The Process of Cleaning Up A Crime Scene

A crime scene can be messy. After the police officers, crime scene investigators, paramedics, and coroners are done gathering evidence, recording the scene, and removing the body, it is up to professional cleaners to get rid of all the blood and other material at the scene of the crime.

The Basics of Crime Scene Cleanup

Crime scene cleanup involves the removal of dangerous material. Cleaners come in and do their best to restore the area to its pre-incident state. It is the job of the cleaners to get rid of any indicator of the crime and any biohazards that may be present Any bodily fluid is considered a biohazard. That means tissues and blood at the crime scene are considered potential sources of infection. Cleaners need to have the knowledge to handle biohazard materials. They must have the necessary permits to transport and get rid of the waste from the crime scene.

Cleaning Up the Hazards

The crime scene cleanup process may take from an hour to 40 hours or more. It depends on the type of trauma involved, and the amount of biohazard materials to be cleaned from the site. Cleaners utilize hospital-grade disinfectants to scrub every sign of pathology from all surfaces including the ceilings, glass trinkets, light fixtures, walls, counters, appliances, and a lot more.

When an unattended death has occurred, decomposition may be a factor. Along with the cleanup of pathology there is usually heavy deodorizing needed. Many specialized techniques are employed to restore the air to a normal and breathable state.

Poisons from a Meth Lab

A crime scene cleanup team is also employed to clean up a meth lab. It involves handling several poisons that include methanol, benzene, hydrochloric acid, iodine, ammonia, and acetone. These chemicals are used in making street-grade meth. They often leave a toxic residue that coats all the surfaces of the structure. And most of the substances can be absorbed by the skin. Exposure to a meth lab can harm the health of a person, and that’s why there’s a need to thoroughly clean the property.

The cleanup process of a meth lab involves the disposal of all porous items inside the property, as well as materials that can’t be submerged in detoxification chemicals. Cleaners may be tasked to remove all cabinetry, furniture, light fixtures, electronics, carpeting, and everything else that are not part of the structure. In some cases, it also involves the removal of the drywall and flooring.

These are the things that you need to know about the crime scene cleanup process. As you can see, it is important to leave it to the professionals like Jenkins Environmental Services to ensure that the job is done right the first time.