Handle with care: How to handle hazardous waste and biohazards as a landlord
ServiceMaster Restore’s tips on properly and safely handling hazardous waste and biohazards for landlords.
As a landlord, maintaining a safe and clean rental property is crucial for the health and well-being of your tenants.
Occasionally, you may have to deal with hazardous waste within a property, perhaps left by previous occupants or from natural disasters like flooding.
Proper handling of these materials is essential to safeguard all involved.
This guide from the experts at ServiceMaster Restore Devon will walk you through what hazardous waste and biohazards are and the steps to address them safely.
What are hazardous waste and biohazards?
- Hazardous waste: These are materials that pose a risk to health or the environment if not handled properly. Examples include cleaning chemicals, paint, and batteries.
- Biohazards: These involve biological substances that could harm humans, such as bodily fluids, human and animal excrement, rotten food, or even discarded sharps (needles).
All hazardous and biohazard wastes pose a danger to health, so they should be handled cautiously and dealt with promptly.
Steps for handling hazardous waste and biohazards
- Risk assessment: Conduct a detailed inspection to assess the extent of the problem.
- Avoid direct contact: Always wear the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) when inspecting or moving hazardous materials.
- Identify and segregate: Separate the waste to ensure each type is treated and disposed of according to its specific requirements. For example, sharps must be disposed of in specially designed puncture-proof and leak-proof containers.
- Bring in professionals: Employ a professional and licensed waste disposal and clean-up company. They have the training, experience, and equipment to remedy the issue effectively and safely.
- Follow disposal guidelines: Follow the guidelines provided by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) for biohazard waste disposal.
- Document: Keep records of incidents, inspections, and cleanup efforts. This documentation is often required for regulatory compliance and can also be helpful during audits or inspections.
The role of professional cleaning services
Professional cleaning companies are equipped to handle hazardous waste and biohazards safely and efficiently.
They use industrial-grade disinfectants, advanced equipment, and strict protocols to ensure thorough cleaning and compliance with health regulations.
At ServiceMaster Restore, we provide hazardous and biohazard waste services to housing associations, private landlords and environmental health departments.
In Devon, the team also are fully trained in all aspects of hazardous and biohazardous waste removal, including the safe collection and disposal of used needles, sharps and items requiring special disposal.
Following the waste clearance, we carry out a deep clean and decontamination.
We can also provide fogging, where very fine droplets of disinfectant are sprayed throughout a room to disinfect it thoroughly, or Ozone treatment, which removes unwanted odour and kills mould, vermin and microorganisms.
Need hazardous waste and biohazard removal services?
If you’re in the Devon and Torbay area and your property has suffered damage from hazardous waste, contact your local experts at ServiceMaster Clean Devon to help with the clean-up.
Call 01803 200 278 or email office@smcdevon.co.uk or nationwide, find your nearest ServiceMaster Restore experts to see how we can help.
