When it comes to crime scene cleaning in Pico Rivera, California, there are so many things to consider. No one is actually ever prepared for crime scene cleaning, but when the situation presents itself, it needs to be dealt with as soon as possible. Unless they’re in the field, most people don’t understand exactly what crime scene cleaning entails. They assume it’s simply cleaning up a crime scene after an event like a homicide has taken place.

In fact, crime scene cleaning is so much more. When it boils down to it, crime scene cleaning is the act of removing biohazardous waste from a crime scene, trauma scene, or accident site. It’s restoring the site to its original condition so that it’s safe and healthy for people to enter the space once again. The restoration question of a crime scene is called remediation.

What’s the problem with biohazardous waste?

When you get sick from an illness like pneumonia or HPV, you’ve been infected by a pathogen. Pathogens are microorganisms that cause diseases in animals, humans, or whatever host their in. Pathogens are either bloodborne or airborne, and they’re found riddled inside biohazardous waste. 

At a crime scene, there are many different types of biohazardous waste, including blood, human waste, body tissue, bodily fluids, and other substances. The type of biohazardous waste that you’ll find at a crime scene depends on the crime scene. To that end, it’s interesting to note that crime scene cleaners don’t just clean up crime scenes. They clean any type of scene that has biohazardous waste in it. Some of the scenes include the following.

Meth Labs

Meth is one of the most dangerous substances around. It’s extremely toxic to breathe in, and it’s extremely unstable. One wrong move, and a meth lab can instantly go up in flames or explode. Even if a meth lab has been emptied, meth residue particles remain in the air, making the space extremely dangerous for anyone entering the room. Simply breathing in meth particles could be extremely harmful or deadly. Crime scene cleaners get rid of the meth on all of the surfaces in the space as well as the particles in the air. Meth is also extremely difficult to remove from a surface, so it takes a lot of effort on the part of the cleaners. They wear PPE gear that’s sealed tight so none of the meth particles touch their skin or get into their eyes, noses, or mouths. Only when the site has been completely sterilized and sanitized is it once again safe for human use.

Industrial Accidents

Sometimes industrial accidents happen at locations like factories or labs. The chemical residue from the accident could render these spaces dangerous for use. Crime scene cleaners enter these spaces and get rid of all of the waste so that they can get up and running again.

Unattended Death and Suicides

When someone dies alone, it’s called an unattended death. A body could be sitting alone for days, weeks, or even months before anyone finds it. Crime scene cleaners will come to the site and clean it, getting rid of all of the decomp from the body. The decomp process gets more intense and more malodorous as time goes by, so the longer a body has been left unattended, the worse the scene. 

Who has to pay for crime scene cleaning?

The person who owns the site where the incident has taken place is responsible for crime scene cleaning. People who are worried about the cost of crime scene cleaning should check their commercial or residential insurance policies. Many of those policies cover these types of costs. Some people can also try reaching out for help from organizations connected to law enforcement or to the city. Some of those agencies may assist with crime scene cleanup costs.

How does a crime scene cleaning company confirm that a space is clean and safe for use?

Crime scene cleaners use OSHA-approved cleaning products to attack and kill the pathogens at crime scenes. They have special equipment that allows them to get into every single nook and cranny of a space. This includes equipment like foggers that shoot disinfectants and cleaners into sections of the room that would otherwise be difficult to access. 

Once cleaning has been done, they will use special tests called ATP tests. These tests measure the amount of live pathogens on the surface or in the air. The goal is to get the test to register “zero”. Once it does, the cleaners can confirm that the space has reached hospital levels of sanitization and is good to go. 

Why does working with a professional crime scene cleaning service make sense versus trying to clean the space yourself?

A crime scene is a really tough place to navigate. This is especially true for people who aren’t used to being in them. People who have tried to clean crime scenes on their own have quickly become overwhelmed. They underestimated the effects that being at the site would have on them. 

We understand everything that our clients are going through. We approach each job with empathy, compassion, and understanding. Our goal is to make your space livable once again. Our cleaners are emotionally disconnected from the crime scenes they work in, so they don’t carry the level of trauma that someone who is directly connected to the crime scene would. When working with us, you can rest assured that we’re taking care of the most unpleasant aspects of the job so that you can take care of yourself. Add in the technical experience and know-how that professional cleaners have, and it makes sense to hand off the job.

If you have any questions about crime scene cleaning or you simply want to talk about the process, please give us a call at any time.