Extreme Cleaning: Human waste, Food Waste and Sharps disposal... its all in a days work!

1. Extreme cleaning project in Bristol
At A Glance
Location: Bristol Problem: Human Waste, Food Waste, Sharps
Structure: Dilapidated building on a railway
station
Solution: Sharps Protocols, Decontamination
Overview
Old buildings are very often found with all sorts of waste and rubbish piled in them – as well as a few
nasty surprises as well.
One of our clients needed to refurbish a dilapidated building on a railway station site that had fallen into
disrepair, so called in Rapid Environmental Services to provide the clearance and cleaning service before
his building teams could move in.
The Problem
The building had not been used for a number of years, and had become a dumping ground for all
rubbish, including old furniture, plastic bags and waste paper to name but a few objects.
Furthermore, on closer inspection the building had also become a temporary home for vagrants, which
bring a whole new level of problem including human waste, food waste and the ever present threat of
sharps, needles and other drug paraphernalia often associated with this type of premises.
The clearance was time critical as building contractors were pushing to get the site cleared and start
their project.
The Challenge
The challenges faced were:
 Assessing the extent of the problem, especially the dangers posed by sharps etc.
 Providing sufficient manpower to clear the waste – again ensuring the safe disposal of waste from
the building
 Cleaning up and decontamination of pathogens found in human waste, plus safe disposal of such
waste produced
 Final clean and handover to the building contractors on time

2. The Solution
The building was a particularly bad example of a rundown building and squat, with large areas of human
waste deposited in multiple parts of the building. Needles and hypodermic syringes were also found
inside the building, so extreme caution and our sharps protocols were required as part of this clean up.
Once all sharps were cleared, the main work could begin. Highly contaminated areas were cleaned first
allowing the rest of the building to be cleared as soon as it was safe to proceed. Good progress was
made and soon the bulk waste was cleared, allowing a final spray and clean to ensure decontamination.
Only when we are totally satisfied the building is safe and clean can we allow other workers inside the
building.
Rapid Environmental Services face similar problems on a daily basis, so using our skilled staff we can
eliminate the risks, clean and decontaminate the area effectively. Our experience in working with other
trades and site contractors allowed us to provide a solution that meet the time frames imposed and to
an agreed budget.
The Result
The client was delighted with the final results of the clean-up, and was very happy to allow his building
contractors to enter and get on with their work.
We met all time constraints imposed and cleared site 1 day before the deadline, saving the end user
money and allowing his project some additional contingency in case other trades slipped behind.
Web: www.rapid-esl.co.uk
Tel: 01635 247192