What's the big deal about animal waste?

2/14/2022 (Permalink)

There is no typical day for a technician at SERVPRO of The Southtowns because of all the different kinds of disasters we deal with.  While most people associate us with fire and water damage, we also provide biohazard cleaning and hazardous material removal.  This can include sewage backups, human blood and even animal waste. 

Recently, since the weather has been pretty cold, we have been dealing with animals in our customers’ attics.  Even after these animals have been evicted, you can have serious problems due to the mess that they left behind. These problems can include buildups of waste, particularly animal feces, which can ruin insulation, cause serious odor problems and pose a risk to your family’s health.

  Most people think that the cleanup effort will be relatively simple. However, animal feces can be dangerous if not handled properly, largely due to the pathogens that it may contain. The CDC even recommends that you “treat feces-soiled decks, patios, and other surfaces with boiling water or a propane torch.”  SERVPRO of The Southtowns takes pride in equipping our technicians with all of the gear they need to be and feel safe on these kinds of jobs. 

On biohazard jobs such as these, a technician will be equipped with a full-body clean suit, gloves, booties to go over their shoes, and of course, full-face respirators.  The one piece of equipment that is particularly important is our full-face respirators.  OSHA defines full-face respirators as “air-purifying respirators that have the potential to provide protection from many types of dusts, fogs, fumes, mists, gases, smokes, sprays, or vapors.”  This means that wearing a full-face respirator during a biohazard cleanup is crucial to maintaining a quality air supply. 

So next time you have a raccoon in your attic, don’t take it lightly.  Cleaning up after a wild animal can be extremely harmful to your health if you aren’t properly equipped.  Call the pros.

SERVPRO of The Southtowns to the Rescue After a Commercial Sewage Backup!

3/2/2021 (Permalink)

We're glad we were able to help, Julia!

Julia Spitz, the executive vice president over at Savarino Properties in downtown Buffalo, NY, recently sat down with us to talk about the first time she called SERVPRO – a raw sewage backup in one of her commercial properties that her own team wasn’t equipped to handle.

Check out her testimonial here. Would you rather read it? Here’s the transcript:

The first time I ever called SERVPRO was early in my career. I entered one of our buildings one day and the smell of sewage was overwhelming. It was very clear after about a minute of inspection that it was coming from a small basement under the building and to be honest, I didn't know what to do.

We knew how to call a plumber and solve the problem. We didn't know who was going to clean that up.

I didn't feel confident asking my own staff to deal with such sensitive material as sewage. We didn't, I didn't feel we had the safety measures in place and I Googled. I didn't know what else to do. SERVPRO came up and the very same day, I mean maybe hours later, they showed up they started cleaning it up.

Men were wearing full hazmat gear and these giant boots and by the end of the day it smelled clean and I have never been more grateful.

Biohazard Exposures are More Common Than You Think

9/22/2017 (Permalink)

Exposure to biohazards can happen anywhere and should be handled by a professional.

Did you know that you could be exposed to biohazards everyday in places that you least expect?  Places like your workplace, schools and even your doctor’s office put you at risk. These situations need to be handled with extreme caution. 

Examples of biohazards include:

• Human blood and blood products
• Animal waste
• Human bodily fluids
• Microbiological wastes
• Pathological wastes
• Sharps wastes

According to the CDC (Center for Disease Control) there are four levels of biohazards

• Level 1: Agents that pose minimal threat to humans and environment.
• Level 2: Agents that can cause severe illness in humans and are transmitted through direct contact with infected material.
• Level 3: Pathogens that can become airborne and can cause serious disease.
• Level 4: Pathogens that pose a high risk of life-threatening disease for which there are no treatments.

Should you find yourself in a situation where you are exposed to any of these biohazards materials, give the experts at SERVPRO of The Southtowns a call at 716-646-6684 to safely clean and sanitize the affected area.

Crime Scene and Trauma Cleaning Services in Buffalo, NY

10/3/2016 (Permalink)

Crime Scene and Trauma Cleaning Services

Crime scenes cause unique challenges, here at SERVPRO of The Southtowns, we have over 20 years of experience. 

Crime Scene and Trauma Cleaning Services

• Fingerprint powder and evidence-gathering chemicals
• Tear gas and pepper spray residues
• Fire extinguisher residue
• Blood, bodily fluids, and tissue remnants

Common Trauma and Crime Scene Scenarios

Crime Scene Residues

From fingerprint powder and evidence-gathering chemicals to tear gas and pepper spray residues, we can clean and restore your property after a crime scene investigation.

Bloodborne Pathogens

We remove and dispose of bodily fluids, tissue and other potentially pathogenic substances resulting from accident, trauma, crime or death. Our trained Professionals clean, disinfect and deodorize the structure.

Methamphetamine Labs

Many of the chemicals used in the production of illegal drugs such as methamphetamine are volatile and can leave harmful residues throughout a structure. Our technicians follow federal and state guidelines to properly clean all surfaces.

Bio Hazard Cleanup

9/23/2016 (Permalink)

Bio-hazard cleanup substances including blood, bodily fluids, and more.

Bio Hazard Cleanup - 

When you need a plan for emergency Bio Hazard clean up and disinfection, SERVPRO® of The Southtowns has professionals on call.

We are saddened that our wonderful customers occasionally have to find help for bio hazard cleanup, but are grateful that we have the opportunity to help. 

Bio Hazard cleanup may involve bodily fluids, sewage, rodent feces and many other contaminates that have to be handled with care. Our certified professionals use proper personal protective equipment to protect themselves from spreading possible illness.

Please call SERVPRO® of The Southtowns for a free estimate and leave bio hazard clean up to the professionals.  

Highly Trained Restoration Specialists

Our SERVPRO Professionals are highly trained in property restoration. From initial and ongoing training at SERVPRO's Corporate Training Facility to regular IICRC industry certifications, our Professionals are equipped with the knowledge to restore your property. The SERVPRO training program includes the follow:

• IICRC Training
• Employee Certification Training
• Initial Franchise Training
• e-Learnings
• Continuing Education Classes

Lead Remediation

3/4/2016 (Permalink)

Thom Braun reviewing lead procedures

We are certified to handle materials contaminated by lead paint. Here Thom Braun is review proper lead handling with our crew. 

Lead abatement is an activity to reduce levels of lead, particularly in the home environment, generally to permanently eliminate lead-based paint hazards, in order to reduce or eliminate incidents of lead poisoning.

Lead abatement may be undertaken in response to orders by state or local government. It requires specialized techniques that local construction contractors typically do not have. It includes activities such as lead-based paint inspections, risk assessments and lead-based paint removal.

In the United States, lead abatement activities are regulated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Individuals and firms that conduct lead-based paint activities, including abatement, must be certified.

Lead abatement is distinguished from Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) programs, which are typically performed at the option of the property owner for aesthetic or other reasons, or as an interim control to minimize lead hazards. RPP programs are not designed to permanently eliminate lead-based paint hazards.