Do you think cleaning up the scene of the crime is easy? Well, it’s not. A crime scene introduces a range of biohazardous materials into the environment, putting you at risk of experiencing significant health hazards.

This scenario is where a reliable crime scene clean-up service provider steps in. They will sanitize the affected area and restore it to its original safe and habitable condition.

Unfortunately, though necessary, this task comes with numerous emotional, physical, and psychological challenges. Curious about these difficulties? Learn about them in this article.

But before diving into that, let’s first know what a crime scene cleanup entails and why it holds such importance.

What is Crime Scene Cleanup?

Also known as trauma scene cleanup, crime scene cleaning is associated with cleaning and decontaminating a location where a crime or a traumatic event has occurred. It typically involves the removal of bodily fluids and other hazardous materials from the site.

The importance of this cleanup cannot be overstated. This process ensures the well-being of individuals and restoring the affected area to a safe and hygienic condition.

The teams responsible for trauma scene cleanup are highly trained to handle hazardous materials, utilize specialized cleaning products, and follow proper disposal procedures. Their primary goals include:

• Minimizing potential health risks
• Restoring the environment to a safe state
• Providing support to those impacted by the incident

The Top 5 Hazards of Scenes of the Crime

Following a traumatic event, the least of what the family wants to do is to clean up blood or wipe the scene of potentially dangerous substances. Unfortunately, due to its hazardous nature, the cleanup must be done promptly.

Only individuals with the necessary expertise to guarantee compliance with safety standards must do it to avoid contamination and health repercussions.

Here are the dangerous substances you may ingest or encounter if you don’t do a thorough job cleaning up crime scenes.

1. Dangerous Intangible Debris

Crime scenes are often left in chaos, and it’s too easy to overlook some of the most hazardous elements that remain. Debris, such as shattered glass, bullet fragments, and broken dishes, can spread into hidden nooks and crannies, posing a threat when discovered.

Simply vacuuming the area may pick up visible surface debris, but it doesn’t ensure the thorough and complete removal of these dangers. When cleaning a crime scene, getting rid of all this debris is particularly crucial. It is also especially true if you have small children or pets in the area for cleaning.

2. Pathogens

One of the primary risks of cleaning a victim’s blood is the potential exposure to pathogens. It’s important to remember that blood can carry deadly and severe diseases.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) asserted that bloodborne pathogens found in human blood are infectious microorganisms that can potentially cause human diseases.

These pathogens include serious diseases such as HIV, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C, and exposure to them can be highly hazardous. Since most scenes of the crime involve bloodstains or spills, these must be cleaned and decontaminated correctly.

Apart from the inherent risks of cleaning a crime scene on your own, it’s essential to adhere to the proper disposal regulations for medical waste collected at trauma scenes, as mandated by the Medical Waste Act.

By collaborating with companies like United Restoration, you can have confidence that your property will undergo professional cleaning and the medical waste will be disposed of in compliance with the law.

3. Diluted Contaminants

One more compelling reason to commission the services of a professional trauma cleanup company is to avoid the risks associated with spreading diluted contaminants.

Without a crime scene cleaner’s help and professional expertise,  you may inadvertently scatter contaminants. Hiring a professional to eliminate these bloodborne contaminants effectively is advisable to ensure absolute peace of mind.

4. Pungent Smell and Lingering Memories

Blood can leave behind stubborn stains and lingering odors if not cleaned properly with the right tools and techniques.

The presence of these stains and the pungent smell can make it even more challenging for a family to move forward with their lives. Hiring professionals ensures that every trace of blood will be effectively removed.

Moreover, you are assured they will use safe cleaning materials that won’t pose additional health risks.

These professionals offering crime scene cleaning services typically employ hospital-grade cleaning products to eliminate blood stains from surfaces, providing a sense of cleanliness and safety.

5. Long-lasting Stains

If biohazards are not removed within a specific timeframe, they can leave behind permanent stains and damage on fabrics and other surfaces. To prevent this, crime scene cleaning companies employ heavy-duty cleaners to remove biohazards from the property.

Permanent stains may be constant reminders of a traumatic event, causing emotional distress to those living or working in the affected space.

The sight of these stains can also have a psychological impact, potentially leading to anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for those who have experienced the crime.

Stains at the scene of the crime may indicate unsanitary conditions, attracting pests and pathogens, which can pose health risks. It can create aesthetic problems and harbor bacteria, contributing to hygiene issues.

The Role of Biohazard Cleaners

Crime scenes can happen at any time or place, and without proper cleaning and disinfection, they can pose significant dangers. Biohazard cleaning companies prioritize the restoration of the scene to its original or even better than its original condition.

Given the potential presence of a considerable amount of blood or other potentially infectious materials containing infectious diseases, only legitimate and certified crime scene cleanup technicians must handle the cleaning.

At United Restoration, we specialize in providing a discreet and thorough scene of the crime and biohazard remediation cleaning services. If you find yourself tasked with cleaning a crime scene, collaborating with a team of professionals who can assist is vital.

If you or someone you know requires help cleaning a crime scene, please don’t hesitate to contact us.