Crime rates have been dipping across the United States. However, this doesn’t mean that they never happen. Unfortunately, these incidents still happen every day.
Dealing with what comes next is often the hardest part. Both for victims, survivors, and anyone in between, the aftermath is a trial. Whether you’re grieving, recovering, or both, there are some steps you can take to make the next part less difficult.
What are we talking about? Well, you may have guessed from the title of today’s article. We’ll be discussing crime scene cleanup. Primarily, how it works, and what goes into it.
For anyone who doesn’t know, there is reliable crime scene restoration in Lewiston, ME – it’s not difficult to find, either. To learn more about this process, make sure to stick around. We’ll be covering all of the important information you need to know about it.
The Basics of Crime Scene Cleanups
As you can probably imagine, there’s a lot that goes into this process. For now, let’s look at some of the basic things that you should know. That way, you know what might be involved here.
The Role and Purpose:
Crime scene cleanup companies serve a very specific role. In a practical sense, it’s to remove any traces of biohazards, blood, bodily fluids, and other dangerous materials. Of course, that’s a bit grim to think about.
Still, they ensure that the area is safe and sanitized. This is a critical function. However, there’s also a secondary purpose that they fulfill.
As you may have guessed, this is for emotional support. As you can see here: https://triggered.edina.clockss.org/ServeContent?rft_id=info:doi/10.1093/brief-treatment/mhm010, this is an important part of the aftermath of violent crime.
Cleaners often deal with sensitive situations. They provide compassion and professionalism to families or property owners affected by trauma. We’ll cover that in more detail later.
Legal and Safety Considerations
Something else to keep in mind is that these services and technicians have to consider regulations. They must adhere to local, state, and federal regulations. This includes OSHA guidelines and EPA waste disposal regulations.
Technicians also need to wear PPE, or personal protective equipment. Examples include gloves, masks, goggles, and suits to protect themselves from contaminants and pathogens. You can probably understand why this is a daunting task for someone to take on themselves.
Assessment and Planning
When you reach out to a company, this will be the first step. Technicians assess the scene to identify the extent of contamination. From there, they can decide upon the best techniques for the situation at hand.
A detailed plan tailored to the specific situation is created. Of course, they’ll take into account the materials involved and the type of cleaning required. Most of the time, the cleanup service will be happy to work with you to tailor this if you want. Otherwise, you can give them the freedom to do so while you handle other aspects of the aftermath.
Cleaning Techniques
As you can imagine, there are several techniques that may come into play. Proper disposal of biohazardous materials is crucial, for instance. This may involve transporting waste to licensed disposal facilities. That’s probably not something you’ll want to do on your own.
What else is there to think about? Well, specialized cleaning agents and techniques are used to disinfect surfaces and eliminate odors. The goal is to ensure the area is safe for habitation.
In some cases, restoration of the site may be necessary. What might that involve? It could include repairs or replacements of damaged structures and decor. Realistically, that will depend on each individual circumstance.
Emotional Considerations
As we mentioned previously, the aftermath of a violent crime is emotionally charged. You can read more about that on this page, if you’re curious. Overall, it makes sense that these technicians would need to be prepared to navigate these sorts of difficult situations.
Services often require a sensitive approach to address the emotions of those affected by the incidents. This results in them providing both physical cleanup and emotional support.
In addition to that, they’ll maintain privacy. Confidentiality and discretion are paramount for these services.
Training and Availability
Technicians are often required to undergo specialized training in biohazard cleanup. Typically, that will include protocols for handling various types of trauma. Various certifications may be necessary.
Some of those could include bloodborne pathogens, hazardous waste management, and general safety procedures. If you have any concerns about that, you can always contact the service you’re working with.
Overall, crime scene cleanup services play a critical role in restoring safety and peace in environments impacted by trauma. Coping with the aftermath of a violent crime is certainly not easy.
Thankfully, these services can ease the process along. We don’t have to stress about the cleaning on our own and can focus on other aspects instead.
