Is human waste a biohazard?
In practice, yes. HSE describes excrement as the major source of harmful micro-organisms in sewage, including bacteria, viruses and parasites. Biological agents also count as hazardous substances under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH), so employers need to assess the risk before staff deal with it.
“Biohazard” is an everyday term rather than a waste category. How the waste is classified for disposal is a separate question, which we cover below.
What are the health risks of human waste?
HSE’s guidance is written for people who work with sewage, but it’s the closest official guide to the risks. It lists illnesses including:
- Gastroenteritis, with stomach cramps, diarrhoea and vomiting, which accounts for most cases
- Hepatitis, which inflames the liver and causes jaundice
- Skin and eye infections
- Occupational asthma, caused by breathing in living or dead organisms
HSE says germs most often get into the body through hand-to-mouth contact, such as eating, drinking, smoking or wiping your face with contaminated hands or gloves. They can also get in through cuts and scratches, or be breathed in as dust or mist. So don’t use a pressure washer on human waste, and don’t sweep it when it’s dried.
Can you clean up human waste yourself?
A small spill on a hard, wipeable surface can usually be cleaned up in-house by someone who knows what to do. The UK Health Security Agency’s guidance for schools and childcare settings is a good model for small spills:
- Clean it up straight away, and keep other people away from the area until you’ve finished.
- Wear gloves and an apron if you expect splashing, and decide whether you also need face and eye protection.
- Use disposable paper towels or cloths.
- Clean with a product that combines detergent and disinfectant and works against both bacteria and viruses, following the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Dispose of the towels or cloths straight away and safely.
- Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
Workplaces should have a spillage kit ready, along with a risk assessment and training for anyone expected to use it. Nobody should be asked to deal with a spill without them.
When should you call a specialist?
Call a specialist if any of these apply:
- It covers a large area or more than one room
- It has reached carpet, plaster, bare wood or soft furnishings
- It may have got under flooring or behind fittings
- Sewage is involved, for example from a blocked drain or a flood
- It has been there for some time, or a smell remains after cleaning
- It keeps happening, such as in public toilets, stairwells or car parks
- Needles or other drug-related items are present
- It’s linked to a death or a traumatic incident
- You need a decontamination certificate for a landlord, insurer or client
Soft and porous materials are the main reason a small job becomes a specialist one, because they can absorb fluids that a surface wipe won’t reach.
What does a professional human waste clean involve?
Every job is different, but our biohazard cleaning process stays the same:
- Risk assessment. Our trained operatives assess the affected area in line with COSHH before any cleaning begins.
- Containment and removal. We secure the area, then remove the waste using specialist PPE and industrial equipment. Everything removed is logged.
- Cleaning and decontamination. We apply certified disinfectants to all surfaces, including porous materials that may have absorbed fluids.
- Deodorising. We treat the area to remove any remaining smell.
- Paperwork. You get a decontamination certificate and waste transfer documents for your records.
Who is responsible for cleaning up human waste?
It depends on where it is:
| Where | Who usually deals with it |
|---|---|
| Workplace or commercial building | The employer or whoever controls the premises, who also has to protect staff and visitors |
| Rented home or commercial unit | It depends on the cause and the agreement, so check the tenancy or lease |
| Your own home | You, although it’s worth checking whether your insurance covers the damage |
| Public land | Report it to the local council |
Employers have to control exposure to hazardous substances under COSHH, whether they use their own staff or a contractor. If you’re not sure who pays, make the area safe first and sort out the cost afterwards.
How should human waste be disposed of?
It depends on what the waste is and where it came from. The government’s healthcare waste guidance is the closest official guide, and it separates two main types:
- Offensive waste is non-infectious and may be unpleasant to handle. Hygiene waste such as nappies and incontinence pads is treated as non-hazardous municipal offensive waste.
- Infectious clinical waste is classed as hazardous and must be kept separate from other waste.
A business must classify its waste before it’s collected, and the guidance suggests asking a specialist waste contractor if you’re not sure. You also have to check your waste carrier is registered and complete a waste transfer note for each load.
We’re a registered waste carrier (CBDU320327), and you can look us up on the public register. Everything we remove is recorded and taken away through authorised channels.
