Injury in a home
A family needs a room cleaned after a serious injury, with carpet and pad affected beyond what household cleaning can address.
A Denver metro guide to biohazard cleanup
Biohazard Cleanup in the Denver Metro Area
When a property has been contaminated with blood, bodily fluids, or other biological material, cleanup has to be thorough, safe, and handled with care for the people affected.
This website is a draft preview. No phone line or request form is connected yet.
Why biohazard cleanup needs trained professionals
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Blood and other bodily fluids can carry bloodborne pathogens, and they soak into porous materials like carpet, padding, upholstery, mattresses, drywall, and subfloor in ways that surface cleaning can't reach.
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Proper cleanup removes contaminated materials, cleans and disinfects what remains, and disposes of waste according to applicable regulations.
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These situations are also often painful for the people involved. A good provider works with discretion and keeps families or property managers informed without asking them to be present for the work; ask how that will be handled.
Before you hire anyone, ask what training the workers hold (such as OSHA bloodborne pathogens or 40-Hour HAZWOPER) and ask to see it.
What to do
- 1If there's an emergency or a possible crime scene, call 911 and wait for authorities to release the property.
- 2Don't attempt to clean blood or fluids without protective equipment.
- 3Keep everyone else out of the affected area.
- 4Contact a biohazard cleanup company you have checked, and ask it to say plainly whether the situation is within its scope.
Situations that call for biohazard cleanup
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Blood or bodily fluids from an accident or injury in a home, vehicle, or business.
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Sewage contamination inside occupied spaces.
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Decomposition from an unattended death or a large dead animal that contaminated building materials.
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Other biological contamination where porous materials may need removal.
Common biohazard situations
Rental unit after a tenant incident
A property manager needs contaminated flooring and drywall removed and the unit restored before it can be re-rented.
Commercial restroom contamination
A business needs a professionally cleaned and documented restroom after a sewage and biological contamination event.
How the work is usually handled
Classify the hazard
What material is present (blood, bodily fluids, sewage, other biological waste) and which surfaces and materials it reached. That decides the protective equipment, methods and disposal route.
Protect the crew and the home
Workers wear protective equipment chosen for the hazard. The area is isolated so contamination isn't carried into clean rooms.
Remove, clean, disinfect
Porous items that absorbed contamination are removed. Hard surfaces are cleaned and then disinfected with products registered for the purpose.
Dispose of waste properly
Regulated waste is packaged and labeled for transport by a licensed handler to an approved facility, not put in household trash.
Ask whether workers hold bloodborne pathogens or 40-hour HAZWOPER training, and get the scope and disposal arrangements confirmed in writing for your job.
Biohazard cleanup process
Each job is scoped individually based on what's present and what it has contaminated.
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Assessment
The extent of contamination is determined, including which materials are affected beneath surfaces.
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Containment and PPE
The area is isolated, and workers wear appropriate personal protective equipment throughout.
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Removal
Contaminated porous materials are removed and packaged for proper disposal.
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Cleaning and disinfection
Remaining surfaces are cleaned and disinfected with products appropriate for the contamination.
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Restoration
Removed materials are repaired or replaced so the space can be used again.
Privacy and care
These calls usually come at a hard time. You should be able to talk to a person, not a script. Ask who will see the details of what happened; they should be shared only with those who need them to do the work or handle an insurance claim. Ask whether arrival and work can be arranged to draw as little attention from neighbors as practical.
ZIP codes served: 80203 (Denver), 80218 (Denver), 80202 (Denver), 80205 (Denver), 80206 (Denver), 80204 (Denver), 80209 (Denver), 80211 (Denver), 80223 (Denver), 80216 (Denver), 80220 (Denver), 80246 (Denver), 80207 (Denver), 80212 (Denver), 80219 (Denver), 80214 (Denver), 80210 (Denver), 80230 (Denver), 80224 (Denver), 80221 (Denver), 80222 (Denver), 80266 (Denver), 80226 (Denver), 80238 (Denver), 80247 (Denver), 80010 (Aurora), 80232 (Denver), 80110 (Englewood), 80113 (Englewood), 80236 (Denver), 80033 (Wheat Ridge), 80030 (Westminster), 80231 (Denver), 80215 (Denver), 80003 (Arvada), 80002 (Arvada), 80045 (Aurora), 80227 (Denver), 80229 (Denver), 80237 (Denver), 80012 (Aurora), 80235 (Denver), 80239 (Denver), 80260 (Denver), 80004 (Arvada), 80014 (Aurora), 80123 (Littleton), 80249 (Denver).
Also nearby: 80121, 80031, 80120, 80111, 80011, 80228, 80005, 80122, 80233, 80017, 80419, 80640, 80234, 80021, 80015, 80013, 80112, 80241, 80128, 80129, 80401, 80022, 80126, 80020, 80007, 80453, 80465, 80130, 80124, 80454, 80018, 80019, 80602, 80023, 80016, 80127, 80457, 80125, 80601, 80131, 80403, 80026, 80134, 80137, 80108, 80516.
Biohazard cleanup across the Denver metro
Biohazard cleanup is needed in homes, rentals, vehicles, and businesses across the Denver metro area. Because these situations vary so much, a first call usually starts with a conversation about what happened and what's needed, and a reputable company should tell you if a situation is outside its services.
Some specialized contamination is regulated separately in Colorado. For example, cleanup of properties used for methamphetamine production must be performed by contractors certified under the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment's program, and this site does not advertise that service.
- Ask what training the workers hold for this kind of contamination, and ask to see it.
- Ask which licensed transporter will carry regulated waste and where it goes, and request disposal documentation.
- Homeowners and renters insurance sometimes covers biohazard cleanup; check your policy.
- This guide covers Denver, Arapahoe, Jefferson, Adams, and Douglas counties.
Questions to ask any provider
Biohazard cleanup should be done by people trained for it. Whoever you call, these questions should get clear answers:
- What training do the workers have (for example OSHA bloodborne pathogens, HAZWOPER)?
- How and where is waste disposed of, and by which licensed transporter?
- What does the written scope include, and what is excluded?
- Is the company insured for this work?
- Will it work with my insurance company, and what documentation will I receive?
Go deeper on biohazard cleanup
Plain reading and practical tools for the decisions that come after a hard day.
- Reading
These articles are written for people facing something hard: a death at home, an injury, a tenant emergency, a hoarded house.
- Practical tools
These worksheets are meant to be used at the kitchen table, often while tired and upset.
- Typical cases
Each case here is invented.
- Communities
A biohazard in a 1920s Capitol Hill walk-up raises different questions than one in a Highlands Ranch two-story or a Westminster tri-level.
Send a private message
This form is not connected. This website is a draft preview: no business has been confirmed to receive requests, so the fields below are switched off and nothing can be sent. In an emergency, call 911.
Questions
Can I clean up blood myself?
Small amounts on hard, nonporous surfaces can sometimes be cleaned with gloves and an appropriate disinfectant. Larger amounts, or any contamination of carpet, upholstery, or other porous materials, should be handled by trained professionals because of bloodborne pathogen risks.
Will my insurance cover biohazard cleanup?
Some homeowners, renters, and commercial policies cover biohazard cleanup depending on the cause. Check your policy or ask your agent.
Do I need to be present during cleanup?
Usually not. Many families and property managers provide access and aren't present for the work. Ask how you'll be kept informed.
How are contaminated materials disposed of?
Contaminated materials are packaged and disposed of according to applicable regulations for the type of waste.
Is meth lab cleanup the same thing?
No. Meth lab decontamination in Colorado requires contractors certified under a specific state program. This guide does not cover that work; ask CDPHE for a list of certified contractors.
Can the cleanup be discreet?
Usually. Ask about discretion when you call, such as timing, unmarked vehicles or vehicle placement, and communication.
Do I have to be there during the cleanup?
Usually not. Many families prefer not to be. Access can often be arranged through a relative, property manager or landlord; ask the provider to contact you when the work is finished and the space is ready to see.
Concerns people raise, answered plainly
Need biohazard cleanup in the Denver area?
Call 911 first if there is an emergency or a possible crime scene. Keep others out of the area, check your insurance policy, and choose a trained provider you have checked and who explains the process plainly.