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.

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 Advanced Bio-Treatment, 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.

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 material

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 Advanced Bio-Treatment, 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.

There are some companies that are better known for carpet cleaning and repairing water and fire damage that also list crime scene cleanup or blood cleanup among their services. The critical issue, however, is whether those companies’ cleanup crews are knowledgeable about OSHA regulations and other federal and state guidelines. Any company you’re considering should have certified technicians who have undergone extensive training in handling bloodborne and airborne pathogens.

For your peace of mind, it’s important to verify that the crime scene cleaning team that comes into your home or on to your company’s property is properly insured. Before selecting a crime scene cleanup company, you should also make sure that the company you choose carries a Pollution Liability policy as added protection for you.

In addition to carrying proper insurance, there are many certifications available for crime scene cleanup companies to obtain to ensure their technicians have proper training, while also following proper guidelines and best practices.