Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who typically pays for Biotrauma’s services?
A: In most cases, home or property insurance companies will pay the claim for Biotrauma Services. In the event that biotrauma services are not covered by named perils policies or others, Biotrauma will provide a quote to the property owner.
Q: How quickly will Biotrauma arrive?
A: We are a 24 hour service, and technicians will be dispatched to your location soon after receiving the call. Biotrauma understands that true 24 hour service means complete accessibility.
Q: How long does a biotrauma cleanup job take?
A: The length of time it takes to perform a biotrauma cleanup will vary. However, our technicians work through the night to remedy the situation and allow the family or property owner to regain access. We work as quickly as we can while still being extremely thorough in our biotrauma cleanup efforts.
Q: How can I prove that the property has been treated in accordance with EPA and OSHA regulations?
A: We provide a Certificate of Treatment (or, certificate of disinfection), complete with the Biotrauma, Inc. company seal, that guarantees all state and federal regulations have been met. This certificate of disinfection provides the necessary documentation to prove that adequate steps have been taken to secure the health and safety of inhabitants, therefore maintaining a property’s value.
These certificates are often useful to landlords in the event that the new tenant discovers which events unfolded prior to their move-in. A Biotrauma™ Certificate of Treatment symbolizes the fact that the property has been restored to its pre-incident condition.
Q: What things can I avoid by having a proper cleanup?
A: Bloodborne pathogen exposures can transmit a variety of serious diseases and conditions, including Hepatitis A, B, C, D, E, G, the Human T-lymphotropic virus, Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, Histoplasmosis, and psychological disorders such as Critical Incident Stress Syndrome, and Secondary Traumatic Stress Disorder. By conducting a proper crime scene cleanup, you negate the risk of a bloodborne pathogen exposure and/or other conditions.
OSHA regulations mandate that anyone attempting to remediate bloodborne pathogens must be properly trained, equipped, and vaccinated. More specifically, they must employ a full spectrum of tested PPE, be trained in hazardous waste operations, and protected against all risks. Furthermore, records must be kept regarding these efforts for up to 30 years in some cases.
Q: Are there any laws that govern the manner in which a cleanup is executed?
A: Yes. OSHA (Title 29 code of regulations 1910.1030, 1910.134, 1910.1200), EPA (CFR Title 40 Vol 23 parts 262/263), and the Georgia D.N.R. (rule for hazardous waste management chapter 391-3-11) all establish compliance guidelines for a decontamination procedure. Any decontamination procedure should be referenced against these codes.
OSHA mandates require the proper training, equipment, and vaccination of all persons performing Biotrauma™ remediation. EPA regulations dictate the disposition of hazardous wastes and their disposal. Georgia State Law requires that anyone performing Biotrauma™ remediation must apply for approval regarding which methodology of decontamination they are using.
Q: Why can’t I do bio-hazard clean up myself?
A: There a great deal of state and federal mandates that govern the bio-hazard clean up industry. There are a great number of risks for a business who chooses to perform bio-hazard clean up internally, including:
- Employee exposure to hazards that can cause numerous diseases and medical conditions. Among these are Critical Incident Stress Syndrome and Secondary Traumatic Stress Disorder. Exposure can result in workers compensation claims and other liabilities.
- State and Federal mandates have been established regulating the collection, handling, and disposal of human bio-hazardous waste. Companies can face serious penalties for not adhering to these regulations.
- Personnel conducting hazardous water collection and disposal are required to follow specific training and medical mandates set by state and federal agencies. Failure to comply can result in serious penalties.
Q: Can Biotrauma take care of odor problems?
A: Biotrauma utilizes ozone generator technologies followed by an Odorcide 210 treatment that kills the odor problems and leaves a property smelling like new.
By utilizing ozone generators with ultraviolet technology, a stable output of ozone can be generated in the environment. Most other companies utilize corona discharge ozone generators which require a constant feed of oxygen to have a reliable output of ozone. Unfortunately, properties have a finite level of oxygen, especially when rooms are sealed off. By the employment of ozone generators on a property, the odor will be completely absent.
Following the removal of odors, it is good practice to lay down industrial grade air fresheners. This is because the human mind closely associates smell with memories. If a family reenters a property fully cognizant of what previously happened without smelling anything, it is possible that they could imagine an odor problem which could trigger unnecessary psychological trauma. An application of Odorcide 210 negates this risk.
Our services include:
Q: What do funeral directors do?
A: Funeral directors are caregivers and administrators. They make the arrangements for transportation of the body, complete all necessary paperwork, and implement the choices made by the family regarding the funeral and final disposition of the body.
Funeral directors are listeners, advisors and supporters. They have experience assisting the bereaved in coping with death. Funeral directors are trained to answer questions about grief, recognize when a person is having difficulty coping, and recommend sources of professional help. Funeral directors also link survivors with support groups at the funeral home or in the community.
Q: Do you have to have a funeral director to bury the dead?
A: In most states, family members may bury their own dead although regulations vary. However, most people find it very trying to be solely responsible for arranging the details and legal matters surrounding a death.
Furthermore, funeral directors provide comprehensive service to families from selecting a casket all the way to lot placement. Much like funeral directors, Biotrauma assists the family in many aspects not neccesarily related to our primary function. This can make all the difference in obtaining closure if the family can focus on themselves during troubling times.
Q: Why have a public viewing (in a funeral)?
A: Viewing is part of many cultural and ethnic traditions. Many grief specialists believe that viewing aids the grief process by helping the bereaved recognize the reality of death. Viewing is encouraged for children, as long as the process is explained and the activity voluntary.
Q: What is the purpose of embalming?
A: Embalming sanitizes and preserves the body, retards the decomposition process, and enhances the appearance of a body disfigured by traumatic death or illness.
Embalming makes it possible to lengthen the time between death and the final disposition, thus allowing family members time to arrange and participate in the type of service most comforting to them.
Embalming disinfects, temporarily preserves and restores, to an acceptable physical appearance, a dead human body. Because human remains begin to decompose almost immediately after death, offering an ideal environment for microbial growth, untreated remains pose a public health concern.
Q: What government agencies help defray death expenses, as they relate to a funeral?
A: Usually, Funeral Directors will help gather the necessary information to apply for financial assistance from Social Security, Veteran’s, retirements and any others to defray these death expenses.
In the case of the deceased falling victim to a crime, most states have a victim’s assistance program which is ran locally through the district attorney, depending on which state the crime occurred in. The crime victim’s compensation program will review the claim for benefits based on the circumstances, and may cover up to several thousand dollars of the funeral expenses.
Q: Who are coroners?
A: A coroner is the presiding officer of a special court to investigate deaths that occur under unusual circumstances where conventional criminal proceedings are not immediately called for.
Coroners are elected officials who take special training as prescribed by the state in which they work. This training, often times in combination with mortuary science experience, makes coroners well equipped to perform their task.
Q: What function does a Medical Examiner perform?
A: A medical examiner is a physician officially authorized by a governmental unit to ascertain the cause of death. Unlike a coroner, the medical examiner (ME) is always a physician and may perform autopsies within their facility.
Q: What help is available to me if I, or my family, am a victim of a crime and require decontamination services?
A: The Georgia Crime Victims Compensation Program allows for $1500 in the case of a crime victim requiring cleanup services. Biotrauma facilitates the acquisition of these funds, (which more than cover an insurance policy deductible) in the case of eligibility.
Biotrauma is also constantly seeking out relationships with state and local victim’s advocate programs in order to better lubricate the process of family assistance. Often times, a direct billing scenario is set up with the victim’s compensation program.
Q: Who is eligible for Victims Compensation?
A: Innocent victims who have been physically injured in a violent crime. Including but not limited to victims of:
- Assault/Battery
- Homicide
- Child Abuse
- Sexual Assault
- Domestic/Family Violence
- DUI Crash Victims
- Vehicular Homocide
- Hit and Run
- Serious Injury by Vehicle
Q: What is Hepatitis B, and why is it so dangerous?
A: Hepatitis B is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis B virus, or (HBV). HBV infected blood is highly concentrated with the virus, much more so than HIV/AIDS. This means that any exposure incident concerning blood infected with the hepatitis B virus will be exceedingly likely to cause infection.
Additionally, some studies suggest that HBV can live outside of the body for up to two weeks. Most crime scene cleanup services will respond the same day, which is well within the timeframe of danger.
Q: What is biotrauma remediation?
A: Biotrauma Remediation is the process by which trauma that stems from biologically hazardous waste, (and the waste itself) are remedied. Many mistakenly refer to biotrauma remediation as death scene cleanup, trauma scene clean up, biorecovery, and CTS decon. Death scene cleanup is more accurately referred to as biotrauma remediation.
Q: What are the psychological effects of trauma revolving around exposure to a traumatic incident or scene?
A: Stress has a cumulative effect on the body, and a variety of people respond to such stress in a variety of ways. It is not uncommon for those affected to develop Critical Incident Stress Syndrome, Secondary Traumatic Stress Disorder, or varying degrees of lesser traumatic grief. It is important to remove yourself from a crime or trauma scene with regard to psychological well being as soon as what is possible. Psychological effects of trauma can be devastating.
Q: How can hepatitis A, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, hepatitis D, hepatitis E and hepatitis G be safely remediated?
A: Through the proper application of hospital-grade and EPA-registered disinfectants by trained professionals, HAV, HBV, HCV, HDV, HEV and HGV infected blood and body fluids can be effectively remediated.
Q: Will my home owner’s insurance policy cover any contaminated property items and require replacement?
A: No. Your home owner’s insurance policy typically covers the structure of the residence or property, only. Contaminated Property items such as clothing and furniture will not be covered. Your insurance policy will typically cover the medical waste disposal of these items, however. If the item is connected in some way to the structure such as cabinetry, towel holders, or vanities, the item is likely to be covered for replacement.
Q: Can I have my regular janitorial staff clean up after a biotrauma incident?
A: A janitorial staff that has acquired the proper training, equipment, and vaccinations may do so. A regular janitorial staff is not prepared for such a task, and it is likely that an employee exposure to pathogens may occur after instructing them to do so. To avoid any employee exposure, be sure to contact a professional biotrauma remediation service.
Q: Can I use regular cleaners to remove a biohazard?
A: Regular cleaners are powerful enough to perform a biohazard cleanup with. Utilizing hospital grade disinfectants will ensure a certifiably safe premises, with the right application. Biohazard cleanup is a serious occupation, and requires the right materials.
Q: Is crime scene cleanup anything like what I see on C.S.I.?
A: No. Crime Scene Investigation is a role filled by law enforcement agencies. These investigative measured are conducted in accordance with forensic science and research whereas biotrauma cleaning concerns the decontamination and restoration of scenes. These scenes have been released by the authorities once all evidence has been collected. Some biotrauma technicians have had brief appearances on shows like C.S.I. and have been featured in many television documentaries, however.