Crime scene cleanup and biohazard cleaning can be dangerous work. They require collecting blood, body fluids, and hazardous materials from crime scenes and cleaning them up afterward. Learn the best info about crime scene cleanup companies in Plano, Texas.
Crime scene cleaners must have strong stomachs and the emotional control to remain detached while performing their work. Furthermore, they require special equipment and training to handle such situations safely.
What We Do
At the scene of any crime, workplace accident, or natural disaster, biohazard materials such as blood and bodily fluids can pose serious health threats for anyone exposed. Expert crime scene and biohazard cleaners are trained specifically to extract these harmful substances while adhering to strict safety protocols and procedures—an emotionally challenging job indeed!
The first step in any crime scene cleanup involves isolating and containing the area. Technicians will seal off vents and ducts to prevent biohazard residue from spreading to other parts of the property through the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems. They’ll also put on PPE, such as full-body suits, masks, and gloves.
Next, they will remove any visible biological material from the scene—such as blood, tissue, or even bone fragments—before beginning disinfection with special chemicals and equipment. They will pay special attention to hard surfaces that have come in contact with body fluids and then use deodorization agents to eliminate any remaining odors at the scene.
Crime scene cleaners must ensure their safety first and foremost during this process. Their professionals must possess strong stomachs, compassion for grieving families, and dedication to their profession – or else risk exposure to bloodborne illnesses like HIV, MRSA, or Hepatitis.
Disinfection
Crime scene cleaners rely on specialized cleaning chemicals formulated to kill pathogens at crime scenes. From industrial cleaners to household disinfectants, each has one thing in common: killing pathogens that may exist on surfaces for several days after an incident has taken place. Hepatitis, HIV, COVID-19, and tuberculosis infections all need disinfectants that will effectively eliminate them.
Once a crime scene has been cleared of evidence, cleanup professionals use hospital-grade disinfectants to thoroughly scrub all surfaces, such as ceilings, light fixtures, walls, countertops, and personal items – including ceilings, light fixtures, walls countertops and personal items – with hospital-grade disinfectants. They then run ozone overnight, which changes oxygen molecules in the air and effectively eliminates bacteria or odors at their source.
At scenes involving unattended deaths, this service becomes especially essential as decomposition may spread pathogens and foul odors. Cleaners also treat pest infestations as well as remove and dispose of any dead animals or insects from the scene.
Crime scene cleanup technicians require personal protective equipment (PPE), including gloves, goggles, masks, and chemical-resistant suits, for this physically demanding work. Traditional cleaning equipment includes mops, buckets, brushes, scrapers, hoovers, medical waste disposal containers, and biohazard bags, depending on the job at hand. Depending on the scope of operations, power tools and ladders may also be required.
Disposal
Clean-up at crime scenes requires special equipment and permission from authorities. For instance, blood—and body-fluid-contaminated waste cannot be dumped into a regular landfill; instead, it must be transported directly to a medical waste incinerator, which explains why crime-scene cleaning company costs can often be high.
Working as a crime scene cleaner is both physically and emotionally taxing. It requires extensive training, people skills, compassion towards property owners, physical strength to work in liquid-impermeable hazmat suits with gloves, boots, eye protection masks, and latex face shields, and sufficient physical fitness so you don’t come face-to-face with potentially lethal pathogens during each shift – any misstep could put the cleaning technician in jeopardy of exposure to pathogens that can kill.
Correctly cleaning, disinfecting, and decontaminating a crime scene takes considerable skill. Professional technicians employ an established plan for doing so that includes conducting an OSHA-mandated employee safety hazard assessment before using a containment room to create a clean environment in which they can enter and leave without spreading contaminants further – particularly vital when dealing with airborne pathogens that remain present long after leaving a crime scene.
Restoration
When dealing with blood and bodily fluids, traditional cleaning tools like mops and buckets may not suffice. Improper disposal or cleanup could cause irreparable damage to carpets, walls, and furniture, and specialized teams are required for complete removal.
Crime scene cleanup and biohazard cleaning companies are subject to regulations from national agencies like OSHA, the EPA, and the CDC. Professional cleaning services follow stringent guidelines when disposing of biohazards from crime scenes or biohazard sites.
These experts not only specialize in dealing with blood and bodily fluids but can also work on structural restoration. Scenes involving unattended deaths or tragedies typically experience extensive damage that must be restored – this may include replacing flooring, repairing wall damage, and even dealing with any odor issues that arise.
Crime scene cleaners must possess an exceptional level of compassion and understanding for those they serve, communicating effectively during one of the most emotional times in a client’s life. Furthermore, these forensic cleaners must be physically fit enough to endure long hours of manual labor while wearing protective gear and transport large volumes of biological waste and other materials safely—particularly given that many calls are related to unattended deaths or suicides, which require them to attend such scenes as part of their duties.
