Getting it Right: Behind the Scenes of Hazard Mitigation

Sandy: Hello Tom, Happy June. This month we invited Mitch Zembik, owner of Get Right Mitigation and Restoration, to join us and share with our readers what mitigation and restoration means.

Tom: Excellent choice. Welcome Mitch. I am looking forward to learning a thing or two.

Mitch: Hi! Sandy and Tom, thanks for the invite. I hope I can help folks understand more about what we do.

Sandy:    Well, let’s get started. Your website getrightaz.net says you clean up water damage, mold and asbestos, fire and smoke impacts, biohazard materials and trauma. That is a lot of messy stuff!

Mitch: Yes, it is. Each one of those categories has a slightly different approach to cleanup but there are some basics.

Tom: Before you get to the basics, tell us what trauma mitigation is.

Mitch: Basically, it means cleaning up after a crime scene or accident is cleared.

Sandy: That would not be my first choice.

Tom: Mine either.

Sandy: Tell our readers how you came up with your company’s name – it’s worth sharing that story.

Mitch: My business partner and I were working at other independent companies and we sat down and looked hard at what we felt they were doing wrong. We wanted to add value and integrity to the industry. So, by looking at what was being done wrong, we chose to get it right. That is the genesis of our name.

Sandy: So simple, direct and to the point. I love it. Tell us about training to be a mitigator.

Sandy: Tom don’t ask, it’s a word now!

Tom: Yes, I like that new word!

Mitch: LOL you guys. There is quite a lot of training that goes into this work. While water damage and restoration are straightforward, the rest requires training in procedures and the wearing of personal protection equipment (PPE.)

Mitch: Everyone who works in our company is trained in how to protect themselves and how to dress appropriately for the hazards they are clearing. The safety of our employees and our clients is the first order of business at Get Right.

Tom: How does somebody learn the right way to perform any mitigation task? Are there courses to be taken?

Mitch: A tech just starting without any experience or certifications is taught by a certified tech and training usually begins with water damage. They will start with a demo crew. As they progress in their training, they will take specific courses to obtain various certifications.

Sandy: What organization sponsors those courses?

Mitch: The industry standards have been developed by the IICRC, which stands for Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification. Each mitigation task has its own certification.

Sandy: Do you have a certified technician for each task and does a person need to be certified to perform a specific task?

Mitch: Each crew has at least one or two certified techs. Several of our techs have multiple certifications. Asbestos is the exception. You must be certified to work on any abatement project.

Tom: As long as one person is certified on the crew, they can lead, and teach others, correct?

Mitch: Yes. Certification and training are important to maintain the safety of each employee and our clients. Take fire and smoke restoration projects, for example. Not many folks realize there is exposure to carcinogens when cleaning. That’s why we need to isolate affected spaces from unaffected areas of a structure and wear PPE from head to toe.

Sandy: YCCA has sponsored several PPE classes for our members. Most people wearing PPE look like a cross between the Pillsbury Doughboy and the Michelin Man!

Mitch: True, but it keeps us safe, and that’s the point.

Tom: I am curious about how you go about some of the mitigation processes. Smoke damage can be quite invasive, as it gets everywhere. How does your team go about removing the odor?

Mitch: The process begins by isolating the affected areas from non-contaminated areas with plastic barriers that do not allow air to pass between spaces. Then our techs don their PPE from head to toe, including masks and eye protection. Once this is completed, then we clean and disinfect everything with special equipment and detergents.

Sandy: Cleaning and disinfecting everything sounds tedious. Tell us a little more about “everything.”

Mitch: By everything we mean walls, ceilings, doorknobs, every surface. With ductwork, we need to clean all the ducts and the air conditioner as well. So, Sandy, to answer your question, yes it takes time to Get it Right and keep everyone safe.

Tom: Can you get odors out of furniture as well as the structure?

Mitch: Generally, yes. The extent of damage varies from site to site.

Sandy: There is quite a bit of background that goes into preparing for mitigation and abatement. I am impressed with all the knowledge and training that goes into your work. Tell us a little about the business, how long you have been in business, the number of employees, stuff like that.

Mitch: Well, as of Oct. 17, 2025, we will have been in business for eight years. We currently have seven employees and they all hold multiple certifications. Ongoing education is important in our field.

Tom: What does it take to get necessary certifications?

Mitch: Each individual certification requires coursework that is intensive and lasts anywhere from three to five days. Following each course there is a written test that must be passed.

Sandy: Mitch, there is more to talk about and we are running out of space. Next month, I would love it if we could have you back to learn more about your mitigation, abatement and cleaning business. I think our readers might like to hear about some of your more challenging projects.

Mitch: I look forward to that.

Sandy: To our readers, thanks for stopping in to read “At Home With Tom and Sandy.” You are in good company, and we love sharing educational, fun and important information with you. See you next month once again with Mitch Zembik, owner of Get Right Mitigation and Restoration, to continue our conversation about hazard mitigation. QCBN

Tom Reilly, Architect, 928-925-5692

Sandy Griffis, Executive Director, Yavapai County Contractors Association. 928-778-0040