Whew!

I just finished getting back from doing an on-site estimate and yeow-zers!  I've seen a lot of foreclosed properties out there but this one was just downright scary! 

Nope, it wasn't the dirt road leading into the no-man's land 'neighborhood' (and I use the term very loosely as property lines were certainly not clearly marked), nor was it the multitude of scattered mobile homes guarded by ferocious-looking pit bulls.  It wasn't the 4' pile of trash full of dirty diapers, animal feces and rotting food, nor the huge hole burnt right through the floor that I had to step around once I got inside.  Nope - none of these things scare me (anymore) as I see them all the time.

What really scared me was... The closed door with the missing door handle. 

Now normally, this wouldn't have been such a shock, except that when I took a closer look, I saw a human eye looking at me intently through the hole!

And this human eye was attached to a real person looking back at me with a mixture of panic and fear.  I'm sure my facial expression mirrored his as I was pretty darn startled.

Going through this experience today made me realize how important it is to talk about the safety issues that come along with running a foreclosure cleanup/property preservation company.  Here are the three main safety concerns we routinely face:

1.  Health hazards
2.  Unsafe premises
3.  Facing trespassers

As this is a lengthy discussion, I'm going to start a three-part series on this blog to discuss each of these in more detail and how you can protect your staff from these safety concerns .


PART I:  Protecting Yourself From Health Hazards

Some of the major health hazards you'll be subject to while doign these cleans include feces, rotting organic matter and mold, and bloodborne pathogens. 

Let's talk about each of these in detail:

Feces

Now I'm sorry to be so blunt, but no one likes to have to pick up poop.  Unfortunately, feces (both animal and human) is routinely found in vacant homes and it's part of the job to clean it up.  Sometimes people spread it around on purpose to "get back at the bank" and other times you will find it as a byproduct of poor living conditions (i.e. using toilets without water, throwing dirty diapers in the corner).  It's also common to see animal feces inside (mostly from cats and dogs, although I've also see coyote feces) from animals that have entered the property seeking shelter or from pets who were left behind.  Mold is another big concern, and is often found in abandoned properties.


Organic Matter and Mold

In addition to feces, organic matter also includes the rotting food you'll find in the fridge or strewn about the house, dead animals, mold, etc - pretty much anything that was once alive or fresh.  The problem with cleaning up this harmful organic matter doesn't just stop at the way it assails your olfactory senses.  There's huge potential for getting infections from putting your skin in contact with this type of material.  It's essential that you wear thick gloves to prevent skin contact (not just the plastic medical gloves - they won't do much to physically protect your hands from sharp objects.  See the YouTube video below for special gloves you can order or get yourself a pair of heavy gloves from Lowe's or Home Depot (but these won't necessarily protect you from needlestick, discussed below.)  Depending on the severity of the situation, you should also wear a face mask to help minimize inhaling harmful substances.  This is especially important if you're around mold.

On the topic of mold, it's important to seek a professional opinion from someone certified in mold remediation before attempting to remove it yourself.  There are numerous health concerns as well as major potential liability issues if it's not done right.  Contact your local fire/water restoration or mold remediation company for assistance.  If you're interested in becoming certified, contact www.MoldCareer.com for information on becoming certified in Mold Inspection / Mold Remediation.

One last topic that


Bloodborne Pathogens

A second health concern is bloodborne pathogens you may find at the property which include human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and others which can be found in human blood and other potentially infectious materials (OPIM).   According to the OSHA website, OSHA (the Occupational Health and Safety Act) defines blood to mean human blood, human blood components, and products made from human blood. Other potentially infectious materials (OPIM) means:

1. The following human body fluids: semen, vaginal secretions, cerebrospinal fluid, synovial fluid, pleural fluid, pericardial fluid, peritoneal fluid, amniotic fluid, saliva in dental procedures, any body fluid that is visibly contaminated with blood, and all body fluids in situations where it is difficult or impossible to differentiate between body fluids;
2. Any unfixed tissue or organ (other than intact skin) from a human (living or dead); and
3. HIV-containing cell or tissue cultures, organ cultures, and HIV- or HBV-containing culture medium or other solutions; and blood, organs, or other tissues from experimental animals infected with HIV or HBV.

The most common cause for concern is the potential for needlestick injuries.  We've been to many properties where the previous owners were drug users and left used needles laying around.  The cleanup of these needles is very dangerous as it poses a huge needlestick concern (i.e. getting pricked with the needle).  All of our staff undergo bloodborne pathogens safety training and needleprick safety training prior to being allowed to work in the field.

Per OSHA law, you must provide youremployees with an offer of FREE three-injection Hepatitis B vaccination series to all employees who are exposed to blood or other potentially infectious materials as part of their job duties.   The vaccination must be offered within 10 days of initial assignment to a job where exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials can be "reasonably anticipated."  According to OSHA, workers who decide to decline vaccination must complete a declination form. Employers must keep these forms on file so that they know the vaccination status of everyone who is exposed to blood. At any time after a worker initially declines to receive the vaccine, he or she may opt to take it.

Cleaning Up and Disposing of Needles

We prefer to use tongs to pick up needles while wearing heavy protective gloves.  One person is assigned to this job and is responsible for safe disposal, but all staff must wear protective gloves and constantly be aware of potential needlestick dangers.  In terms of disposal, you cannot just throw the needles in the trash.   They have to be put in a leak-proof and puncture-resistant container with a permanently locking, snap-top lid  for safe disposal (a 'medical sharps' container).   You can purchase these containers at a local pharmacy or online.

You also cannot then throw this container in the trash - you have to dispose of them safely.   Some medical device suppliers have mail back service where you can actually mail the containers back to them for safe disposal.  Try calling the AIDS Action Committee Pharmacy Access Hotline to find out more about personal sharps containers at 1-800-988-5209.  You can also go to www.SafeNeedleDisposal.org to search dropoff locations.  You may also be able to get some answers from your local pharmacy by explaining your need for safe disposal of needles.

Here's a pretty neat YouTube video from Hex Armor Gloves (www.HexArmor.com) showcasing the strength of their gloves.  You may consider getting a pair of these for anyone exposed to needles.


                                                                    

If you suspect that drugs were used in a property, it's essential that you contac the Realtor or Asset Manager immediately before cleaning anything up.  (You can go ahead and take pictures, though).  I like to have my Site Supervisor call me first to describe the situation, and send me pictures via his/her phone.  I'll then place an immediate call to the property contact person and send a written request of how to proceed with a photo attached.

The reason you shouldn't go ahead and clean up without authorization is twofold: 1) the Realtor/Asset Manager may have a specific  protocol that needs to be followed and 2) you could actually be standing in the middle of a crime scene (which, for anyone who watches CSI, knows that this is not a good situation for you to be in).  Wait for instructions before proceeding.

Speaking of crime scenes, if you suspect that a crime may have taken place on the property, immediately remove yourself from the premises and call your point of contact.  I hate to scare you, but sometimes these properties are in dangerous neighborhoods and harbor dark secrets.  Fortunately, we have never seen anything more serious than an empty property used for drugs, prostitution and drop houses (all serious crimes in their own right) but you have to keep your guard up.  And if you you ever feel like you're in immediate danger, call 911 right away.  Don't feel foolish for doing so - trust your instincts and take the necessary action to protect yourself and your staff.

Well, enough scaring you off for today!

Every business has it's own inherent risks, and the foreclosure cleanup/property preservation industry is no different.  Everyone is always interested in learning about the profit potential from running this kind of business, but I thought it would be equally important to discuss the steps you need to take to protect yourself and your staff. 

Over the next few days I'll be posting Part 2 (unsafe premises) and Part 3 (facing trespassers).  I'll even tell you the rest of the story with what happened after I discovered the man looking back at me through the empty door handle...

Stay tuned, and stay safe!

Les Tyler
CEO/President
www.ForeclosureCleanupCash.com