got​needles?

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CASE 5: HUMAN DECOMPOSITION IN AN APARTMENT

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Continued...

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Case 5 Photos

 

Once this affected material was captured as medical waste, the technician would then begin to cut the top layer of the mattress affected by blood in order to recover that layer and the layers below it as medical waste.  After the top layer of the mattress has been cut away due to contamination, the mattress is then flipped in order to gather the affected material on the bottom side. 

 

With all the blood affected material removed from the mattress, the remaining portion of the mattress is then discarded as conventional waste.  Affected portions of carpet are removed and contained in the medical waste boxes.  Once the floor is exposed, it is then disinfected and then any biological material is removed and contained.  After this biological material containment And disinfection, the portions of the floor affected are sealed with oil base paint.

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The personal protective equipment used on this biohazard remediation project was PureShield high risk gloves, plastic face shields, various respirators, and KleenGuard Ultra Bloodborne pathogen rated suits.  The technicians have been instructed of the hazards associated with the chemicals used, Shockwave MSDS, to comply with OSHA Standard 1910.1200 Hazard Communication. 

 

The air filter was removed and discarded and the return air opening was used to fog the HVAC system with odor neutralizing solution.  The regulated waste  was recovered from the scene and was disposed of in accordance with the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and a TCEQ Regulated Waste Manifest was provided for support. 

 

To neutralize any residual odor, the entire unit was treated with an atomizing fog of Get The Odor Out in multiple applications including the duct of the accessible HVAC system.   At the closing of the project, the entire pathway from the bedroom to the exit in which they removed the body was disinfected including the door knobs and light switches.

 

In summary, the extended decomposition produced odor that reached the adjoining units in the complex.  Once the body was removed, technicians recoverd the residual biological material and segregated it as medical waste.  After the medical waste was recovered, the entire unit was treated with an atomizing fog of odor neutralizer in multiple applications including the HVAC system. 

 

The medical waste was transported to the treatment facilty for disposal.

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