Biohazard & Crime Scene Cleanup: What to Know Before You Hire
Biohazard and crime scene cleanup — covering things like unattended deaths, trauma scenes, and sewage backups involving bodily fluids — is a distinct category from standard water, fire, or mold damage work. It involves health, safety, and sometimes legal requirements that go beyond typical restoration.
This is not a category we currently dispatch
SLYDE N RESTORE's contractor network currently focuses on water, fire/smoke, storm/debris, and mold damage. We do not currently route biohazard or crime scene cleanup requests. This page exists purely as an educational resource — if you need this kind of service, use the guidance below to evaluate providers directly.
What falls under biohazard cleanup
- Unattended death or trauma scene cleanup
- Blood or bodily fluid cleanup after an accident or crime
- Sewage backups involving contamination (often called Category 3 or "black water" situations)
- Hoarding situations with biological contamination
- Infectious disease decontamination
Why it requires specialized technicians
Biohazard cleanup involves exposure risk to bloodborne pathogens and other contaminants that general restoration crews aren't necessarily trained or equipped to handle safely. In the United States, companies performing this work are expected to follow OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030), which covers exposure control plans, PPE, and proper disposal of contaminated materials as regulated medical waste.
What to verify before hiring a provider
- Ask directly whether technicians are trained and certified for bloodborne pathogen handling, and ask to see documentation
- Confirm they carry active general liability insurance specific to biohazard remediation work
- Check your state's requirements — some states require specific licensing or registration for biohazard remediation companies
- Ask how contaminated materials are disposed of, and confirm they use a licensed medical waste disposal service
- Get a written scope of work and price before any work begins
A note on insurance and cost
Standard homeowners insurance policies vary widely in whether and how they cover biohazard cleanup — some include it under specific endorsements, others exclude it entirely. In cases involving a crime, some states offer victim compensation funds that can help cover cleanup costs; your local victim services office or the scene investigator can usually point you to the right resource. Always get cost and coverage details in writing before work starts.
Need water, fire, storm, or mold cleanup?
Those are the categories we actively dispatch — submit your request and we'll route it to a vetted local contractor.