Guide
Questions and answers
Short answers. Each links to a fuller page where there is one.
Answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Before you call
Who will I be talking to?
An independent biohazard cleanup company that works in the Providence area. Providence Biohazard is a referral service and does no cleaning itself.
What hours can I call?
Any hour. Someone picks up 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
How soon can someone come?
Ask on the call. Timing depends on the company and the job, so this site does not promise one.
Do I have to decide straight away?
No. You can ask questions, think it over and call back.
Money
How much does it cost?
It depends on the size of the area, how long before it was found, what has to be removed and how much waste there is. Ask for a written price after an inspection. Who pays explains what drives the price.
Will insurance pay?
Sometimes. Policies differ, so call your insurer before work starts and ask.
Does Rhode Island help victims of crime with cleanup?
Rhode Island's Crime Victim Compensation Program lists crime scene cleaning among the expenses it reimburses. The crime must be reported within 15 days, and the claim made within three years. It pays what insurance and other sources do not.
After a death
Is there a county coroner I should call?
No. Rhode Island uses one state office, the Office of State Medical Examiners. The police contact it. Its main number is 401-222-5500.
When can the cleanup start?
Once the police have released the home or the vehicle. Ask the officers to tell you when.
Will our belongings be thrown away?
Only what cannot be cleaned safely. Ask the company to explain before removing anything and to set aside papers, photos and valuables.
Rentals and neighbors
A tenant died in my building. Where do I start?
Wait for the police to release the unit, keep it locked, and read Rental properties.
Does the company need a contractor registration?
For cleaning alone, ask about insurance and training. If the job includes replacing floors or walls, Rhode Island requires registration with the Contractors' Registration and Licensing Board.
When you are ready, one call is enough
You will speak with an independent biohazard cleanup company that works around Providence. Say what happened in your own words, ask what they would do and how they price it, then decide. Nothing is agreed until you say yes.
Speak with an independent cleanup company
Call (401) 498-1593Answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Calls may be recorded. More in the referral disclosure and privacy policy pages.