About Crime Scene Cleaners

by Dayna Noffke

Introduction
No one is prepared to deal with the aftermath of a suicide, homicide or violent crime. One aspect that very few people consider, however, is how the home will be returned to its present state. Not only is it emotionally distressing to have to clean up human remains, blood or other bodily fluids, it can be dangerous as well. Crime-scene cleaners are professionals who are trained in dealing with the legal, emotional and practical aspects of crime-scene cleanup.

Instructions
Difficulty: Easy
Function
Until very recent times, when a violent or messy death occurred in the home, it was the family members who were left to deal with cleaning up the aftermath. This is not only extremely emotionally difficult for family members or friends to do, but exposure to the biohazardous waste that is often present can present health hazards. Crime-scene cleaners come in after a body has been removed and work to return the property to its original condition. This can involve removing or replacing carpet or parts of walls or other surfaces, as well as heavy cleaning and decontamination of whole rooms. Crime-scene cleaners are also trained in how to properly dispose of biohazards.

Features
People who choose crime-scene cleanup as a career must possess a very unique set of characteristics to be successful in the field. Obviously, a strong stomach is an absolute necessity. Cleaners deal with gore, blood, body parts and unpleasant smells as a part of their everyday routine. At the same time, they must be discreet and sensitive to a grieving family's needs.

Benefits
Crime-scene cleaning presents growing business opportunities for people who are interested in the field. In large cities, business owners may make six-figure incomes. However, many people who work in this field cite helping the survivors of violent crime as one of the best parts of the job. Ron Gospodarski, president of Bio-Recovery Corporation in New York City, states, ""I like to make a difference. We spare (the survivors) the hurt and pain of cleaning up those atrocities."
Considerations

Because crime does not occur at conveniently scheduled times, crime-scene cleaners have to be on call for emergencies, and work days can be long for large jobs. Although there is no specific educational requirement for obtaining employment as a crime-scene cleaner, it is helpful to have work experience in similar fields. Many people come to this career from jobs that have prepared them for some of the more stomach-churning aspects of the job, such as work as paramedics, nurses or morticians. Beginning a crime-scene cleaning business can be an expensive venture because of all the training and licensing that is required to obtain permits for properly disposing of biohazardous waste.

Misconceptions
Despite what many people think, crime-scene cleaners are not involved in any way in the legal or investigative process. They are allowed access only after investigators have collected evidence and processed the crime scene. Cleaners also do not deal with dead bodies, which are typically picked up by the local coroner or medical examiner's office. They may, however, have to clean up the products of decomposition where a body remained undiscovered for an extended period of time.