Athens-Clarke County and nearby towns
Biohazard and crime scene cleanup in Athens, Georgia
After a death, an injury or a crime in a home, a rental or a business, the cleanup should not fall to you. One call puts you in touch with an independent biohazard cleanup company that works in Athens.
Phone answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
- Homes, apartments, businesses and vehicles
- An independent company does the work
- You decide whether to hire them
Situations
What happened?
Pick the closest match. Each page explains what the work involves and what to ask.
- Crime scene cleanupAfter a homicide, an assault or a break-in, once the police have released the scene.Read more
- Unattended death cleanupWhen someone died at home and was not found for some time.Read more
- Suicide cleanupQuiet, careful cleanup so the family does not have to face the room.Read more
- Blood and bodily fluid cleanupInjuries, accidents and medical events at home or at work.Read more
- Hoarding cleanupA packed home with animal or human waste, spoiled food or other biohazards.Read more
- Infection and disinfectionCleaning and disinfecting a space after illness, using registered products.Read more
- Vehicle cleanupBlood or bodily fluids in a car, truck or van.Read more
What a cleanup company does, and what it doesn’t
A trained company removes and safely disposes of anything blood or bodily fluids have reached: carpet, pad, drywall, mattresses, furniture. It cleans and disinfects what can stay, and checks that nothing has soaked into the floor below. This is bio hazard work, not housekeeping.
It does not decide anything about the investigation, and it does not touch a scene before the police release it. Personal items such as photos, papers and jewelry can be set aside for the family if you ask.
Athens contacts
Numbers you may need first
Athens-Clarke County Coroner
150 Buddy Christian Way, Athens. Office 706-613-3999, weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The office itself runs around the clock.
Remains are released only to a licensed funeral director, so choosing a funeral home is the family's first real decision. Coroner’s office page.
Athens-Clarke County Police
Non-emergency 706-613-3345. Use it to ask whether the scene has been released, or for a report number.
For anything urgent, dial 911.
Georgia Crime Victims Compensation
Run by the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council. It lists crime scene sanitization among the costs it can repay, with an itemized bill from a company trained in crime scene and biohazard cleanup. What the program covers.
Georgia asks cleanup companies to register
Under Georgia law, a company that cleans trauma scenes must register with the Georgia Secretary of State, and the state rules require liability insurance and a bond. Cities and counties cannot add their own license for this work (O.C.G.A. 43-46A-2).
When the company calls you back, ask for its registration and proof of insurance. What else to ask before you hire.
Who pays
Homeowner and renter policies sometimes cover this kind of cleanup, depending on what happened and how the policy is worded. Call your insurer before the work starts and ask.
After a crime, Georgia’s victim compensation program may repay cleanup costs. The crime has to be reported to police within 72 hours, and a claim is filed within three years. Who pays, in more detail.
Nearby
Near Athens
Bogart, Watkinsville, Winterville and Winder each have their own coroner or police contacts. All service areas.
WatkinsvilleOconee County. The county coroner's office is on North Main Street.
BogartA Bogart address can be in Oconee County or Athens-Clarke. That decides the coroner.
WintervilleInside Athens-Clarke County, with its own small police department.
WinderBarrow County. Winder police are dispatched through Barrow County E-911.When you are ready
One call, no pressure
You can call before you have decided anything. Ask what the work involves, how long it may take and what the company needs from you.
Talk it through first
Say what happened and where, and whether the police or the coroner have finished. The company will explain what it would do and what affects the cost. Nothing is agreed until you say yes.
Call (706) 555-0104Phone answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Calls may be recorded. Read the referral disclosure and the privacy policy.