Posted By Tracey C
Hi Guys
Thankful its Friday!

We have an incident that happened last week in one of our residences that involves a lot of blood and a carpet. The carpet has been cleaned by a professional company but as it is a light coloured carpet there is still some staining. I need some amunition to give to the manager of that site so he can get a new carpet. I am looking for health and safety reasons like biological concerns. I wasn't sure if there was any now the carpet has been cleaned and disinfected. Can anybody help please?

Ta

Posted By Ian Blenkharn
There may be valid aesthetic and other reasons for replacing a carpet that remains stained after professional cleaning, but looking to build a case, or an excuse, on the basis of an an infection risk is probably not the best approach.

The risk of infection is exceptionally small, and probably nil. Even if BBV virus infection was possible - you give no information about source - chemical cleanising and removal by washing of all possible blood and thorough drying of the carpet leaves no risk.

There may be a visible residue. That is not blood, but the protein-fixed pigment that it contained. Virus is likely to be absent; after cleaning and drying the viability of any virus that might have been present will fall quickly (2 - 4 weeks at room temperature; slightly quicker in direct sunlight). But even if some virus particles do survive in the short term how might these cause infection? There is no likely route of infection.

I wouldn't like a heavily bloodstained carpet, but equally wouldn't lose sleep about any risk of infection.

Ian

Posted By water67.
sorry but a stain is a stain not a health risk. using H&S inappropriately like this is one of the reasons we/the profession is getting bad press and in some cases ridiculed..ok rant over.

Posted By Mike Miller
Tracy

The argument I would put up is a one based on humanitarian reasons. I take it that there has been a traumatic event in a communal setting which must be upsetting for the other residents. A constant reminder no doubt will be a stained carpet.

Any organisation with an ounce of decency would not need to be pushed on this. throw them on a guilt trip it should work better than any threat using dubious health and safety reasons.

NOTE! It never ceases to amaze me how my fellow professionals react when someone asks on a public forum a question that is not safety related. In my working day I deal with many issues which about 70% are truly safety related. If I had a job that only dealt with pure safety how boring would that be?

Be nice colleagues, if this sort of stuff annoyes you stick to the members forum! People come here because they want help and as professionals we should be pleased to give it and fly the IOSH flag.

Posted By mike morland
I take note of Mike's note with a view that 'If the cap fits, then wear it' and to that end I would offer my apologies if I over reacted to Tracy's enquiry.

All to often the balance is between those who believe that H&S is OTT whilst at the same time using the H&S banner as a convenient lever to gain their objective.

Sometimes one's defence of this job goes beyond the call of duty and almost becomes anorak.

I enjoyed the beer though.

Regards