When the emergency services leave the scene of a crime or trauma, what happens? Here we reveal the hidden world of the crime scene cleaner.
We’re always seeing crimes on the television these days – on the news, in films and TV shows. But in the real world, what really happens when the emergency services have left the scene? Who comes in and makes sure the area is safe for others? It’s not the responsibility of the police or ambulance staff to clear up. It’s the responsibility of the people involved in the situation or of those who are related to the individuals involved. I know what you’re thinking . . . this hardly seems fair, right? For example, an acquaintance of mine rented an office space in Cambridge. A terribly traumatic incident occurred there that was absolutely nothing to do with the business owner. However, following the incident she found that it was still her responsibility to have the area cleaned regardless of the fact that she was in no way responsible for the incident. It’s comforting to know that the majority of home, commercial and car insurance policies do cover the need to hire professional cleaning services in these situations. But you’re not able to call in your regular office cleaning team. A qualified team of specialists must be brought in to return the area to its usual state and ensure it is safe and hygienic so that life can resume as normal. They must be experts in the removal of contaminated or dangerous whether they are biological or chemical. After a traumatic event, the knowledge that the potential hazard of cross contamination occurring can alleviate the memory of the event and comfort those left dealing with the fall out.
Professional Understanding
Crime scene decontamination and cleaning is an extremely niche market. Crime-trauma cleansing specialists are educated, capable professionals that are able to handle the decontamination of an area from hazardous materials. This might mean removing biological materials following a suicide or homicide, or chemical substances like illegal drugs. Bodily fluids are considered biohazards because blood or tissue could be a possible cause of infection. Specialist knowledge is necessary since CTC specialists need to comprehend the nature of the incident and what to look for. A blood stain on the carpet will more than likely have a larger stain on the floorboard underneath and it’s this kind of care that is required across the entire area. It is essential that the teams are thorough in their approach. Families need to be able to rely on professionals that will not be shaken by what they see.
Attention to Detail
The amount of bio-hazardous material at the scene of a crime or traumatic incident will determine the length of time it takes to clean up. The cleaning teams have to make sure the area is completely sanitary and clear of dangerous materials. They will remove and dispose of furniture, carpets and upholstery as needed. They will also remove any small body parts that have been left by the coroner as well as anything set in to the walls, furniture or floor.
Unsung Heroes
Crime scene cleaners are the invisible heroes of our society. They enter situations that no one else would and make the area safe, clean and hygienic for the rest of the population. Not only do they require a strong stomach, it’s necessary for them to detach themselves emotionally from what they see and be sympathetic towards family members that might be in the area responding to the trauma. They usually work in a private area and will be on-site as soon as the emergency crew leaves. Often they have to ensure that members of the public do not enter the area. It can prove to be a financially lucrative business for those emotionally and physically able to carry out this occupation, but we should all still be grateful that there is someone out there that is willing to do it!
