When a death has occurred at your home or business, dealing with the emotional and mental stress can be overwhelming. Once the event is over, however, you’ll have to turn your attention to cleaning up the scene. It may be tempting to attempt the cleanup on your own, but this is a task that must be left to skilled professionals. If you’re searching for a death cleanup company, it’s important to understand what they do and why certain qualifications are a must. Here are questions to ask when choosing a trauma or crime scene cleanup company
Questions to ask when hiring a death scene cleanup company.
How long has your company been in business?
Restoring a home, business or other property where a death, trauma or violence has occurred to a condition that’s safe for re-occupancy requires a great deal of experience that can only be gained after years of being in the cleanup business. Ask the companies you’re speaking with how many years they have provided death cleanup services and how many clients they have served.
What type of certifications do you have?
There are several certifications related to death scene cleanup services, which may include biohazard cleanup and blood cleanup. There are also state and federal regulations that govern death cleanup services. Proper certification matters, because bloodborne and airborne biohazards can pose a serious threat to the health of those who come into contact with them. Bodily tissues, blood, and other bodily fluids can carry the risk of infectious disease, including MRSA, Hepatitis B and C, HIV, and more.
At Advanced Bio Treatment, we strictly follow EPA and OSHA guidelines for the safe handling and disposal of biohazards. We also have the following certifications:
- API Worksafe certified
- Crime Scene Cleanup Decontamination certification from AMDECON
- State Certification for Meth Lab Decontamination License #CML 0805-05
- Odor control certified by IICRC
- Code of Safe Practices – OSHA specialist tested
Does your company specialize in after death cleaning services?
When searching online for “death cleanup companies,” some of the first results you’ll see include some companies that are better known for cleaning up fire, storm and water damage. These companies may offer crime scene, biohazard, or death cleanup only as a sideline to their main services. While they may be properly certified, it’s important to ask potential service providers if their focus is mainly on the service that you need.
Keep in mind, too, that more than one service may be needed at a death scene. At Advanced Bio Treatment, we also offer services focused on homicide, infectious disease, suicide, accident and trauma, and hoarding cleanup.
What do your technicians do to protect your clients’ privacy?
The companies you’re considering should be able to assure you that your privacy will be respected. The circumstances surrounding the need for death cleanup services are nearly always highly personal matters that clients prefer to keep among themselves. While the presence of law enforcement or other professionals cannot be kept private, the ensuing cleanup should be managed as discreetly as possible. This may be especially important to you if you have a specific need for suicide cleanup services or have discovered the unattended death of a loved one. The team of technicians a death scene cleanup company sends to help you should be respectful of your time, property and privacy.
The trained technicians at Advanced Bio Treatment are not only skilled professionals—they also understand how difficult the situation is for our clients and do all they can to work with great care and compassion.
What training do your technicians have?
This is one of the most important questions you can ask the companies you’re speaking with because technicians are the front-line employees who are responsible for returning your property to a thoroughly clean, safe condition. Technicians should have extensive training in every area of death cleanup, including how to safely clean and dispose of biohazardous materials; how to recognize areas of the room or scene where biohazards may not be readily seen; how to use hospital-grade cleaners and know which ones are most effective at any given scene; and how to operate the special equipment needed to remove all traces of blood and bodily fluids. Technicians should also have the knowledge to properly clean up any materials left behind by law enforcement, such as tear gas, pepper spray, and fingerprint powder, any of which may add to the health risks of the scene. Ask potential companies about certifications as well, such as whether they are Crime Scene Cleanup Decontaminated Certified.
In addition to training and experience, a death cleanup company’s team members should also provide excellent customer service. They should clearly explain the entire process, help you understand just what to expect, and be glad to answer any questions you may have along the way.
The employees of a blood cleanup or death scene cleanup company must also have been selected for their personal commitment to providing excellent customer service and ability to work with people who are experiencing great trauma.
Can you help me with documentation and insurance claims?
Ask potential service providers what they know about assisting clients with insurance claims and what type of report will be made that may be needed later by insurance adjusters. At Advanced Bio Treatment, we ask our clients to have their insurance policies at hand so that we can assist them in determining if death cleanup services may be covered, as well as help with filing a proper homeowner’s insurance claim.
What are your business hours?
The need for death scene cleanup services is never expected and can arise at any time. In addition, when blood or other potentially hazardous materials are present, cleanup should begin immediately. You should be able to reach the company at any time of day or night and have technicians dispatched as soon as possible.
Because we understand how urgent your situation may be, Advanced Bio Treatment has live operators ready to take your call 24/7/365—you will never reach a recording or be asked to leave a voicemail. Our operator will speak with you about your needs and immediately begin working to have a team of professional technicians respond.
Why professional biohazard cleanup is so important.
The potential health dangers of a death scene cannot be overstated. Bodily fluids, waste, and tissue may carry a wide range of biohazards that pose a particular threat to children, the elderly, and people with compromised immune systems. Professionally trained blood cleanup and biohazard cleanup technicians know that there is much more to a death scene that can’t be seen by the naked eye.
In the case of an unattended death, the stakes may be even higher. The longer a death goes undiscovered, the greater the risk that a large area is contaminated. Not only do many pathogens remain viable for long periods of time, but as a body decomposes, bloodborne and airborne pathogens can make their way into surrounding flooring (include subfloors), furniture, drapes, walls and more. All of these materials should be closely inspected by professionals and, if contaminated, must be removed and disposed of in accordance with OSHA and EPA standards to ensure the scene is thoroughly safe.
After death cleanup services for businesses.
Business owners and managers have an additional set of concerns when a death occurs at their businesses. Not only will the company’s operations be disrupted, but its reputation may also be damaged. A traumatic event, crime or workplace accident all must be dealt with as soon as possible, and the scene must be quickly returned to a safe condition for employees, visitors, vendors and others who may be present.
If you need commercial or industrial cleanup services, Advanced Bio Treatment’s staff will respond quickly. We are prepared to relieve you of the cleanup task and offer a full range of services, including blood cleanup, biohazard elimination, odor removal and more. Our team of technicians understands the urgency of the situation and will work in accordance with your company’s requirements for safety, security, and confidentiality.
Advanced Bio Treatment is here when you need us, day or night.
Your choice of a death cleanup service must be made quickly but carefully. Don’t leave this important task to just anyone: Make sure the company you choose has expert death scene, crime scene, and unattended death technicians who have the training, knowledge, and experience needed to thoroughly decontaminate your home, business or other property. Also, verify that the cleanup company has technicians who are EPA- and OSHA-certified and who understand the state and local regulations as well.
Also look for references and reviews before you make your final choice. You can read what Advanced Bio Treatment’s clients have to say about us on our client testimonials page.
A traumatic event such as a death doesn’t happen on a schedule and can occur at any time. For the health and safety of everyone at your home or business, cleaning up the scene can’t wait. If you need our death cleanup services, call 800-295-1684 right now to speak to a live operator.
