Biohazard cleanup in Tumwater, WA is done by independent private companies that you hire directly, once police or the Thurston County Coroner’s Office1 has released the property. Biohazard Network does not clean anything or do any of the work; we can connect you with an independent local company, and you make the agreement with that company yourself.
A biohazard is any material, such as blood or other body fluids, that can carry germs able to make people sick. That is why this work is done by a company whose crew wears protective equipment, not by family members.
What happens first in Tumwater
The Thurston County Coroner’s Office
A coroner is a public official who looks into certain deaths to learn how and why they happened. In Thurston County the coroner is elected. The Thurston County Coroner’s Office1 investigates sudden, violent, unexpected and suspicious deaths in the county. Under RCW 68.50.010, the bodies the law lists, including a body found dead, fall under the jurisdiction of the county coroner or medical examiner, and may be taken to the morgue.
Scene release means the police or the coroner have finished their work at the property and say others may go in. Until then, nothing should be cleaned or moved. Deputy Coroners are in frequent contact with families, and they help with answers about the death and next steps toward final arrangements. If you have questions, you can reach the Thurston County Coroner’s Office1 at (360) 867-2140.
The coroner’s investigation may help speed insurance claims, Social Security benefits and estate settlements. The Coroner’s Resources page2 lists bio-hazard clean-up companies under the heading “Bio-Hazard Clean-Up Services.” Treat any list as a place to start, and still ask each company your own questions.
Paying for the work
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: Exclusions in home contracts may include certain events, such as flood or earthquake, says the Insurance Commissioner’s insurance glossary4. Standard homeowner policies also do not cover sewer or drain backups, says the Commissioner’s page on being underinsured.
Ask your insurer: “Without filing a claim yet, can you tell me if my policy covers biohazard cleanup in my home, and what limits apply?” Source: Filing a homeowner insurance claim (Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner)
Homeowners insurance sometimes covers this kind of cleanup, so call your insurer before work begins. Ask the company you hire to explain its pricing and billing in writing. The Crime Victims Compensation Program of the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) does not pay for crime scene cleanup. If the death came from a criminal act, the program may still help with grief counseling or funeral expenses, after any primary insurance pays.
Tumwater is a city: who you deal with
Tumwater is an incorporated city. It was incorporated as a town in 1869, and today it calls itself the City of Tumwater. Inside city limits, the Community Development Department provides permitting services, plan review, inspections and code enforcement. If cleanup turns into repairs that may need a permit, or a code concern comes up about a property, that is the department to ask.
The city includes places such as Brewery Park at Tumwater Falls on the final leg of the Deschutes River, Tumwater Historical Park on Deschutes Way SW, Pioneer Park on Henderson Blvd SE and the Tumwater Valley Municipal Golf Course.
The Thurston County Public Health & Social Services Department5 is the health department for the area, at 360-867-2500. Its Solid Waste (Garbage) - Compliance program takes complaints in unincorporated Thurston County and the urban growth areas. For a concern inside a city such as Tumwater, its staff contact the city or refer the concern there.
Getting a company to a Tumwater property
Tumwater is part of the more urban north county, along with Lacey and Olympia. Local planning efforts address congestion on I-5 between Mounts Road and Tumwater. In snow, ice or windstorms, the county clears arterials such as Old Highway 99 and Littlerock Road first, and reaches residential routes last. When you call a company, ask when it can reach you, and mention any driveway or access problems.
The Thurston County page covers the rest of the county.
Cleanup services in Tumwater
Unattended death cleanup
This is for a home where someone died and was not found right away. The crew cleans and disinfects the affected areas and removes porous materials, which are soft materials like carpet and mattresses that soak up fluids and may not be saveable. See unattended death cleanup in Tumwater.
Crime and trauma scene cleanup
This covers a home, car or business after a violent crime, a serious injury, or a death by suicide, once the scene is released. Learn more about crime and trauma scene cleanup in Tumwater.
Hoarding cleanup
This helps when a person who hoards has gathered more belongings than the home can safely hold. A good company works at the pace of the person living in the home. Ask how it will sort what the person keeps from what the person decides to let go. See hoarding cleanup in Tumwater.
Blood and bodily fluid cleanup
This is for smaller incidents, such as an injury or medical emergency, in a home, vehicle or workplace. Bloodborne pathogens are germs carried in blood that can cause disease, so even a small area needs proper care. Sharps are used needles, syringes and lancets. The health department5’s Unwanted Medications drop-off sites do not take sharps or bloody or infectious waste, and it also runs a Syringe Services Program. Read about blood and bodily fluid cleanup in Tumwater.
Odor removal
Odor removal means removing the source of a problem, not covering it up. This service treats odors that remain after an event, once the source has been cleaned. See odor removal in Tumwater.
Sewage and biohazard waste cleanup
This covers sewage backups and other waste that can carry germs. The health department5’s Wastewater - Water Quality Resources page2 lists Tumwater among the area’s sewer providers, and its Septic Systems program covers homes on septic. See sewage and biohazard waste cleanup in Tumwater. If water, fire or mold damage is also involved, read how biohazard cleanup fits with restoration.
Questions to ask before you hire
Ask any Tumwater company you call how its work follows OSHA’s bloodborne pathogens standard, 29 CFR 1910.1030, and the ANSI/IICRC S540 Standard for Trauma and Crime Scene Cleanup (IICRC is the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification, a non-profit group for the cleaning and restoration industries). Then look up the business yourself in L&I’s Verify a Contractor, Tradesperson or Business tool, and read what these checks mean.