Recent Biohazard Posts

Disinfecting Your Home? Read This First - Acushnet 02718

9/16/2020 (Permalink)

cleaning technician wiping down a counter Our disinfection services includes wiping down high touch areas and disinfecting with our CDC and EPA-approved disinfectant SERVPROXIDE.

It’s safe to say this recent pandemic has changed our cleaning behaviors and frequency. Maybe you were a once-a-month deep clean kind of person or you may prefer to “clean as you go” so as not to accumulate much of a mess. 

Regardless of your preference, it’s now more important than ever to clean regularly and thoroughly; and not only clean but disinfect as well. 

As cleaning experts, SERVPRO of Marion / Middleborough has been cleaning and disinfecting homes and commercial properties since well before the pandemic. Here are some things we always recommend to make sure you’re home or office stays clean:

  1. Cleaning your home on an on-going basis with regular soap and water will help reduce how much of the virus and other bacteria live on a surface or object. By doing that, you also reduce the risk of exposure. 
  2. When disinfecting your home, make sure you’re using an EPA-approved disinfectant. It’s important to use a disinfectant in addition to routine cleanings. 
  3. If you do not have an EPA-approved disinfectant, you can use an alternative such as mixing ? cup of clean with 1 gallon of room temperature water. Keep in mind: mixing bleach or other cleaning products and disinfection products together is highly dangerous and can cause fumes that canoe very dangerous to breathe in. 

In addition to following these CDC recommended guidelines, make sure to regularly wash your hands, and avoid touching your face. 

At SERVPRO of Marion / Middleborough, our crews have been on the frontlines disinfecting homes and offices to help stop the spread of COVID-19. If you’d like to learn more about our disinfection services and how we use a proprietary EPA-approved disinfectant, call our office for a free estimate: 508-946-2397.

There is Help for Hoarders - Acushnet 02743

9/16/2019 (Permalink)

In recent years, the issue of hoarding has garnered more attention due to the growing population that is being affected by this mental health disorder.

Hoarding is much more than just a few extra items in the garage, or a messy room with unopened boxes. It goes beyond some clutter and knickknacks and tchotchkes that hold sentimental value. Hoarding is a complex mental health disorder that is quickly growing within the aging population. As major life crisis or traumas such as loss, divorce, and even children leaving single parents as empty nesters — there is often no one around to keep the compulsive urge to accumulate at bay. 

Hoarding becomes a health risk when one isn’t able to use their stove to cook because the surface is covered with items or their refrigerator is full of expired food that eventually attract pests and rodents. When the environment is so disorganized that the resident isn’t able to file for medicare to even schedule a doctor’s appointment, it becomes a major problem. In a recent article published by the Washington Post, compulsive hoarding affects nearly 19 million Americans. 

With the rate of hoarding cases steadily growing, it’s important to know where to turn to if you, a loved one, or someone you know if affected by this mental health disorder. 

Thankfully, SERVPRO of Marion / Middleborough is here to help with any and all hoarding issues. There is no job too extreme or a mess too messy for us to clean. Contact us today as you work to support your loved one on their path to recovery. 

Biohazards - What Are They?

10/8/2018 (Permalink)

Bio-hazardous Substances

SERVPRO of Marion/Middleborough offers an array of bio-hazard cleanup services. Our highly trained team of technicians follow rigorous OSHA and EPA regulations when dealing with blood borne pathogens to ensure that a once unsafe environment is restored back to safe living conditions. If you or someone you know is suffering from a biologically hazardous situation, contact us today at (508) 946-2397.

What classifies as a Bio-hazard?

A bio-hazard is defined as being a risk to human or environmental health through biological work, especially with microorganisms. There are many forms of bio-hazards that some of us may come into contact with on a daily basis. For example, Waste Management Workers are exposed to infectious diseases in their working day-to-day lives. Luckily, with the help of modern medicine, we can protect ourselves from contracting some of those hazardous diseases (i.e. hepatitis A, B and tetanus) by receiving the proper vaccinations. Though, other forms of bio-hazardous materials are not as easy to prevent as receiving a shot in the arm.

Below is a list of common bio-hazard scenarios you’ll want to seek professional help for in the event of contact. Follow the link on each one to learn more about our cleanup protocol.

Sewage & Toilet Overflows

Trauma & Crime Scene

Volatile Materials

It's Better to Give ... Safely - Rochester, MA 02770

12/1/2017 (Permalink)

They say it brings more joy to give, especially during the holidays! Taking the time to pick out thoughtful gifts shouldn't end with 'if they'll enjoy it' but also 'is it safe?'. 

We've all heard it's important when choosing toys for infants or small children to avoid small parts that might prove to be a choking hazard. Here are some additional gift-related safety tips:

  • Select gifts for older adults that are not heavy or awkward to handle
  • Be aware of dangers associated with coin lithium batteries; of particular concern is the ingestion of button batteries
  • For answers to more of your holiday toy safety questions, check out this Consumer Product Safety Commission blog
  • See which toys have been recalled here

This information was provided by the National Safety Council shared by SERVPRO of Marion/Middleboro in hopes to reduce incidents this holiday season. 

The three types of contaminated water- New Bedford, MA 02745

11/10/2017 (Permalink)

Category 1: "Clean Water"

This is water from a clean source, such as a broken clean water supply line or faucet. If left untreated, category 1 water can quickly degrade into category 2 or 3 water depending upon such factors as time, temperature, and contact with contaminants.

  • Water from a clean source like a broken water line
  • If left untreated, can degrade into category 2 or 3

Category 2: "Gray Water"

This water has a significant level of contamination that could cause discomfort or illness if ingested. Sources for category 2 water may include washing machine overflow; toilet overflow with some urine, but no feces; or dishwasher overflow.

  • May contain bacteria and viruses
  • Can quickly degrade into category 3 if left untreated

Category 3: "Black Water"

This water is grossly unsanitary and could cause severe illness or death if ingested, and any contact should be avoided. Sources for category 3 water could include flooding from rivers or streams, water from beyond the toilet trap, water from the toilet bowl with feces, or standing water that has begun to support microbial growth.

  • May contain untreated sewage, harsh chemicals, and microbes
  • Water from flooding rivers or sewer backup

SERVPRO of Marion/Middleboro is here to help with the cleanup and disinfecting of all categories of water. Call us today to schedule a free on-site estimate (508)946-2397

The Aftermath of Rogue Tenants- Middleboro, MA 02346

11/6/2017 (Permalink)

If you are a landlord or property manager you understand the importance of the tenant screening process. Unfortunately, there is only so much information you can gather before renting your property to tenants. So what do you do when a previous tenant has left your property in ruin?

We have all seen, in one way or another, the aftermath of a rogue tenant who decides to take hammers and spray paint to the walls, leave mounds of trash and personal belongings, or even have an infestation of sorts that they leave for their landlord to clean up.Whether it is caused by intentional destruction or the tenants neglectfulness on issues that would have been minor if addressed immediately but have grown into much larger issues now, restoring your property back to inhabitable conditions can be quite the daunting task for any property owner.

Most property managers do not have the time or desire to take on such a project. SERVPRO of Marion/Middleboro is equipped and trained to handle every aspect of the cleanup and restoration. Saving homeowners valuable time and money. Call SERVPRO of Marion/Middleboro when you want to make it "Like it never even happened."

Hoarding Hazards- Rochester, MA 02770

11/6/2017 (Permalink)

Hoarding disorder can affect our friends and family. When it does, it can be an extremely difficult task to help them cope with letting go of items they have collected over the years. At SERVPRO of Marion/Middleboro our employees are trained in highly sensitive situations. From office staff to our cleaning crews we understand the situation can be highly sensitive.

Living with a hoarding disorder can become extremely dangerous; posing risk to fires, contamination, infestation and much more. We understand that when the decision has been made to call a company like ourselves that there is great deal of distress to the homeowner and/or family members involved. We will remove all belongings, discard or store depending on the customers’ requests and clean and sanitize the rooms requested in order to make it “Like it never even happened.”

Massachusetts Hoarding Resource Directory

Call us today to schedule our team of hoarder clean-out specialists (508)946-2397

24/7/365 Vandalism Response - Freetown, MA 02717

10/10/2017 (Permalink)

Vandalism to a home or business can be disruptive, have a negative impact on business, and can lead to vulnerability in security. Broken windows, gates and doors can lead to unauthorized access and/or theft of property. SERVPRO of Marion/Middleboro has a corporate standard to respond & be on-site quickly. Our team will assess the damage and repairs needed, secure your building and mitigate any preventable secondary damages.

We are set to a 1-4-8 service guideline meaning we will respond to your call within 1 hour, be onsite to assess any damage within 4 hours and start any necessary mitigation within 8 hours. These time frames are often exceeded.

We are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to respond quickly and be at your home or business to board up and secure your property, remove any graffiti or destruction to your property and help restore order so that it's business as usual moving forward. We understand that any loss of business, especially to single location businesses, can be devastating.

Learn more about Vandalism & Graffiti Cleanup call SERVPRO of Marion/Middleboro at (508)946-2397

"There's No Way I'm Touching That!"

11/14/2016 (Permalink)

Life is just messy, isn’t it? Kids and pets tracking mud and dirt into the house. General clutter around the house that keeps piling up. Dust that seems to be a never ending battle. Most messes require little more than warm soapy water and a little elbow grease. But then there are other messes. The ones that make you say something like " There's no way I'm touching that!" Those types of cleanups are categorized as biohazards. That's a whole different story.

Certain precautions need to be taken when dealing with biohazards. You could put yourself, or family in danger if you try to take care of them yourself. SERVPRO of Marion/Middleboro has the training, equipment and expertise to handle all types of biohazards, such as:

  • sewage backups
  • crime scene residues
  • suicide/homicide/death accidents
  • blood cleanup
  • hoarding scenes
  • animal waste/remains
  • chemical spills
  • tear gas cleanup and
  • meth lab cleanup
  • the list goes on...

We at SERVPRO hope you never have to deal with these types of situations, but if you do, we’re here to help. All you need to do is call us at 508-946-2397. 

Keep the Mouse out of My House

11/4/2016 (Permalink)

So last time we spoke, we were talking about the reasons mice tend to work their way inside especially during the winter months. Now we are going to focus on how to keep the mouse out of your house.

Six Tips to Keep Mice Away

  • Seal up all cracks, holes and openings in the exterior of your home 
  • Make sure doors and windows are closing properly
  • Stack firewood away from the home
  • Store food and pantry items in glass or metal containers with tight fitting lids
  • Make sure to dispose of food waste as soon as possible
  • Use natural repellents around the home like mint and bay leaves

If your attempts to fend them off are unsuccessful and you find yourself with a mouse infestation, do not use poisons to kill the mice, as they will not die right away. The mice will consume the poison, crawl back into the walls and then die there where the bodies will rot. And trust me, the smell will be horrendous. Your best bet would be to call an exterminator to help to get rid of the rodents.

Once the rodents are out of your home, then call SERVPRO Marion/Middleboro at 508-946-2397 and we can come in to clean and disinfect the areas where they were living. And you guessed it…we’ll make it like it never even happened!

Man vs. Mouse...Who should win?

11/4/2016 (Permalink)

I think we can all agree that the answer to that question is obvious. Unless of course you are a mouse listening to this right now. If that's the case, I apologize for what I'm about to say.

With the cooler days of fall upon us, it's time to get our yards and homes prepared for the winter months. While we are busy shoring up our homes, getting them ready for the snow, rodents are busy trying to find a nice warm spot to hole up in.

Due to their body shape mice are able to pass through openings smaller than you would think possible. Once inside your home, they will find their way into the walls, where they will make nests in the warm, fluffy pink insulation. Mice are very quick breeders, and what starts out as just a couple of mice can quickly become an infestation of epic proportions. 

Mice are known to be carriers of disease and pestilence, and it is best to prevent them from entering the home in the first place. Be sure to check out the upcoming blog from SERVPRO Marion/Middleboro entitled “Keep the Mouse out of My House” where we will provide a list of some basic things you can do to prevent mice from invading your home.

Biohazard Cleanup and Restoration

10/31/2016 (Permalink)

We provide cleanup and recovery services for many biohazard situations.

Exposure to biological and chemical contaminants can pose serious health consequences. A failure to properly remove such substances can contribute to unhealthy and dangerous environments. SERVPRO of Dartmouth / New Bedford and SERVPRO of Marion/Middleboro is trained to safely remove biohazards and dispose of them properly in accordance with OSHA and health regulations.

Equipped with the necessary safety apparatus and cleaning products, we can help transform these unhealthy environments back into clean, safe homes and offices.

Please refer to our Biohazard Emergency Tips - Until Help Arrives Guideand follow these tips to protect yourself and your property.

Need Biohazard Cleanup Services?
Contact Us Today !

The decontamination of a home or business due to trauma, sewage backups, chemical spills, hoarding or other biohazards can be both dangerous and emotional. Specialized training and experience is key when choosing a cleanup company to resolve these circumstances.

We provide cleanup and recovery services for many biohazard situations. These include the following:

  • Sewage backups
  • Crime scene residues
  • Suicide/death accidents
  • Homicide cleanups
  • Blood cleanup
  • Accident cleanup
  • Hoarding scenes
  • Animal waste/remains
  • Chemical spills
  • Tear gas cleanup
  • Meth lab cleanup