The Optus Glean promise: predictability
Three pillars. Three commitments. No exceptions.
Predictable cost. One fixed monthly fee, set against a defined scope and an annual indexed review. No variable hours. No surprise invoices. No padded callout charges. Budgeted once, paid by Direct Debit, reviewed once a year.
Predictable presence. The site is cleaned every day it is meant to be cleaned. A named primary cleaner is rostered to your contract, supported by a named relief who is already vetted, inducted, and trained on the same colour-coded system and IPC standard. The schedule does not depend on whether one person is available on one day.
Predictable freedom. A single point of accountability. One contract. One named manager. One number to call. Cleaning is no longer a problem the site has to manage — it is a service that runs.
Why cleaning in Ireland is structurally hard to get right
Most cleaning provision in Ireland — including in healthcare-adjacent settings — is delivered by a workforce that is structurally part-time and casual. A significant proportion of operatives across the sector also work as healthcare assistants in nursing homes, residential care, and acute hospitals. Cleaning shifts are typically taken when healthcare shifts are not available, and released when they are. This pattern is consistent with CSO labour data on accommodation, food, and administrative-support employment, and it is the underlying reason that buyers across Ireland encounter inconsistency from agencies they have contracted in good faith.
The pattern is reinforced by two background pressures specific to Ireland. Housing affordability limits the catchment for any role paying at or near the minimum wage. The Contract Cleaning Employment Regulation Order rate of €14.80 per hour for 2026, set under the Labour Court's sectoral employment framework, sits close enough to flexible care-sector pay that operatives drift toward whichever shift pays slightly more on the day. Both pressures pull cleaning staff away from contracted shifts and toward casual healthcare work.
The result, from the buyer's perspective, is the experience most practice managers, facilities leads, and procurement officers in Ireland describe: a clean that is half-completed when the contracted cleaner is available, missed entirely when they are not, and accompanied by recurring conversations with the agency about cover that may or may not arrive.
This is the structural problem Optus Glean is built to solve. Our operatives are fully PAYE-employed with guaranteed weekly hours, paid leave, and pension contributions under Irish auto-enrolment. They are paid above the ERO floor deliberately — because the structural reliability of the service depends on the cleaner choosing to remain in the role rather than rotating through casual healthcare shifts. A named primary cleaner is assigned to your site, supported by a named relief, both Garda-vetted and trained to Optus Glean's documented HIQA-aligned IPC standard.
When the Unthinkable Happens
Biohazard situations are, by their nature, unexpected and distressing. A death in a property. A violent incident. A needle stick injury. A hoarding situation that has spiralled beyond control. A clandestine drug lab discovered in a rental unit. These are not situations that standard cleaning companies are equipped, trained, or willing to handle.
Optus Glean provides specialist biohazard and trauma cleaning services across all 26 counties of Ireland. Our teams are trained in bloodborne pathogen handling, chemical decontamination, sharps management, and trauma scene protocols. We work with sensitivity, discretion, and speed — because in these situations, every hour matters for the health and wellbeing of the people involved.
We understand that the people calling us are often in the worst moments of their lives. Our approach is compassionate and professional. We arrive in unmarked vehicles, we work discreetly, and we communicate with care. The technical work — the decontamination, the waste disposal, the restoration — is handled to the highest standard. But the human side matters just as much.
Biohazard Situations We Handle
Blood and Bodily Fluid Cleanup
Blood, vomit, urine, faeces, and other bodily fluids carry bloodborne pathogens including Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and HIV. These pathogens can survive on surfaces for days or weeks. Standard cleaning products and methods are not sufficient to eliminate the risk. Optus Glean uses hospital-grade disinfectants, enzymatic cleaners, and ATP testing to ensure complete decontamination. All contaminated materials are disposed of as clinical waste through licensed waste carriers.
Unattended Death Cleaning
When a person dies alone and the death is not discovered for days, weeks, or longer, the decomposition process creates severe biohazard conditions. Bodily fluids penetrate flooring, subfloor, and walls. Decomposition gases permeate soft furnishings and building materials. Insect activity compounds the contamination. This is one of the most challenging cleaning scenarios, requiring specialist equipment, extensive decontamination, and often the removal and replacement of affected building materials. Optus Glean has the training, equipment, and experience to restore properties after unattended death to a safe and habitable condition.
Needle and Sharps Removal
Discarded needles and sharps are found in public spaces, stairwells, car parks, vacant properties, and commercial premises. Each needle carries the risk of transmitting bloodborne infections. Optus Glean provides safe sharps removal using puncture-resistant containers, proper handling protocols, and licensed disposal through clinical waste channels. We also provide ongoing sharps management for properties in high-risk areas, including regular sweeps and the installation of sharps bins.
Hoarding Remediation
Hoarding disorder affects an estimated 2–5% of the population, and the resulting living conditions often involve biohazard contamination: accumulated waste, rotting food, animal waste, mould, pest infestations, and structural damage. Hoarding remediation requires a careful, phased approach that respects the dignity of the affected person while systematically clearing, cleaning, and decontaminating the property. Optus Glean works with social workers, public health nurses, and family members to manage hoarding cleanups with sensitivity and thoroughness.
Drug Contamination Cleanup
Properties used for drug manufacturing or heavy drug use are contaminated with chemical residues that pose serious health risks to future occupants. Methamphetamine residue, in particular, permeates walls, ceilings, carpets, and HVAC systems. Cannabis grow operations leave behind mould, electrical hazards, and structural damage. Optus Glean provides comprehensive drug contamination assessment and remediation, including surface testing, chemical decontamination, and clearance testing to confirm the property is safe for reoccupation.
Our Biohazard Cleaning Process
- Immediate Response — Call our emergency line at +353 (47) 37428. We triage the situation, provide guidance on immediate safety measures, and dispatch a team. In most cases, we are on site within 4 to 8 hours.
- Scene Assessment — Our team leader assesses the contamination type, extent, and severity. We identify all affected materials and areas, assess structural integrity, and determine the remediation scope. A detailed written quote is provided before work begins.
- Containment and PPE — The affected area is sealed with plastic sheeting. Air scrubbers with HEPA filtration are deployed. Our operatives wear full Tyvek suits, P3 respirators, double nitrile gloves, and boot covers. Contamination is contained to prevent cross-contamination of clean areas.
- Removal and Decontamination — Contaminated materials that cannot be salvaged are removed and bagged as clinical waste. Hard surfaces are treated with hospital-grade disinfectants and enzymatic cleaners. Soft materials are assessed for salvageability — those that can be decontaminated are treated; those that cannot are removed.
- Verification — ATP testing is used to verify that surfaces are decontaminated to safe levels. For drug contamination, surface swab testing confirms chemical residue levels are below safe thresholds. Documentation is provided for property owners, insurance companies, and regulatory bodies.
- Waste Disposal — All biohazard waste is disposed of through licensed clinical waste carriers in compliance with EPA regulations and the European Communities (Waste Directive) Regulations 2011. Waste transfer documentation is provided.
- Restoration Support — Where building materials have been removed (flooring, plasterboard, fixtures), we coordinate with contractors to restore the property. For vacant properties, we provide a complete deep clean after remediation to prepare the unit for re-letting or sale.
Discretion and Compassion
We recognise that biohazard situations often involve trauma, grief, and vulnerability. Our commitment to discretion is absolute:
- We arrive in unmarked vehicles with no company branding visible
- Equipment is transported in plain containers
- We communicate sensitively with family members, tenants, and neighbours
- All information about the scene and the client is treated as strictly confidential
- Our teams are selected for emotional resilience and interpersonal sensitivity, not just technical competence
For families dealing with the aftermath of a death, we handle the practicalities so they do not have to. For landlords and property managers dealing with contaminated properties, we manage the entire process from assessment to clearance certificate. For healthcare facilities dealing with biohazard incidents, we provide rapid response with full compliance documentation.
Insurance and Documentation
Most biohazard cleaning is covered under home insurance, landlord insurance, or commercial property insurance. Optus Glean provides:
- Detailed written quotation before work begins
- Photographic documentation (taken with sensitivity and discretion)
- Itemised invoice with full breakdown of works
- ATP and surface test results where applicable
- Waste transfer documentation
- Completion certificate confirming decontamination
We liaise directly with insurance companies and loss adjusters to streamline the claims process. In our experience, the documentation we provide is sufficient for the majority of claims to be processed without query.
Frequently Asked Questions About Biohazard Cleaning
How much does biohazard cleaning cost in Ireland?
Biohazard cleaning costs between €500 and €5,000 depending on the contamination type, area affected, and complexity. Small blood cleanup: €500–€1,200. Unattended death: €1,500–€4,000. Drug lab decontamination or severe hoarding: €3,000–€5,000+. Optus Glean provides a written quote after assessment, usually within 2 to 4 hours of first contact.
Who is responsible for cleaning up after a death in Ireland?
After the Gardaí and coroner release the scene, the property owner or their representative is responsible. For rented properties, the landlord typically manages the cleanup. For social housing, the local authority handles it. Insurance usually covers the cost. Optus Glean works directly with insurance companies and can begin as soon as the scene is released by authorities.
Is biohazard cleaning covered by insurance in Ireland?
Most comprehensive home and landlord insurance policies cover biohazard cleaning under trauma or specialist cleaning provisions. Optus Glean provides detailed documentation including photographic evidence, itemised invoices, test results, and waste transfer records that meet insurance requirements. We liaise directly with loss adjusters on your behalf.
How quickly can you respond to a biohazard emergency?
Optus Glean provides 24/7 emergency response. We can typically have a team on site within 4 to 8 hours, depending on location. For Dublin, Cork, Galway, and Limerick, response times are usually 2 to 4 hours. Call +353 (47) 37428 for immediate assistance.
What qualifications do biohazard cleaners need in Ireland?
While there is no specific Irish licence, competent providers should have bloodborne pathogen training, hazardous waste handling certification, appropriate PPE, public liability insurance covering biohazard work, and Garda vetting. Optus Glean staff hold all of these qualifications, and we carry €6.5M public liability insurance covering biohazard remediation.
How Optus Glean handles staff shortages
Every Optus Glean contract is staffed on a redundancy model rather than a single-person model. A named primary cleaner is assigned to the site at contract start. A named relief is assigned alongside them. Both are PAYE-employed by Optus Glean, both are Garda-vetted, both are inducted on the site's specific layout, access protocols, and colour-coded equipment system, and both are trained to the same documented HIQA-aligned IPC standard. Substitution is built into the contract from the first day, not arranged on the day cover is needed.
Sick day cover. When the primary cleaner is unable to work, the named relief is deployed. The site site contact is notified by 06:30 on the morning of the absence by SMS or email, with the name of the relief who is attending. The relief follows the same task list, uses the same equipment, and finishes within the same window. The standard of clean is unchanged because the relief was prepared for this scenario before the absence happened.
Annual leave cover. Annual leave is rostered weeks in advance and the relief is scheduled to cover the full leave period. The site is informed at the start of the leave period — not on the morning leave begins. This is the same model used in clinical rota management: known absences are pre-staffed, not improvised.
Long-term cover. If the primary cleaner is absent for more than two weeks (extended illness, parental leave, bereavement leave), cover is drawn from the wider trained bench rather than relying on the single named relief. The site is kept informed of the cover plan, the named individuals involved, and the expected duration. Continuity of standard is maintained because every operative on the bench is trained to the same documented standard.
Permanent reassignment. If the primary cleaner moves to a new permanent role within Optus Glean — promotion, relocation, retirement — the relief is promoted to primary on a planned timetable, a new relief is trained on the site, and both are introduced to the site before the handover takes effect. There is no day on which the site discovers, after the fact, that their cleaner has changed.
Substitution is Optus Glean's operational problem, not the site's risk to absorb. The buyer pays a fixed monthly fee for a defined scope to be delivered, every day it is meant to be delivered. The mechanism by which we deliver it — primary, relief, bench, retraining — is our cost to manage and our risk to carry.
Last reviewed: 2026-05-06