When something happens at work
Offices are not built for biohazard events, but they happen: a serious injury, a medical emergency with blood loss, a suicide or violent incident, or an employee found deceased after a weekend. Employers have to restore a safe workplace quickly, protect employees from exposure, and handle a sensitive situation with discretion. Most office cleaning contracts exclude blood and bodily fluid cleanup beyond small spills, and janitorial staff may not be trained or equipped for it.
How we handle office projects
- Confidential intake with your facilities lead, HR or risk manager.
- Plan around operations. Work can be done after hours or on weekends, with the affected area secured from employees.
- Remove contaminated carpet tiles, ceiling tiles, partitions, chairs and other porous materials.
- Clean and disinfect desks, walls, floors, restrooms and shared surfaces in the affected area.
- Deodorize if needed, after source removal.
- Document the work for your safety records, insurer and, where relevant, your OSHA recordkeeping.
Employee considerations
Coworkers may be shaken by what happened. We keep the work low-profile: unmarked arrival where you prefer it, minimal disruption, and no discussion of the event with employees. We can also help you decide which personal items at a desk should be returned to a family and how.
Under the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard
Employers with employees who may be exposed to blood are subject to OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard. Using a qualified outside company for significant cleanup keeps untrained staff from exposure. We don't give legal advice about your obligations, but our documentation can support your records.
Shared air and building systems
In office buildings, odor and contamination can move through shared ventilation, raised floors and drop ceilings. Where an event happened near return-air grilles, or where a body was undiscovered for some time, we check ceiling plenums and ductwork near the affected area and coordinate with building engineering on any HVAC shutdown or filter replacement needed during the work.
Common questions
How quickly can the office reopen?
Small areas can often be returned the same day or overnight. Larger events depend on what has to be removed and replaced.
Can our janitorial company handle it?
Some can handle small spills under their own programs. Larger events, or any situation involving a death, usually need a specialist.
Do you handle multi-tenant buildings?
Yes. We coordinate with building management on access, elevators and common areas.