Crime Scene Cleanup Industry

After a crime occurs and law enforcement officers have completed their preliminary investigation, the scene will need to be cleaned. Law enforcement agencies are not responsible for cleaning and decontaminating the scene; therefore it's left to the property owner. Because some crime scenes can contain blood and body fluids the clean-up requires especially trained personnel and special cleaning equipment.

Facts

• In addition to the United States, crime scene clean-up companies are mostly used in Canada and England. A property owner is the responsible party for cleaning the crime scene. Crime scene clean-up can be costly depending on the extent of the scene and cleaning required. Some homeowner insurance polices may cover the cost of a crime scene clean-up.

Function

• After a violent crime--such as a shooting or stabbing-- takes place, blood will usually be found at the scene. Bodily fluids and tissue may also be part of the crime scene. Cleaners remove anything that has been contaminated. The scene is completely cleaned and disinfected. Because even trace amounts of blood or body fluids left behind can be a health risk, it's essential that the entire crime scene is cleaned and disinfected.

Requirements

• Although the crime scene clean-up industry is not specifically regulated, cleaning companies may need to have a business license and additional permits depending on state laws. All states consider blood to be a biohazard. Some states require a special permit to remove and discard biohazardous material and mandate other qualifications for staff, include learning how to safely handle contaminated material and how to use special cleaning equipment, such as an ozone machine.

Hazards

• Because people working in the crime scene clean-up industry are handling blood-stained material, they must use extreme caution. Protective gear, such as gloves and coveralls. should be worn at all times. Respirators may also be needed for dealing with cleaning chemicals. Crime scene cleaners view scenes most people could not imagine. The scenes can be traumatic. Those who work in the industry need to have compassion, yet develop a thick skin to be able to cope with crimes scenes continually.

Misconceptions

• It takes more than a mop and a bucket to clean a crime scene. Depending on the type of crime that occurred, various disinfectants and equipment may be needed. For example, enzyme solvents may need to be used to kill viruses and bacteria. Crimes are not the only scene cleaners may deal with. Suicides, accidental deaths and cleaning of methamphetamine labs may also require a professional crime scene cleaner.