Double Take -- by Mark Sproxton

If blood, body fluids or body tissue appears where it's not wanted, Stephen Wade may be close at hand. As president of Helios Environmental Services, Wade and his sons are charged with handling, and disposing of biological hazards. Those hazards could include dealing with cadavers, the remnants from motor vehicle accidents, or stolen needles found in a criminal's car. "We're not janitors," he explained. "A mop is a mop, that's true. But what to do with the mop, that's where the skill comes in."

Using his medical knowledge and experience, Wade started Helios four years ago to ensure potentially deadly fluids, tissues and blood were handled with the care they require, and disposed of properly. "Although infections 10 years ago were dangerous, they're not like they are today. You have to know how to handle things." The spread of HIV and flesh eating disease serve as two prime examples of infections not common until recently.

The only company in Canada performing such duties, Wade believes Helios sits at the forefront of a growing industry. And if government regulations continue to call for more rigid guidelines to deal with biohazards, Wade said companies like his may one day be included in emergency services alongside fire, police and ambulance services. "Then that will release police officers and fire fighters from dealing with those materials."

Any growth on this side of the waste disposal industry will continue to require workers with medical experience and training. "As far as the science goes, we know what we're dealing with and how to approach it," Wade said, adding that everyone who works for the company has surgical, medical, or medical examiner experience. "Some infections can't be killed. It (is) dangerous if you're not careful. Hopefully there'll be lots of specialized jobs."