Insurance Assignments and Victim's Compensation Assistance

Sіnсе forensic decontamination technicians аrе еxреrts having knowledge in every stage of the remediation process, they also have knowledge that can help a family or business move on to the next stage of their life or operation. Thеrе are соmраnіеѕ thаt оffеr аddіtіоnаl ѕеrvісеѕ like dеаlіng wіth fаmіlіеѕ' іnѕurаnсе claims whісh is a bіg hеlр fоr grieving relatives аѕ they nо longer have tо dеаl with it during these unwanted ѕіtuаtіоnѕ. The customer can also get help through the victim’s compensation fund process оn tіmеѕ thаt саn brіng trauma that was the cause of a crime, which саn dеfіnіtеlу bе a relief tо thе реорlе who dealing with such a difficult time.

Getting assistance frоm a company іn crime ѕсеnе, suicide, and trauma сlеаn-uр саn hеlр the fаmіlу of business оf thе dесеаѕеd to соре wіth еmоtіоnаl trаumа brоught bу a violent ѕіtuаtіоn. Thеу аrе еxреrts at сlеаnіng but with a highly trained focus, complying wіth thе standards, regualtions, and laws thаt соvеr сlеаnіng аnd disposing bio-waste frоm a crime or trauma scene.  Even things like communication with others can be difficult for these victims, which is why it is smart to allow the company to do all the communication on your behalf with insurance companies; it is hard to think that such a huge burdain is placed on victims after something that was completely out of their control happens. Sometimes the customer can’t afford to cover the cost when insurance companies refuse to pay for it; this leaves the forensic cleaners in tough position when collecting payment for their services, sometimes leaving them to make tough decisions to develop payment plans, potentially putting a lien on the property, offering big discounts , or even in rare cases write all the costs to the customer off when they are deservedly in much need of such a huge financial break. 

OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogens Standard

As provided by OSHA's Fact Sheets, here is an explanation of some of the standards and regulations set forth by the Department of Labor. Not just crime and trauma scene cleaning companies, but all biohazard remediation companies and any other company or organization that may be exposed to bloodborne pathogens in the workplace are required by law to follow these rules. Being found in violation of any of these regulations can result in severe legal ramifications and fines in the tens-of-thousands of dollars:

"Bloodborne pathogens are infectious microorganisms present in blood that can cause disease in humans. These pathogens include, but are not limited to, hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the virus that causes AIDS. Workers exposed to bloodborne pathogens are at risk for serious or life-threatening illnesses.

Protections Provided by OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogens Standard

All of the requirements of OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogens standard can be found in Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations at 29 CFR 1910.1030. The standard’s requirements state what employers must do to protect workers who are occupationally exposed to blood or other potentially infectious materials (OPIM), as defined in the standard. That is, the standard protects workers who can reasonably be anticipated to come into contact with blood or OPIM as a result of doing their job duties.

In general, the standard requires employers to:

• Establish an exposure control plan. This is a written plan to eliminate or minimize occupational exposures. The employer must prepare an exposure determination that contains a list of job classifications in which all workers have occupational exposure and a list of job classifications in which some workers have occupational exposure, along with a list of the tasks and procedures performed by those workers that result in their exposure. 

• Employers must update the plan annually to reflect changes in tasks, procedures, and positions that affect occupational exposure, and also technological changes that eliminate or reduce occupational exposure. In addition, employers must annually document in the plan that they have considered and begun using appropriate, commercially-available effective safer medical devices designed to eliminate or minimize occupational exposure. Employers must also document that they have solicited input from frontline workers in identifying, evaluating, and selecting effective engineering and work practice controls.   

• Implement the use of universal precautions (treating all human blood and OPIM as if known to be infectious for bloodborne pathogens).

• Identify and use engineering controls. These are devices that isolate or remove the bloodborne pathogens hazard from the workplace. They include sharps disposal containers, selfsheathing needles, and safer medical devices, such as sharps with engineered sharps-injury protection and needleless systems

• Identify and ensure the use of work practice controls. These are practices that reduce the possibility of exposure by changing the way a task is performed, such as appropriate practices for handling and disposing of contaminated sharps, handling specimens, handling laundry, and cleaning contaminated surfaces and items.

• Provide personal protective equipment (PPE), such as gloves, gowns, eye protection, and masks. Employers must clean, repair, and replace this equipment as needed. Provision, maintenance, repair and replacement are at no cost to the worker

• Make available hepatitis B vaccinations to all workers with occupational exposure. This vaccination must be offered after the worker has received the required bloodborne pathogens training and within 10 days of initial assignment to a job with occupational exposure.

• Make available post-exposure evaluation and follow-up to any occupationally exposed worker who experiences an exposure incident. An exposure incident is a specific eye, mouth, other mucous membrane, non-intact skin, or parenteral contact with blood or OPIM. This evaluation and follow-up must be at no cost to the worker and includes documenting the route(s) of exposure and the circumstances under which the exposure incident occurred; identifying and testing the source individual for HBV and HIV infectivity, if the source individual consents or the law does not require consent; collecting and testing the exposed worker’s blood, if the worker consents; offering postexposure prophylaxis; offering counseling; and evaluating reported illnesses. The healthcare professional will provide a limited written opinion to the employer and all diagnoses must remain confidential.

• Use labels and signs to communicate hazards. Warning labels must be affixed to containers of regulated waste; containers of contaminated reusable sharps; refrigerators and freezers containing blood or OPIM; other containers used to store, transport, or ship blood or OPIM; contaminated equipment that is being shipped or serviced; and bags or containers of contaminated laundry, except as provided in the standard. Facilities may use red bags or red containers instead of labels. In HIV and HBV research laboratories and production facilities, signs must be posted at all access doors when OPIM or infected animals are present in the work area or containment module.

• Provide information and training to workers. Employers must ensure that their workers receive regular training that covers all elements of the standard including, but not limited to: information on bloodborne pathogens and diseases, methods used to control occupational exposure, hepatitis B vaccine, and medical evaluation and post-exposure follow-up procedures. Employers must offer this training on initial assignment, at least annually thereafter, and when new or modified tasks or procedures affect a worker’s occupational exposure. Also, HIV and HBV laboratory and production facility workers must receive specialized initial training, in addition to the training provided to all workers with occupational exposure. Workers must have the opportunity to ask the trainer questions. Also, training must be presented at an educational level and in a language that workers understand.

• Maintain worker medical and training records. The employer also must maintain a sharps injury log, unless it is exempt under Part 1904 -- Recording and Reporting Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, in Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

Additional Information 

For more information, go to OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogens and Needlestick Prevention Safety and Health Topics web page at: https://www.osha.gov/ SLTC/bloodbornepathogens/index.html. To file a complaint by phone, report an emergency, or get OSHA advice, assistance, or products, contact your nearest OSHA office under the “U.S. Department of Labor” listing in your phone book, or call us toll-free at (800) 321-OSHA (6742)."

What are bloodborne pathogens?

Here is a brief explanation made by OSHA some of the strict regulations and standards required by every biohazard remediation company:

"Bloodborne pathogens are infectious microorganisms in human blood that can cause disease in humans. These pathogens include, but are not limited to, hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Needlesticks and other sharps-related injuries may expose workers to bloodborne pathogens. Workers in many occupations, including first responders, housekeeping personnel in some industries, nurses and other healthcare personnel, all may be at risk for exposure to bloodborne pathogens.

What can be done to control exposure to bloodborne pathogens?

In order to reduce or eliminate the hazards of occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens, an employer must implement an exposure control plan for the worksite with details on employee protection measures. The plan must also describe how an employer will use engineering and work practice controls, personal protective clothing and equipment, employee training, medical surveillance, hepatitis B vaccinations, and other provisions as required by OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard. Engineering controls are the primary means of eliminating or minimizing employee exposure and include the use of safer medical devices, such as needleless devices, shielded needle devices, and plastic capillary tubes."

Be sure to look for the full OSHA bloodborne pathogen regulations post to read all the details word for word that every crime scene cleanup company or biohazard remediation company is required to follow.