Q: Who is responsible for paying crime scene cleanup costs?
It’s a common misconception that when a violent crime or other event that leaves blood behind has taken place, law enforcement or other first responders will clean it up. The truth is that ordinary citizens are responsible for crime scene cleanup. In most cases, homeowners, business owners or business managers must see to clean up, which may involve blood, body tissues, fingerprint dust, teargas and more.
Many times, insurance companies will pay all or partial cost for crime scene or death scene cleanup. We recommend contacting your insurance company for specifics regarding your insurance policy.
Q: Who does a Crime Scene Cleaner do?
In short, crime scene cleaners decontaminate the scene where a crime has occurred and left potentially hazardous or dangerous materials behind. Crime scene technicians are specialists, and the technicians that work for reputable crime scene cleanup companies have been thoroughly trained in the safe and proper handling of dangerous materials. At Metro Decon, our crime scene cleaners are available 24/7/365 to respond to a wide range of our clients’ needs for our services, including biohazard removal involving violent crimes such as homicides, unattended deaths, suicides, and other traumatic events.
A biohazard is a biological material, particularly microorganisms, that may be a threat to health. There are many potentially biohazardous materials on a crime, death or accident scene, including human or animal blood, human or animal waste, hypodermic needles, and body fluids. Depending upon the particular biohazard present on the scene, the dangers may include exposure to severe, life-threatening or fatal diseases.
Q: What is the proper way to clean blood?
Several steps must be taken to ensure that blood cleanup is effective and that the contaminated area is safe for re-occupancy. These steps include:
- Wearing gear that protects eyes and skin
- Cleaning the area of any sharp objects that could pierce protective gear
- Soaking up the blood with cloth towels, which should be put into a labeled biohazard container
- Ventilating the space
- Soaking the affected area with a registered disinfectant
- Wiping again with cloth towels, which should also be safely discarded
- Disposing of protective gear in a sealed bag and labeling it as biohazardous materials.
Q: Can I clean up a crime scene or biohazard myself?
Cleaning up after a homicide or other violent crime or death is not a task for the untrained person. A professional crime scene or blood cleanup team not only has the proper equipment, protective gear, and disinfectants that are not available to the general public—it also has the experience to detect potentially hazardous materials that can’t be readily seen by the naked eye. At Metro Decon, our technicians are skilled in forensic cleaning, disinfecting, removing blood and body tissue, and locating potential contamination in the surrounding furnishings, structural elements, and more.