Blood and other bodily fluids in Olympia are best handled by an independent cleanup company whose crew wears protective gear, removes soaked materials, disinfects what remains, and sends the waste through a regulated disposal channel. If police or the Thurston County Coroner’s Office1 are involved, they must release the space before cleanup starts. Biohazard Network does not do this work; we connect you with an independent local company that you hire directly.
If you are here after a fall, an injury at home, a medical emergency, or a death a doctor was attending, you have had a hard day. This page explains the work and what to ask, one step at a time.
Why a regular cleaning is not enough
A biohazard is any biological material, such as blood, that can carry disease. Blood can hold bloodborne pathogens, which are germs carried in blood that can make people sick, and safety rules group other bodily fluids that can do the same under OPIM, short for other potentially infectious materials.
Much of the risk is out of sight. Porous materials are surfaces with tiny openings that soak up liquid, such as carpet and pad, mattresses, upholstery, drywall and unsealed wood. Fluid can pass the top layer and settle underneath, so a spot can look clean while the material below is not. Cars work the same way with seats and floor mats, and so do shops and offices with fabric chairs and carpet tile.
At a business, bloodborne pathogens rules protect employees who might be exposed, so staff should not be asked to clean it up untrained.
What happens first
When a death or possible crime is involved, police or the coroner control the space until scene release, meaning the agency in charge says its work is done and cleaning can begin. A coroner is an elected official whose office investigates deaths. The Thurston County Coroner’s Office1, (360) 867-2140, investigates sudden, violent, unexpected and suspicious deaths in Thurston County. Its Deputy Coroners stay in frequent contact with families and help with next steps, so ask them when the space can be cleaned. For those situations, see unattended death cleanup in Olympia and crime and trauma scene cleanup in Olympia.
If no agency is involved, you can call a company when you feel ready. Until then:
- Close the door and keep children and pets away.
- Leave soaked items in place; do not wash, bag or discard them.
- Avoid touching anything with bare hands.
- Leave sharps, meaning used needles, syringes, blades or lancets, where they are. The Unwanted Medications drop-off sites listed by Thurston County Public Health & Social Services Department2 take no sharps or bloody or infectious waste.
How the cleanup process works, step by step
Assessment
The crew checks how far fluid reached, including under flooring and inside cushions, and sets a plan for what must be removed and what can be cleaned in place. Ask for the plan in writing.
Containment
Containment means sealing off the work area, for example with plastic sheeting, so contamination is not carried into the rest of the home, car or building. Workers wear protective equipment such as gloves, coveralls and eye protection.
Removal of porous materials
Porous materials that absorbed fluid are cut out and taken away rather than scrubbed. Ask the company to check with you before removing any belongings, so you can decide about items that matter to you. If drywall or flooring must be replaced afterward, see how biohazard cleanup fits with water, fire and mold restoration.
Cleaning and disinfection
Hard surfaces are cleaned, then disinfected. Disinfection means applying a product that kills germs on a surface that has already been cleaned. Any odor left after the source is gone is separate work, covered on odor remediation in Olympia.
Disposal of biomedical waste
Biomedical waste is a legal category of waste that Washington defines by type. Under RCW 70A.228.010, the types include human blood and blood products, meaning discarded blood and materials containing free-flowing blood, as well as sharps waste. So soaked carpet or a seat cover from your home or car should not go out with household garbage.
A company that collects, transports and disposes of biomedical waste must keep an operating plan that holds it apart from other solid waste until treatment or disposal, with only authorized persons handling it. Ask the company you hire who hauls its waste and where it goes. The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) says companies must obtain a certificate of public convenience and necessity before transporting solid waste for compensation. For related situations, see sewage and biohazard waste cleanup in Olympia.
Final check
Before the crew leaves, ask how it confirms the area is clean and whether you can walk through it together. Ask for photos, a list of what was removed and an itemized invoice. Homeowners insurance sometimes covers this work, and a car or business policy is worth checking too. If the coroner was involved, its investigation may help speed insurance claims.
Usually covered: Homeowner insurance protects your home and belongings from damage caused by specific risks, says the Insurance Commissioner’s page on how home insurance works3. Personal property coverage includes your furnishings and personal items, such as your TV, clothing and dishes, the same page says.
Usually not covered: Standard homeowner and renter policies exclude wear and tear: insurance covers sudden accidents, not ongoing issues, says the Insurance Commissioner’s smoke damage page, which lists what standard policies exclude4.
Ask your insurer: “Without filing a claim yet, can you tell me if my policy covers cleaning up blood or body fluids in my home, and what limits apply?” Source: Steps to take after home damage or a loss (Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner)5
Checking a company before you hire
Ask whether the company’s work follows OSHA’s bloodborne pathogens standard, 29 CFR 1910.1030, and the ANSI/IICRC S540 Standard for Trauma and Crime Scene Cleanup (IICRC, the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification, is a non-profit organization for the inspection, cleaning and restoration industries), then look the company up yourself in the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) tool called Verify a Contractor, Tradesperson or Business. Our guide, Biohazard Cleanup Certifications Explained, shows what each of these checks can tell you.
Blood cleanup in Olympia and Thurston County
Olympia is an incorporated city, a noncharter code city, within Thurston County. If someone was treated at St. Peter Hospital, the Providence hospital in Olympia, the home or car where the injury happened may still need cleanup when they return. A store or office on the Westside, the city’s regional shopping area, can ask a company about working around business hours.
Thurston County Public Health & Social Services Department2, 360-867-2500, is the county health department. Its programs on these topics include the Syringe Services Program, for sharps, and the Solid and Hazardous Waste Program.
The Thurston County Coroner’s Office1 Resources page lists companies under the heading Bio-Hazard Clean-Up Services. Ask any company you find there, or through this site, the same questions.
Traffic that diverts around I-5 can back up downtown Yelm and slow emergency response, so ask any company for a realistic arrival time. More local guidance is on biohazard and trauma cleanup in Olympia and biohazard and trauma cleanup in Thurston County.
Who to call first
In an emergency, call 911.These official offices may be part of the first steps. They are government pages, not ours.
- Thurston County Coroner (opens in a new tab)After a sudden or unexpected death, cleanup waits until this office is done.
- Thurston County Public Health and Social Services (opens in a new tab)For local health questions, such as a home that was used as a drug lab.
- Washington Crime Victims Compensation Program (L&I) (opens in a new tab)If a crime happened, it may help with some costs, such as funeral expenses. It doesn't pay for cleanup.
- Verify a contractor (L&I lookup) (opens in a new tab)Look up whether a company is a registered contractor before work starts.
- Washington State Department of Health (opens in a new tab)State health rules, such as for drug lab cleanup and hantavirus.