Crime scene cleaning is a part of the cleaning industry where the cleaners have to deal with cleaning of bio-hazardous materials after an accident, murder or a suicide. The cleaners are not allowed to enter the crime scene before the investigation of the police and the fire department has been completed and they are not a part of the legal and court process. Whatever the reason for a death is, the cleaners need to go to the place fully equipped and prepared to prevent a possible infection.
As every crime scene is unique, it may take different hours to get the place entirely clean. It all depends on the degree of injury and the amount of bio hazardous material in the affected area. Before the cleaners start cleaning, they need to ensure they wear a personal protective suit and boots. Then they spray the areas with a specialised cleaning product and clean every sing drop of material which has come from the crime scene. In case a carpet or upholstery are affected, they clean them thoroughly by using suitable chemicals to remove any stains and disinfect the fabrics.
Crime scene cleaning is one of the worst professions, but someone has to do it after all. There are people who do not mind cleaning blood and poisonous waste and they specialise in this field. To be successful in this role, the cleaner must be mentally stable, not to depress from the fact there is a dead person and to be able to see blood and body organs without throwing up. These cleaners have been properly trained to understand the dangers and the safety procedures involved in dealing with body fluids. It is also a part of the training to understand the correct transportation and dispose of a dangerous waste. Depending on the company which trains the candidates, visual presentations of photos from previous cases are shown to them and some practical experience is also essential before they are assigned to work on real cases. They need to be ready to be called out 24 hours a day and work long hours if necessary. Very commonly cleaners get stress disorders due to their exposure to traumatic situations which may cause health problems and depression.
Along with the qualifications and the knowledge, the cleaners should be sympathetic to the family of the deceased person. Crime scene cleaning is not just cleaning a hazardous material from a surface, but the cleaner should be able to provide a support to the family members. The crime scene cleaning crew should remain stoic when dealing with the body remains and sensitive to the tragedy of the family. They need to show their professionalism at all times, no matter how they feel in this moment.
Crime scene cleaners deal with different kinds of a dirt and take the responsibility to leave the site sterilised before they leave whatever the cost is. They often fall into awkward situations when they have to do their professional duties and sympathise to the close family members at the same time.