Accidents that bring people to us
An injury doesn't have to be fatal or criminal to leave a serious mess. A slip in the kitchen with a broken glass, a power-tool accident in a garage, a dog bite on the back steps, a gym member who hit their head on a weight rack, a forklift accident in a warehouse: any of these can leave more blood than most people expect, in places that aren't easy to clean.
At home
Household injuries most often happen in kitchens, bathrooms, on stairs and in garages or workshops. Blood can land on porous surfaces like wood stairs, unsealed concrete or fabric, and the injured person often moves through several rooms looking for help. We clean the whole route, not only the spot where the injury happened, and we keep an eye out for broken glass or other sharp debris along the way.
Landlords call about injuries in rental units and apartment common areas such as stairwells and laundry rooms. Children's injuries are a common reason for calls too. A playroom, nursery or backyard play area may need cleaning before kids can use it again, and we take extra care with toys and surfaces that end up in small hands and mouths, using products whose labels allow those surfaces.
At work
Employers whose staff may be exposed to blood are covered by OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, which requires a written exposure control plan, training and decontamination of contaminated work surfaces with an appropriate disinfectant. Tennessee enforces those rules through TOSHA. Many businesses don't want untrained employees cleaning up after a serious injury, and bringing in an outside crew can be part of how an employer handles the incident.
In a retail store, warehouse, shop or plant, blood can end up on machinery, guards, controls and tools as well as the floor. We clean and disinfect those surfaces where it's safe to do so. Equipment should be locked out by your team before we work near it, and any mechanical or electrical repair goes to your maintenance staff or a qualified technician.
In vehicles and outdoors
When someone is driven to the hospital after an injury, blood often ends up on seats, seat belts, door panels and floor mats. Saturated seat foam or carpet may have to be removed, and replacement goes to an auto upholstery shop. Outdoors, blood on concrete, pavers, decks and playground surfaces is cleaned and disinfected where the surface allows it.
Our approach, wherever it happened
- Make it safe We confirm the injured person has been cared for, equipment is shut down if needed, and the area is clear of hazards like broken glass.
- Remove visible blood Blood and debris are lifted with absorbent material and bagged.
- Follow the trail We trace drips and transfer across floors, door handles, steering wheels, rails and tools.
- Clean, then disinfect Each surface is cleaned and then treated with an EPA-registered disinfectant according to its label.
- Remove and dispose Items too saturated to clean are removed with your agreement and disposed of appropriately.
Before we get there
- Keep coworkers, family members and pets away from the area
- Pick up broken glass only with tools, never bare hands
- If you must touch blood, wear disposable gloves and wash your hands with soap and water afterward
- Leave equipment powered down and locked out until we arrive
- If the injury is a reportable workplace incident, follow your employer's reporting process before cleanup begins
Related pages
For larger incidents at a plant or job site, see industrial accident cleanup. For blood in a car, truck or fleet vehicle, our vehicle biohazard cleanup page goes into more detail.