Bio-One of Tucson Weekly Wrap-Up: April 25 - May 1, 2021

Name: Bio-One of Tucson
Brand: Bio-One of Tucson
Rating: 4.9 (124 reviews)

Bio-One Weekly Wrap-Up Summary of Biohazard Work

In Tucson, our Bio-One team answers the call to help our community and remediate a variety of scenes. From hoarding, crime scene cleaning, or simply giving back, we'd like to bring you into the Bio-One of Tucson world by sharing stories of the unique and important work we do.

Here is this week's Weekly Wrap-Up.

Community Involvement

Our community partners are some of the best organizations out there! This week joined the Tucson Fire Departments Tucson Collaborative Community Care (TC-3) and the Tucson Medical Center Foundation to help a City of Tucson constituent clean their home of trash and clutter.

What Our Customers Are Saying

Week of April 25 - May 1, 2021 Wrap-Up

Our experienced and certified teams have been working non-stop this week providing top-notch service and remediating scenes with compassion and respect.

Hoard Clean Up - Our crews helped 2 clients declutter and organize their homes this week. We're so thankful for our relationships with departments such as the Pima Council On Aging and the Arizona Department of Economic Security who contact us to help their clients. Being able to help the elderly brings us so much joy. We love helping clients start fresh!
- We understand that discarding possessions can be a difficult decision, and we work closely with clients to meet their specific needs, consulting with them through the process to return their environment into one that is safe and comfortable.

Medical and Biohazardous Waste Disposal - There was a steady need for medical and biohazardous waste pick up and disposal this week. We continue our daily pick up of COVID-19 testing kit/PPE waste from various testing sites and we picked up 12 x 44 gallon bags full of waste from the Tucson Police Department's Evidence locations.
- Bio-One technicians follow strict state guidelines for safely removing and disposing medical waste in Tucson Area, thus minimizing the risks associated with these bio-hazardous materials.

Crime Scene and Death Clean Up - Unfortunately, we were called to a crime scene clean up this week. These jobs are never easy but we're happy to provide help to clean up 24/7.
- Our professional crews are compassionate and discreet when working with families and clients and are available 24/7.
- 95% of the time, when a traumatic event happens in your home, homeowners insurance will cover the clean up. We take care of all of the insurance paperwork for our customers.

COVID-19 Disinfection - As usual, COVID-19 disinfection calls are always on our schedule. This week we disinfected another COVID-19 testing site, we disinfected 5 company vehicles, and we disinfected a dispensary.
- Bio-One experts adhere to strict OSHA regulations and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance when safely cleaning and disinfecting businesses, residential properties, vehicles and other properties as needed from coronavirus (COVID-19).
- Using and electrostatic sprayer, our proprietary chemical blend provides entire surface coverage for complete disinfection of all designated affected areas. The process is safe and offers a more consistent application with no disruption to affected areas and leaves no residue. All disinfectants are OSHA, EPA, and CDC approved and compliant and can be sprayed on surfaces, papers, keyboards, phones, copiers and all other electronics and high touch areas without damage or concern. Chemicals are animal and plant safe.

Odor Removal - This call was a fun one! Our client called for an odor coming from his attic and wasn't sure if an animal possibly died in it. One lucky team member got to crawl around in his attic to find what was causing the smell. Fortunately, we didn't find anything decaying but we did treat the odor and left our customer happy to be able to take a deep breath in his home again.
- Our environmentally safe odor removal services can disinfect all areas affected by the odor and discard household or commercial items that may have been compromised—items like carpeting, flooring and drywall that are commonly the victims of smoke, water damage, urine, sewage and fuel spills. We safely can safely remove allergens that can result in respiratory health problems and allergies.

Homeless Encampment Cleanup - Every now and then, we'll get calls from City officials to help clean up what's left behind after a homeless encampment has been cleared. We helped clear 3 encampments this week and one of our techs had a close encounter with a rattle snake! Yikes! Don't worry, our tech is fine - we always take precautions working in the desert but it just shows that our crews are trained to handle all situations they are faced with.
- From an individual temporarily residing in a tent to large encampments in vacant buildings, these cleanups need to be handled by professionals equipped with proper training and personal protective equipment. Leave it to Bio-One, where our technicians are trained to safely remove and clean up contaminated items, and properly dispose of biohazards such as sharps needles.

Bio-One Service Highlight - Mold Remediation

Water sources can quickly result in the mold infestation of homes and businesses, often within 48 hours. Bio-One technicians can quickly stop and remove the fungus that occurs naturally in areas subjected to humidity, condensation, water leaks and insufficient ventilation. Hiring a professional mold removal company in Tucson Area is critical. Inadequate removal of mold spores can lead to health risks that include respiratory complications, skin irritation and severe allergic reactions.

Using state-of-the-art safety equipment, Bio-One technicians properly contain areas infested with mold and discard any household or business items that have been highly contaminated, whether that entails tearing out and reconstructing areas or less thorough mold removal procedures.

Bio-One of Tucson specializes in all types of clean up including coronavirus (COVID-19) disinfection and cleaning, crime and trauma scene cleanup, hoarding removal, mold remediation, emergency decontamination, disinfection services and more in Tucson and the surrounding communities in the following counties: Pima County, Pinal County, Yuma County, Cochise County, Santa Cruz County, Graham County, and Greenlee County.

The Bio-One business motto is Help First, Business Second. We hope you never need to call us, but if you do, Bio-One is the only company you want to call. We are always available 24/7 and ready to help at a moment’s notice. Call Bio-One of Tucson today at (520) 462-6367 to schedule your service today.

Bio-One of Tucson
(520) 462-6367
631 East 20th Street, Unit 101
Tucson, Arizona 85719
www.bioonetucson.com
info@bioonetucson.com

Follow us on social!

Here is this week's Weekly Wrap-Up.

Community Involvement

Every April, the Office of Victims of Crime (OVC) helps lead communities throughout the country in their annual observances of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW) by promoting victims’ rights and honoring crime victims and those who advocate on their behalf. Here in Tucson, Homicide Survivors Inc. held a Virtual Candlelight Vigil to conclude National Crime Victim's Rights Week and to honor those we've lost to homicide in the past year. Bio-One is proud to have sponsored this event and to support a wonderful organization helping victims and survivors of homicide in our community.

Bio-One of Tucson would like to take a moment to recognize our Marketing and Community Relations Director, Jamie Leon-Guerrero for her nomination for the National Crime Victims' Service "Special Courage" Award 2021. She was also the recipient of the Pima County Attorney's Office Voice of Courage award in 2016. Her volunteerism and work in victim advocacy is commendable and we're honored to have her on our team.

Bio-One of Tucson spent a beautiful morning at the El Conquistador Golf Club supporting The Southern Arizona Law Enforcement Foundation (SALEF). The nonprofit organization raises public awareness and money to support the needs of our Tucson area law enforcement agencies. We are proud to have sponsored such a fun event and look forward to continuing our partnership with SALEF and supporting local law enforcement agencies in our area.

What Our Customers Are Saying

Week of April 18-24, 2021 Wrap-Up

Our experienced and certified teams have been working non-stop this week providing top-notch service and remediating scenes with compassion and respect.

Hoard Clean Up - Our crews were busy with two hoard clean ups this week. Our first was a hoard/rodent feces combo located in their garage which we remediated in one day. The other was a hoard/animal urine and feces clean up that took us two days complete. Being able to help our clients get their homes back to livable and safe environments makes us proud to be in the business of helping our community.
- We understand that discarding possessions can be a difficult decision, and we work closely with clients to meet their specific needs, consulting with them through the process to return their environment into one that is safe and comfortable.

Medical and Biohazardous Waste Disposal - We were contacted by an out of state agency in charge of COVID-19 testing sites here in Tucson. We picked up three fourteen gallon medical waste red bags from their facility this week and are scheduled to pick up daily until mid-May.
- Bio-One technicians follow strict state guidelines for safely removing and disposing medical waste in Tucson Area, thus minimizing the risks associated with these bio-hazardous materials.

Mold Remediation - Mold can be extremely harmful if not remediated safely and timely. This week we remediated 2 homes with mold. Our first home needed mold removed ASAP since they were selling their home. The other job wasn't as easy since we found rotted wood when we opened up the wall. Luckily we were able to remediate the mold safely and inform the property owner to get a crew in there to fix the rest.
- Using state-of-the-art safety equipment, Bio-One technicians properly contain areas infested with mold and discard any household or business items that have been highly contaminated, whether that entails tearing out and reconstructing areas or less thorough mold removal procedures.

Crime Scene and Death Clean Up - Answering a call for a death or crime scene clean up is never easy. Our technicians are trained to remediate scenes with care, compassion, discretion, and respect. Just like last week, we were called to help two grieving families during their time of need. With so much to deal with after a traumatic loss, there is no reason why anyone should have to deal with the clean up as well.
- Our professional crews are compassionate and discreet when working with families and clients and are available 24/7.
- 95% of the time, when a traumatic event happens in your home, homeowners insurance will cover the clean up. We take care of all of the insurance paperwork for our customers.

COVID-19 Disinfection - The need for virus decontamination has not relented. We get calls for help almost daily. This week we focused on disinfecting COVID-19 testing sites and staff housing.
- Bio-One experts adhere to strict OSHA regulations and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance when safely cleaning and disinfecting businesses, residential properties, vehicles and other properties as needed from coronavirus (COVID-19).
- Using and electrostatic sprayer, our proprietary chemical blend provides entire surface coverage for complete disinfection of all designated affected areas. The process is safe and offers a more consistent application with no disruption to affected areas and leaves no residue. All disinfectants are OSHA, EPA, and CDC approved and compliant and can be sprayed on surfaces, papers, keyboards, phones, copiers and all other electronics and high touch areas without damage or concern. Chemicals are animal and plant safe.

Animal Feces Clean Up - Human and animal feces/urine are bio-hazardous waste and disinfecting a home or business that has been exposed to these materials requires expert help. This week we helped a customer who due to injury was unable to clean up pet urine on their floors. Some maid service companies won't clean homes if there are bodily fluids in the home, so helping them get the urine taken care of opened the door for a cleaning service to come in and clean the rest of the home. Another client kept all of their belongings in storage for 3 years while living abroad. Upon return, their furniture and boxes were contaminated with rodent feces. We were able to disinfect and clean the contents of every box and every piece of furniture so they could move into their new home safely.
- Our technicians can properly remove animal waste and disinfect areas affected by rats, mice, bats, pigeons, cockroaches and other rodents. Although dry and longstanding, these droppings can still carry bacteria and parasites, especially in badly ventilated areas.

Bio-One Service Highlight - Hoarding Clean Up

Bio-One is a hoarding cleanup specialist in Tucson Area. We know that every job represents a unique experience for our customers, many who may have difficulty parting with deeply personal items. We understand that discarding possessions can be a difficult decision, and we work closely with clients to meet their specific needs, consulting with them through the process to return their environment into one that is safe and comfortable.

Ignoring the clutter can be unhealthy and dangerous. After years of experience, our hoarding cleanup technicians have encountered several safety threats to homes and businesses, which include the toxic buildup of mold and carbon monoxide. The buildup of possessions over long periods of time also may increase the risk of accidental fires and diseases that can fester amid layers of belongings.

We’ll work with you, step-by-step, to instill trust while properly ridding your space of items that can prove harmful to you and your loved ones. Call us today and see how we can help!

Bio-One of Tucson
(520) 462-6367
631 East 20th Street, Unit 101
Tucson, Arizona 85719
www.bioonetucson.com
info@bioonetucson.com

Follow us on social!

Here is this week's Weekly Wrap-Up.

Community Involvement

National Telecommunications Week 2021. The second week of April is a time to celebrate and thank telecommunications professionals who dedicate their lives to serving the public. Often called the thin gold line, 911 dispatchers are true heroes behind the scenes.

"This week-long event, initially set up in 1981 by Patricia Anderson of the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office in California, is a time to celebrate and thank those who dedicate their lives to serving the public. It is a week that should be set aside so everyone can be made aware of their hard work and dedication." - Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International

Here, in Tucson our Marketing & Community Relations Director, Jamie delivered pizza to the City of Tucson Public Safety Communications Department on April 13, 2021 to say "Thank You" to the 911 dispatchers that are critical to our community.

Click here to read more about NTW!

What Our Customers Are Saying About Bio-One

"There are not enough words to express the gratitude we have for the Bio Tucson team specifically, Jamie, Scott and Daryl. I called Jamie at Bio Tucson after being notified my mother-in-law and passed and we need to clean her home. Sadly, she was a hoarder. Jamie was my first point of contact, she was compassionate, patient and extremely helpful. We were coming from California to wrap up some things and she was able to schedule her crew to do a clean out during our time in Tucson with only two days notice. Upon the crews arrival, we were greeted with the same level of professionalism and compassion that we received from Jamie. Scott and Daryl are two very special humans. What they did for us was magical. The amount of stress and pain they were able to relive was astronomical. Because of these three people what was once stressful and overwhelming became peaceful. We will never be able to thank them enough for the services they provided. You truly could not hire a better company to take care of your “bio” needs. Thank you Jamie, Scott and Daryl. We will forever be grateful for the experience you provided during a very rough time."

~Karolina L, Google Review ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

Week of April 11-17, 2021 Wrap-Up

Whew! What a week! Every day was fully booked. Just look at this sweet smorgasbord of services our clients needed help with this week.

Hoard Clean Up
- One 40' garbage dumpster was filled to the brim.
- We understand that discarding possessions can be a difficult decision, and we work closely with clients to meet their specific needs, consulting with them through the process to return their environment into one that is safe and comfortable.

Medical and Biohazardous Waste Disposal
- Eleven 44 gallon trash cans were picked up from Tucson Police Department.
- Bio-One technicians follow strict state guidelines for safely removing and disposing medical waste in Tucson Area, thus minimizing the risks associated with these bio-hazardous materials.
Mold Remediation
- What was scheduled as a few hour job turned into multiple days after mold was discovered inside the walls.
- The homeowner filed an insurance claim for the work. We take care of all of the insurance paperwork for our customers.
- Using state-of-the-art safety equipment, Bio-One technicians properly contain areas infested with mold and discard any household or business items that have been highly contaminated, whether that entails tearing out and reconstructing areas or less thorough mold removal procedures.
Crime Scene and Suicide Clean Up
- We were contacted by 2 families this week in need of immediate assistance after the tragic loss of their loved ones.
- Our professional crews are compassionate and discreet when working with families and clients and are available 24/7.
- 95% of the time, when a traumatic event happens in your home, homeowners insurance will cover the clean up. We take care of all of the insurance paperwork for our customers.
COVID-19 Disinfection
- This one keeps our crews busy and we get called out to do COVID-19 disinfections almost every day.
- Bio-One experts adhere to strict OSHA regulations and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance when safely cleaning and disinfecting businesses, residential properties, vehicles and other properties as needed from coronavirus (COVID-19).
- Using and electrostatic sprayer, our proprietary chemical blend provides entire surface coverage for complete disinfection of all designated affected areas. The process is safe and offers a more consistent application with no disruption to affected areas and leaves no residue. All disinfectants are OSHA, EPA, and CDC approved and compliant and can be sprayed on surfaces, papers, keyboards, phones, copiers and all other electronics and high touch areas without damage or concern. Chemicals are animal and plant safe.
Bird Dropping Clean Up
- Our customer needed their carport and storage area treated with disinfectant proven to kill diseases inherent in bird droppings. Our crews hand scrapped off droppings from the affected areas, cleaned up droppings on floor, and disposed of affected material.
- Our technicians can properly remove animal waste and disinfect areas affected by rats, mice, bats, pigeons, cockroaches and other rodents. Although dry and longstanding, these droppings can still carry bacteria and parasites, especially in badly ventilated areas.
Odor Removal
- Our client had a fire on their porch and needed assistance removing the smell from the home.
- We were able to treat and scrub affected area with our proprietary chemical blend and use our ozone air purifier and air scrubber to get rid of the odor.
- Our environmentally safe odor removal services can disinfect all areas affected by the odor and discard household or commercial items that may have been compromised—items like carpeting, flooring and drywall that are commonly the victims of smoke, water damage, urine, sewage and fuel spills. We safely can safely remove allergens that can result in respiratory health problems and allergies.

Call Bio-One of Tucson today at (520) 462-6367 to schedule your service. We operate 24 hours a day and we have the ability of flexible service outside of regular business hours to help you maintain your regular service hours as not to impede your business.

Bio-One of Tucson

(520) 462-6367

631 East 20th Street, Unit 101

Tucson, Arizona 85719

www.bioonetucson.com

info@bioonetucson.com

Follow us on social!

The second week of April is a time to celebrate and thank telecommunications professionals who dedicate their lives to serving the public. Often called the thin gold line, 911 dispatchers are true heroes behind the scenes.

"This week-long event, initially set up in 1981 by Patricia Anderson of the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office in California, is a time to celebrate and thank those who dedicate their lives to serving the public. It is a week that should be set aside so everyone can be made aware of their hard work and dedication." - Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International

Animal hoarding occurs in communities across the U.S. and researchers estimate that hoarding accounts for the suffering and death of over 250,000 animals each year. For instance, if you search the news section on Google for “Animal Hoarding” you will find recent stories all over the U.S.

Most recently, we’ve seen:

Madison, WI - UPDATE: More animals rescued from hoarding home in Jefferson
Olean, NY - More than 30 animals rescued from hoarding situation in Olean, 3 arrested
Charleston, WV - Woman charged with felony animal cruelty for cat hoarding
Jupiter, FL - Nearly 40 dogs rescued from hoarding, filthy conditions in Boynton Beach
Greeley, CO - Carcasses in alleged animal abuse case in Weld County to be tested for disease

These dire conditions cause immense suffering for both animals and people, while overwhelming local animal shelters. So how can you help? The first step, is education.

What is considered animal hoarding?

According to the ASPCA, the following criteria are used to define animal hoarding:

An individual possesses more than the typical number of companion animals.
The individual is unable to provide even minimal standards of nutrition, sanitation, shelter and veterinary care, with this neglect often resulting in starvation, illness and death.
The individual is in denial of the inability to provide this minimum care and the impact of that failure on the animals, the household and human occupants of the dwelling.

What causes animal hoarding?

Often, the behavior of animal hoarding begins after an illness, disability, or difficult life event. In most situations, the owner sees the animals as a major source of love, and they have the best of intentions of caring for their animals. However, overtime they become overwhelmed and unable to make decisions which leads to unintentional neglect or abuse.

The Anxiety & Depression Association of America (ADAA) states that hoarders also have an intense emotional attachment to their animals. They avoid the pain of letting go of things that seem very special, even when clutter prevents comfortable living. Like object hoarders, animal hoarders believe that things should be saved for some special event, even if the event never happens. They imagine the wonderful way in which they will heal love, and nurture their pets, while overlooking the terrible effects of having too many of them.

“The sometimes hundreds of dog or cat victims of a single hoarder generally show signs of abuse such as severe malnutrition, untreated medical conditions including open sores, cancers, and advanced dental and eye diseases, and severe psychological distress.” - Animal Legal Defense Fund

Who is most likely to hoard animals?

The Hoarding of Animals Research Consortium reviewed the case records of 71 incidents from across the United States and Canada to determine what characterizes a typical animal hoarding case. Of the cases reviewed, here’s what they discovered:

83% involved women
53% of the animal hoarding residences were home to other individuals including children (5%)
21% were elderly dependents and disabled people

There are also commonalities in the living environment. Often essential utilities and major appliances such as showers, heaters, stoves, toilets, and sinks were not functional. 70% of the homes had fire hazards and 16% of the residences were condemned as unfit for human habitation.

At Bio-One, the circumstances as described in the research findings above are common for our teams. Animal waste can be unsafe when not properly contained and regularly cleaned, as well as human urine and feces. Learn more about Bio-One’s hoarding services.

What happens to animals after they are rescued?

Sue Marue the founder of the Arizona based cat rescue Ark Cat Sanctuary, spoke with our Bio-One Mesa, AZ team and said:

We have taken in dozens and dozens of cats from all over Arizona that have been rescued from hoarders. The lucky ones can be up for adoption within weeks. But for some, they will never be ready for adoption and will live out their days at Ark or we cannot save them because they are just too sick. We have one little tabby that we rescued from a hoarder in Phoenix over a year ago that just last week allowed us to pet her and love her. Sometimes it takes that long. The problem with that is most rescues cannot take a year for an animal to come around. They don't have that kind of space or time. It isn't their fault, it is just how it is. We deal with overpopulation, under-funding and just not enough help. Unfortunately, it’s the animals that suffer.

Bio-One animal hoarding case study

In a 2018 blog post, the Bio-One team in Orlando described circumstances that led their team to remediating an animal hoarding situation:

“Bio-One cleaned out a home in Polk County, Florida, when a Hoarder was discovered by pure coincidence. The Hoarder was to be evicted from the rental property due to nonpayment. The local Sherriff's office came to evict him from the property and this was when the situation of Hoarding was discovered. He had been hoarding many dogs within the home and living in deplorable conditions. Animal Control came out and confiscated the animals. The Hoarder was taken into custody at the moment of discovery. The whole situation was incredibly sad and ultimately could have been avoided...”

Read the entire story on their blog.

How Can You Help?

The most immediate ways to make in impact in your community is to contact your local animal rescue to make a donation or volunteer your time. Also, if you see an animal in distress, contact your local authorities.

If you think someone you know is struggling with animal hoarding, ASPCA.org lists important steps to ensure the animals are quickly helped and the hoarder receives the support they require.

Bio-One is a hoarding cleanup specialist in Tucson and surround areas. We know that every job represents a unique experience for our customers, many who may have difficulty parting with deeply personal items. We understand that discarding possessions can be a difficult decision, and we work closely with clients to meet their specific needs, consulting with them through the process to return their environment into one that is safe and comfortable.

We’ll work with you, step-by-step, to instill trust while properly ridding your space of items that can prove harmful to you and your loved ones.

Story credit to Biooneinc.com

"TAKE A CLOSER LOOK: BIO-ONE ANSWERS COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT ANIMAL HOARDING"

Heavy smoking indoors over a long period of time causes stubborn smoke odors that are extremely difficult to remove. Smoke and odors from tobacco disperse into the air and adhere to all surfaces. Smoke can penetrate furniture, carpet, drywall, window treatments, and even get into your HVAC system. One cigarette has over 4,000 chemicals and over 400 toxins/poisons. Residue from tobacco often discolors painted walls and plastics, and it can permanently change the appearance of household surfaces. Lingering tobacco odors may create significant issues in so many different ways. It is recommended that you hire a professional to remove stubborn tobacco odor in your home. Keeping in mind that you are not just removing odors but will need to remove the chemicals tobacco leaves behind as well.

If your house is plagued by tobacco odors you just can’t get to go away, Bio-One of Tucson can help you get rid of the smell. Whether you’re plagued by tobacco odor or something entirely different, we can help you find what’s causing the odor and neutralize it, disposing of anything that may be contributing to the smell or that was irreparably damaged because of it.

Strong odors are unpleasant, but they also may carry potentially hazardous materials like bacteria and dangerous gases. Bio-One technicians employ methods to remove toxic odors that are found in everything from unattended deaths to crime scenes to mold and spills. Whether overwhelming odors affect your personal, commercial or industrial property, our odor removal experts in Tucson Area are trained to determine the source of the smell, decontaminate it, and safely dispose of hazardous remnants.

Our environmentally safe odor removal services can disinfect all areas affected by the odor and discard household or commercial items that may have been compromised—items like carpeting, flooring and drywall that are commonly the victims of smoke, water damage, urine, sewage and fuel spills. We safely can safely remove allergens that can result in respiratory health problems and allergies.

Bio-One of Tucson uses the latest technology and provides a proven system that removes stubborn odors. We provide exceptional service with proven results and come with over 20 years of experience in the cleaning and restoration industry.

Bio-One of Tucson specializes in all types of clean up including coronavirus (COVID-19) disinfection and cleaning, crime and trauma scene cleanup, hoarding removal, mold remediation, emergency vehicle decontamination, disinfection services and more in Tucson and the surrounding communities in the following counties: Pima County, Pinal County, Yuma County, Cochise County, Santa Cruz County, Graham County, and Greenlee County.

Call Bio-One of Tucson today at (520) 462-6367 to schedule your service. We operate 24 hours a day and we have the ability of flexible service outside of regular business hours.

Bio-One of Tucson

(520) 462-6367

631 East 20th Street, Unit 101

Tucson, Arizona 85719

www.bioonetucson.com

info@bioonetucson.com

Follow us on social!

You’ve probably seen grey lockboxes with biohazard stickers mounted to walls in pharmacies and libraries and wondered what they are. These containers have been implemented in public institutions to contain sharps waste, a dangerous kind of medical refuse. Referred to as “sharps” in the health care industry, this category of infectious waste includes anything that can pierce the skin. Needles, knives, scalpels, broken glass, lancets and razors are included under this definition as are syringes, which tend to feature in the most publicized examples of sharps mismanagement. What makes sharps so dangerous is that they’re almost always contaminated with someone else’s body fluids. When the instrument pierces another person’s skin, it can easily transmit bloodborne pathogens like HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C. To suppress the spread of disease, you’ll need to know how to dispose of sharps properly. It’s important that everyone must take precautions to ensure that discarded needles are properly disposed of.

Allowing a trained medical professional to handle sharps is ideal but some situations may require you to dispose of them yourself. If you need to pick one up off the ground, be sure you’re wearing thick, puncture resistant gloves and that you’re walking slowly. Point the tip away from your body and from others, and dispose of the item in a secure sharps container as quickly as possible. Regulated by the FDA, these containers are distinct for their red, puncture proof exterior and clear top. They are also marked by the internationally recognized biohazard symbol, which looks like three rings pinned together concentrically by a nail. You will find these at a number of disposal sites in your state. They include hospitals, some libraries, pharmacies, universities, police stations, health departments, fire stations and doctor’s offices. Wall mounted sharps containers come in red and grey, and look like lockboxes. If you are unsure, an official collection box will always carry the biohazard symbol.

Often times you’ll need to transport the item to one of these disposal sites. Placing sharps in a puncture proof, leak proof container is required to avoid an accident. While the vessel can be something mundane, like a bleach container, be sure to mark it as hazardous for additional safety. Although this process is inconvenient, the law mandates that you dispose of sharps at a collection site. So make sure you never throw them in the trash or flush them down the toilet. Doing so puts trash collectors, landfill operators, sewage workers, children and other household members at risk. Do not place sharps in a container that is overflowing, and never try to force them inside. If you are stuck with a sharp, wash the wound with soap and water, and seek immediate medical attention.

Bio-One technicians follow strict state guidelines for safely removing and disposing medical waste in Tucson and surrounding areas, thus minimizing the risks associated with these bio-hazardous materials. Our medical waste management services include 24-hour emergency response and weekly/monthly/quarterly transportation and disposal of bio-medical waste from medical examiners offices, hospitals, dental offices and nursing homes, and other facilities that generate bio-hazardous waste. Using clearly marked containers, Bio-One experts are careful to properly dispose of medical waste that potentially carry blood borne pathogens. We also counsel paramedics and first responders—professionals at risk of handling bio-hazardous material—on how to best handle medical waste and limit the risks associated with their work.

Call Bio-One of Tucson today at (520) 214-7579 to schedule your service. We operate 24 hours a day and we have the ability of flexible service outside of regular business hours to help you maintain your regular service hours as not to impede your business.

COVID-19 Disinfection for Small Businesses

The importance of COVID-19 disinfection for small businesses looking to reopen and remain open safely.

Small business entrepreneurs are used to setting objectives and also solving economic problems at the micro-level. The global pandemic due to COVID-19 has forced many small businesses into an unenviable position where they need to decide when and how to reopen their businesses safely while working through the state and local regulations surrounding reopening. Many times the solutions are not a clear path for many local business owners to answer. In an effort to keep their customers, locations, and employees safe small business owners are working to follow the guidelines set forth by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, state, and local regulations.

The CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) developed a helpful decision tree with which small businesses can solve their overall problems.

Key Tips:

If you plan to reopen small businesses, maintain social distancing guidelines in your workplace.
Encourage customers and workers to use disinfectrs and wash hands frequently.
Disinfect and clean all the touched surfaces frequently, at least once every day. Do it more frequently in areas of high-traffic.
Provide enough PPE (personal protective equipment) to your employees and develop a policy addressing appropriate guidelines.
You may employ the policy of WFH or work from home, treating all your employees fairly.
It is smart to have your place of business disinfected. Bio-One of Tucson provides Covid-19 Disinfection services in which the location of your business can be fogged with CDC approved chemicals which kill the Coronavirus on contact. This allows the disinfection of every touched surface. Additionally once on site the technicians will provide additional measures to light switches, handles, doorknobs, keyboards, tables, desks, remote controls, toilets along with handles, elevator buttons, sinks, faucets, POS (point of sale) or cash registers, phones and other equipment. Once the treatment is completed you will be provided with a certificate of disinfection in which you can display at your place of business to let your customers and employees know how much you value their health and safety.

Call Bio-One of Tucson today at (520) 214-7579 to schedule your Covid-19 disinfection service. We operate 24 hours a day and we have the ability of flexible service outside of regular business hours to help you maintain your regular service hours as not to impede your business.

Are you selling your home but are overwhelmed with having to clean it? We can help! From hoarding, to gross filth, to feces, to urine, to mold, to odors, and more – Bio-One of Tucson can help get the property ready for sell and ready for a new family.

Odor Removal

It is no secret that renters do not always treat the home they reside in as if it were their own. Once a renter moves out and the owner assesses the residence for what repairs need to be made, sometimes more issues come up than expected. Even though that lease states that smoking cigarettes in the residence is prohibited, many tenants ignore that rule. We can help with tobacco odor removal!

Feces and Urine Clean Up

Pets can damage a home by either defecating and/or urinating on the flooring and walls which not only leaves an awful smell, but a bio-hazard that is not easy to remove. We can help with feces and urine remediation and odor removal from those situations!

Hoarding Clean Up

Hoarding and neglect of throwing away food or items that are soiled cause mold and a bad distinguished odor. We can help with hoarding removal, mold remediation, and the awful smell!

COVID-19 Cleaning and Disinfecting

How about just a deep clean and sanitation of a residence that looks like it has not been properly cleaned in a long time especially with COVID-19? Our proprietary chemicals are stronger and better than anything that can be bought over the counter. We can make that residence sparkle and remediate any COVID germs that might be lingering.

Death and Crime Scene Clean Up

Sometimes tragedy occurs in a home where the owner of the property is left to handle it - a crime or death occurs causing damage to the home from the blood and/or other bodily fluids. We can help with removing those bio-hazards and getting the residence back to a safe condition!

For all of the above situations and more, Bio-One is the Tucson real estate agents trusted choice for professional trauma cleanup, hoarding cleanup, and mold remediation. We respond very quickly and complete most jobs in just a few hours, so you won’t have to put the listing on hold.

You’ll also appreciate our competitive prices and attentive services. Call anytime, 24/7 at (520) 462-6367. Put our number on speed dial, so you’ll know how to reach us next time you come across a house that needs Bio-One of Tucson’s services.

Bio-One of Tucson is here to help in Tucson and the surrounding communities in the following counties: Pima County, Pinal County, Yuma County, Cochise County, Santa Cruz County, Graham County, and Greenlee County.

With COVID-19 cases on the rise here in Arizona, a lot of companies including Pest Control Companies, Dry Cleaners, General Contractors have been jumping on the bandwagon to offer disinfection services. But how do you know if they are qualified to perform this vital service? Here are a few items to keep in mind when choosing a company to disinfect your home or business;

1. What experience do they have disinfecting for viruses?

Here at Bio-One, we have been disinfecting for viruses for almost 20 years and work with disinfecting homes and businesses for C-Diff, MRSA, HIV, H1N1, Ebola just to name a few.

2. Does the company you are hiring follow strict CDC and OSHA protocols when performing these important services?

Bio-One experts adhere to strict OSHA regulations and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance when safely cleaning and disinfecting businesses, residential properties, vehicles, and other properties as needed from coronavirus (COVID-19).

As these standards indicate, ask for a copy of their Respiratory Protection Plan, Copies of their Bloodborne Pathogens Certificates as well as what Personal Protective Equipment do their technicians wear. You can find OSHA's standards for disinfecting for COVID-19 here: https://www.osha.gov/coronavirus/standards

3. Are they insured for doing this kind of work?

Since the outbreak, all but 1 insurance carrier has put exclusions in their policies for doing any type of COVID-19 Disinfection Services. What this means is if they break or damage anything in your home or business while performing these services, they do not have any insurance coverage to protect you or cover the cost. We at Bio-One do carry this important coverage and can provide you with proof of coverage.

4. Is the company you are hiring making false claims about how long their Disinfection lasts on surfaces?

In Houston TX there was a company making false claims about how long their disinfection lasts. There aren't any procedures or chemicals that will last weeks or months. The disinfection services last as long as a carrier does not re-enter the space.

Read about their claims here: Houston Business Shut Down

As you review these 4 points, you need to ask yourself if the least expensive service provider is the best. Here at Bio-One of Tucson, we realize there are companies charging both less and more than we do. However, with how unpredictable this virus has proven to be, you should trust a company that has the experience, is knowledgeable about the correct procedures, follows OSHA and CDC protocols and is the most trusted and referred clean up company in Tucson and surrounding areas.

Bio-One of Tucson is here to help you make your home or business safe again. We are open 24/7/365. Call us at (520) 771-5960 or visit our website at www.bioonetucson.com to get a free no obligation quote and to discuss your individual needs.