the aftermath of a rogue tenant who decides to take hammers and spray paint to the walls, leave mounds of trash and personal belongings, or even have an infestation of sorts that they leave for their landlord to clean up. Whether it is caused by intentional destruction or the tenants neglectfulness on issues that would have been minor if addressed immediately but have grown into much larger issues now, restoring your property back to inhabitable conditions can be quite the daunting task for any property owner.

Most property managers do not have the time or desire to take on such a project. SERVPRO of Dartmouth/New Bedford is equipped and trained to handle every aspect of the cleanup and restoration. Saving homeowners valuable time and money. Call SERVPRO of Dartmouth/New Bedford when you want to make it "Like it never even happened!"

Hoarding Hazards- Westport, MA 02720

11/6/2017 (Permalink)

Hoarding disorder can affect our friends and family. When it does, it can be an extremely difficult task to help them cope with letting go of items they have collected over the years. At SERVPRO of Dartmouth/New Bedford our employees are trained in highly sensitive situations. From office staff to our cleaning crews we understand the situation can be highly sensitive.

Living with a hoarding disorder can become extremely dangerous; posing risk to fires, contamination, infestation and much more. We understand that when the decision has been made to call a company like ourselves that there is great deal of distress to the homeowner and/or family members involved. We will remove all belongings, discard or store depending on the customers’ requests and clean and sanitize the rooms requested in order to make it “Like it never even happened.”

Massachusetts Hoarding Resource Directory

To learn more about our process click here or call our office today at (508)999-2380

24/7/365 Vandalism Response - Dartmouth, MA 02747

10/10/2017 (Permalink)

Vandalism to a home or business can be disruptive, have a negative impact on business, and can lead to vulnerability in security. Broken windows, gates and doors can lead to unauthorized access and/or theft of property. SERVPRO of Dartmouth/New Bedford has a corporate standard to respond & be on-site quickly. Our team will assess the damage and repairs needed, secure your building and mitigate any preventable secondary damages.

We are set to a 1-4-8 service guideline meaning we will respond to your call within 1 hour, be onsite to assess any damage within 4 hours and start any necessary mitigation within 8 hours. These time frames are often exceeded.

We are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to respond quickly and be at your home or business to board up and secure your property, remove any graffiti or destruction to your property and help restore order so that it's business as usual moving forward. We understand that any loss of business, especially to single location businesses, can be devastating.

Learn more about Vandalism & Graffiti Cleanup call SERVPRO of Dartmouth/New Bedford at (508)999-2380

"There's No Way I'm Touching That!"

11/14/2016 (Permalink)

Life is just messy, isn’t it? Kids and pets tracking mud and dirt into the house. General clutter around the house that keeps piling up. Dust that seems to be a never ending battle. Most messes require little more than warm soapy water and a little elbow grease. But then there are other messes. The ones that make you say something like " There's no way I'm touching that!" Those types of cleanups are categorized as biohazards. That's a whole different story.

Certain precautions need to be taken when dealing with biohazards. You could put yourself, or family in danger if you try to take care of them yourself. SERVPRO of Dartmouth/New Bedford has the training, equipment and expertise to handle all types of biohazards, such as:

  • sewage backups
  • crime scene residues
  • suicide/homicide/death accidents
  • blood cleanup
  • hoarding scenes
  • animal waste/remains
  • chemical spills
  • tear gas cleanup and
  • meth lab cleanup
  • the list goes on...

We at SERVPRO hope you never have to deal with these types of situations, but if you do, we’re here to help. All you need to do is call us at 508-999-2387. 

Keep the Mouse out of My House

11/4/2016 (Permalink)

So last time we spoke, we were talking about the reasons mice tend to work their way inside especially during the winter months. Now we are going to focus on how to keep the mouse out of your house.

Six Tips to Keep Mice Away

  • Seal up all cracks, holes and openings in the exterior of your home 
  • Make sure doors and windows are closing properly
  • Stack firewood away from the home
  • Store food and pantry items in glass or metal containers with tight fitting lids
  • Make sure to dispose of food waste as soon as possible
  • Use natural repellents around the home like mint and bay leaves

If your attempts to fend them off are unsuccessful and you find yourself with a mouse infestation, do not use poisons to kill the mice, as they will not die right away. The mice will consume the poison, crawl back into the walls and then die there where the bodies will rot. And trust me, the smell will be horrendous. Your best bet would be to call an exterminator to help to get rid of the rodents.

Once the rodents are out of your home, then call SERVPRO Dartmouth/New Bedford at 508-999-2380 and we can come in to clean and disinfect the areas where they were living. And you guessed it…we’ll make it like it never even happened!

Man vs. Mouse...Who Should Win?

11/4/2016 (Permalink)

I think we can all agree that the answer to that question is obvious. Unless of course you are a mouse listening to this right now. If that's the case, I apologize for what I'm about to say.

With the cooler days of fall upon us, it's time to get our yards and homes prepared for the winter months. While we are busy shoring up our homes, getting them ready for the snow, rodents are busy trying to find a nice warm spot to hole up in.

Due to their body shape mice are able to pass through openings smaller than you would think possible. Once inside your home, they will find their way into the walls, where they will make nests in the warm, fluffy pink insulation. Mice are very quick breeders, and what starts out as just a couple of mice can quickly become an infestation of epic proportions. 

Mice are known to be carriers of disease and pestilence, and it is best to prevent them from entering the home in the first place. Be sure to check out the upcoming blog from SERVPRO Marion/Middleboro entitled “Keep the Mouse out of My House” where we will provide a list of some basic things you can do to prevent mice from invading your home.

Biohazard Cleanup and Restoration

10/31/2016 (Permalink)

We provide cleanup and recovery services for many biohazard situations.

Exposure to biological and chemical contaminants can pose serious health consequences. A failure to properly remove such substances can contribute to unhealthy and dangerous environments. SERVPRO of Dartmouth / New Bedford and SERVPRO of Marion/Middleboro is trained to safely remove biohazards and dispose of them properly in accordance with OSHA and health regulations.

Equipped with the necessary safety apparatus and cleaning products, we can help transform these unhealthy environments back into clean, safe homes and offices.

Please refer to our Biohazard Emergency Tips - Until Help Arrives Guideand follow these tips to protect yourself and your property.

Need Biohazard Cleanup Services?
Contact Us Today !

The decontamination of a home or business due to trauma, sewage backups, chemical spills, hoarding or other biohazards can be both dangerous and emotional. Specialized training and experience is key when choosing a cleanup company to resolve these circumstances.

We provide cleanup and recovery services for many biohazard situations. These include the following:

  • Sewage backups
  • Crime scene residues
  • Suicide/death accidents
  • Homicide cleanups
  • Blood cleanup
  • Accident cleanup
  • Hoarding scenes
  • Animal waste/remains
  • Chemical spills
  • Tear gas cleanup
  • Meth lab cleanup