Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

They are microorganisms such as viruses or bacteria that are carried in blood or bodily fluids and can cause disease in humans.

Source: Osha.gov

It is never a good idea to remove a discarded needle yourself. While the risk is small, you could get sick or infected if the needle pokes your skin or an existing cut. It is best to call professionals when you find a discarded needle, in order to ensure it is picked up and disposed of correctly without any risk to you. 1st Trauma Scene Clean Up can help.

Link to OSHA

Biohazardous remediation technicians should be professional in attitude and appearance and be sensitive to the nature of each scene and the people around them. They should work closely with the property representative to reduce the emotional stress related to the scene, discourage publicity and be helpful in assuming as much of the role of dealing with the insurance company as possible.
As well, a competent company will be knowledgeable of disease, pathogens, sanitizers, disinfectants, sterilants, deodorants, techniques, devices, and regulations to help them to successfully deal with each unique situation.
Using special equipment, chemicals and protective suits, our specialists isolate, clean, and decontaminate each surface properly. Upon completion, the collected waste is transported for appropriate disposal at a licensed medical waste facility.

Some companies now advertise that they provide services for trauma and crime scene clean up. However, before you hire any bio-recovery cleaning company, find out what their experience is. For example, do these companies provide the majority of their services in areas such as janitorial, carpet cleaning or fire and flood restoration? If so, are they members of ABRA?
Some companies may state that they have 20 or more years of experience, but how much of their experience is bio-hazardous cleaning? Very few of these non-ABRA companies have done more than a few cleanups a year. The end result is that your tragedy turns into their training session. Don’t put yourself in a position that will require you to call us after they have left.

Because of the risks inherent with biohazard clean up, provincial and federal regulations and protocols must be strictly adhered to. TSCU not only complies with all provincial and federal regulations and WorkSafe BC protocols but also with the standards set forth by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in the United States. The safety of TSCU personnel is paramount and is proud to state that in the 18 years the company has been operating, we have not experienced a single safety incident or complaint.

The American Bio-Recovery Association (ABRA). ABRA is a nationwide non-profit association made up of crime and trauma scene recovery professionals who are dedicated to upholding the highest technical, ethical and educational guidelines of the biohazard remediation industry.

Membership in ABRA restricts all but the most qualified candidates from becoming members. By combining an in-depth pre-acceptance investigation with on-going education and ethics requirements, ABRA helps to ensure that consumers receive the best possible service from bio-recovery companies that have demonstrated a desire and commitment to reach the highest levels of industry performance.

Many insurance policies will pay for claims involving our services. We will gladly assist you with the claims process so that your insurance company has all the information needed to pay the claim. We can also liaise with your insuran

The services we provide are recognized by the insurance industry, and TSCU staff can work closely with your insurance company to assure prompt processing of your claim.

Until we know exactly what is involved, we won’t know our costs. The biggest factor in calculating our fees is how many technicians the job will need, how long they will be there, and how much biohazard disposal will be needed. We provide estimates on-site and can begin work immediately and discreetly.

Fentanyl is sold as a white powder and is primarily “cut in” to street drugs such as cocaine or heroin. It can also be sold as a pill and combined with other drugs that are commonly ingested as a pill like MDMA. Fentanyl can kill in tiny doses and shouldn’t be tampered with – if you think that you see fentanyl, call 1st Trauma Scene Clean Up and your local emergency services – 911 – immediately.

Carfentanil is an even stronger type of fentanyl; it has up to 100 times the strength of regular fentanyl. Of course, this makes it up to 100 times more deadly. Carfentanil is not intended for human use and is used by veterinarians to sedate large animals like elephants.

Fentanyl is a medical-grade sedative and is most often used in hospitals under controlled conditions. A small amount, the size of a grain of sand, can cause an overdose. If it is not created or administered professionally, fentanyl is easy to overdose on. However, it is becoming increasingly common for those cooking drugs to add fentanyl to cocaine or heroin to give a bigger high for a smaller price. Some people also recreationally use fentanyl because it is more potent, which makes it more addictive, posing an additional deadly risk.

If your home has been exposed to tear gas, from a police incident or another occurrence, it is dangerous to clean it yourself. Tear gas is designed to make you incapacitated by inducing coughing and tears; it requires professional cleaning. Contact 1st Trauma Scene Clean Up today to efficiently and effectively get rid of tear gas in your home.

Fingerprint powder is made up of a variety of different compounds. The traditional white powder is traditionally made from titanium oxide or aluminum, while the black powder is made up of graphite and charcoal. These powders can also have aluminum and other metals integrated in order to make them stick. Most powders are light and easily spread to make a mess. 1st Trauma can make sure that fingerprint powder can be expertly cleaned from your home or business – call us today!

A clandestine drug lab is another way of referring to an illegal drug lab, making street drugs for illicit consumption. A clandestine drug lab can be found anywhere from a home to a backyard, to even a sewer system.

These labs are not just dangerous due to the drugs made inside; they can be hazardous to the environment around them as well. The creation of meth and other drugs leads to the creation of further hazardous waste materials, many of which are dumped in places where they can harm people and wildlife who live close by.

If you suspect that you have found a clandestine drug lab, it is important that you seek professional intervention. Call emergency services and 1st Trauma Scene Clean Up for any clandestine drug lab clean up needs.

Meth Labs have a strong chemical odour, that has been compared to rotten eggs or cat urine. Some meth labs also smell strongly of ammonia. If you suspect you can smell a meth lab, do not intervene yourself; call 1st Trauma Scene Clean Up and your local emergency services.

Norovirus is a highly contagious superbug that can easily cause illness outbreaks in schools, workplaces, and homes. People who catch Norovirus typically start to feel ill within 24 to 48 hours after contracting the bug; when they are sick, they are at their most contagious and extra precautions should be made to prevent illness. However, they should continue to exercise caution for 3 days after the symptoms disappear.

If you require Norovirus clean up, to prevent further infection, please call 1st Trauma Scene Clean Up today.

If you believe you’ve come down with Norovirus, which leads to cramping, vomiting, and nausea, you can be assured that it quickly passes, usually within 3 days. However, the best ways to make yourself feel better are:

The main causes of major industrial accidents come about when people are working with hazardous materials and dangerous equipment. While safety regulations minimize the risk of industrial accidents, there is always a chance of disaster when working with complex machinery. The biggest cause is human error and not following safety regulations to their fullest.

DO NOT:

• Enter a building, residence, crime scene, or potentially contaminated area unless it is necessary to administer medical attention or remove someone from harm’s way.
• Touch anything! Do not attempt to remove medical waste such as blood, bodily fluids, tissue, feces, urine or gross filth on your own.
• Enter until law enforcement has completed their investigation and released the scene.
• Answer questions from anyone other than identified uniformed police officers, detectives, crime scene technicians, or forensic examiners.
• Do not talk to the media unless you are the designated media contact for your company, and you have been authorized to do so

DO:

• Call 911
• Answer questions from identified law enforcement and emergency personnel as quicky and accurately as possible.
• Answer questions only with factual and pertinent information and stay nearby in case you are needed for further questioning.
• Prevent all staff, family and friends from entering the building, residence, crime scene or potentially contaminated area.
• Avoid all walkways or areas where other peoplesuch as emergency medical personnel or law enforcement may have tracked bio-hazardous materials or evidence in or out of a contaminated area.
• Contact a professional bio-hazard remediation service to arrange for a prompt arrival once the scene is released. Ensure, before authorizing a company to do the clean up, they adhere to all Federal and provincial laws and regulations in the handling and disposing of bio-hazardous waste and infectious materials.
• Confirm that all biological waste will be disposed of at a licensed medical waste facility.

Industrial accidents can happen in any workplace. The best thing that you can do is to make sure that safety regulations are clear to all staff members and that proper steps are taken to ensure that the work environment is set up for success. This includes proper training for all components of a job, equipment maintenance happening on a regular schedule, and high standards of cleanliness near and around dangerous equipment.

What is regulated waste?

• Any liquid or semi-liquid blood or other potentially infectious materials.
• Contaminated items that would release blood or other potentially infectious material in a liquid or semi-liquid state if compressed. (Examples: Saturated bandages, gauze or clothing, etc.)
• Items that are encrusted with dried bood or other potentially infectious materials and are capable of releasing these materials during handling.
• Contaminated sharp objects. (Examples: Broken glassware, needles, etc.)

Biological waste removal should be left to a company whose empoyees are trained, certified and can ensure that infectious pathogens and odour causing bacteria are properly cleaned, disinfected, deodorized and disposed of at a licensed medical waste facility. Those unprepared for such a task will likely be exposed to biological hazards including viral, bacterial and sporicidal pathogens.