Q) What makes your company different from other Crime/Trauma/Drug Lab Decontamination companies?

A) Since professionalism is very important to us we pride ourselves on complying with all different laws, guidelines, rules and regulations that have been set forth by Federal, Provincial and Municipal departments.

Q) What laws and guidelines in particular are you referring to?

A) Those issued by the Ministry of Labour, (Health & Safety), Ministry of The Environment, (The Management of Biomedical Waste), as well as Public Health Agency of Canada, (Disinfection/The Inactivation of the Hepatitis B & C Viruses).

Q) Could you give some examples?

A) Sure. Let’s use the province of Ontario for example.

1. In the province of Ontario The Workplace Safety Insurance Board governs the educational curriculum that applies to this particular industry, where the Ministry of Labour enforces it (i.e. The Ontario Health & Safety Act, Regulation 833, Section 1, ("Due Diligence").
2. The Ontario Ministry of Environment (i.e. Guideline C – 4 "The Management of Biomedical Waste in Ontario ")
3. Public Health Agency of Canada (i.e. Canadian Communicable Disease Report, Volume 27S3, "Viral Emerging Bloodborne Pathogens" "Germicide Inactivation of Hepatitis B & C Viruses ".

Q) But can’t just anyone in the workplace clean up a blood or bodily fluid spill?

A) Absolutely not.

Q) Can you explain why?

A) Sure. In Ontario, the cleanup of human blood must be performed according to the standards of the Ontario Occupational Health & Safety Act, Section 25 (H), Section 26 (K), (L), as well as Regulation 833 Section 3 (1). Only designated and trained individuals should clean up blood and body fluids.  Contact your supervisor for the designated individual.

Q) Can my employer force me to clean up a blood spill?

A) NO EMPLOYEE CAN BE FORCED TO CLEAN UP A BLOOD SPILL. An employee has the right to refuse to work if the physical condition of the workplace or workstation is likely to endanger the worker. If an employee is asked to clean up a blood spill, management has an obligation to prove that they have performed "Due Diligence" (that they have taken every precaution reasonably necessary in the circumstances for the protection of the worker) i.e. ensuring that the workers are trained and are competent to deal with Bloodborne Pathogens, in order to prevent occupational exposure to blood, and to other infectious materials in the workplace which could result in the transmission of Bloodborne Pathogens causing disease or death. Employees must use their own discretion regarding the amount of blood that they are willing to clean.  No employee should ever clean severe blood spills.

Q) Are bodily fluids considered "hazardous"?

A) Yes. According to the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information Systems (WHMIS) Classification D, Division 3 "Biohazardous Infectious Materials ", viruses live in bodily fluids (Blood, Urine) and they are therefore considered to be toxic.

Q) Are bodily fluids that are exposed to the air still infected?

A) YES. The virus Hepatitis B is stable in dried blood for a maximum of 7 days at 25 degrees Celsius. Hand contact with blood-contaminated surfaces can transfer the virus through skin or mucous membranes.