Three Myths About Crime Scene Cleaners

It can be common for people to have the wrong impression about crime scenes; this is due in part to television shows portraying incorrect information. What’s shown on television is often the only exposure people have to crime scenes, so it’s natural for them to think what they see on tv may be real or accurate when the truth is often much different. Due to some of these shows, there are myths surrounding crime scene cleaners that are just plain false.

Myth 1 – Law Enforcement Cleans up the Scene of the Crime

Whether a suicide, accident or a violent attack has taken place, law enforcement is there to look for clues and get evidence. Once they get what they need they are done, leaving blood and other bodily fluids that can turn a crime scene into a biohazard for humans and animals. Law enforcement officials are not trained to clean these things up, which is why a professional biohazard cleaning company should be called in.

In some cases, such as dusting for fingerprints, law enforcement may leave a bigger mess than a victim or criminal did. Fingerprint dust can be made up of a variety of ingredients including rosin, lampblack, black ferric oxide, and lead. The dust is usually sticky and can be hard to remove. Special cleaners need to be used to get rid of the residue, to get the crime scene back to what it looked like prior to the crime.

Myth 2 – The Biohazard Cleanup is Paid For

People often think the police department or sheriff’s office takes care of hiring and paying for a crime scene cleanup, but this isn’t something that’s in their budget nor does it fall under their list of responsibilities. The truth is that it is up to whoever owns the property to pay. So if a murder were to happen in a restaurant, the restaurant owner would have to pay. In the case of a suicide or homicide at a residence, the homeowner would have to pay. Many insurances will cover the majority of costs associated with crime scene cleanup, depending on the policy.

Myth 3 – Biohazard Cleanup is Necessary Only Where a Death has Occurred

Many people associate biohazard cleanup with blood. While this is a correct assumption, a long list of biohazards can contaminate many different areas and surfaces, and in some cases, these contaminants can seep below countertops or flooring. Blood, body fluids, human tissue, mold, bacteria, raw sewage, and animal urine and feces can all be carriers of biohazards. When humans come into contact with these contaminants there are a variety of diseases they can be exposed to. From Hepatitis in blood to the Hantavirus from mice feces, many biohazards are dangerous to humans and animals causing severe respiratory disease and even death. Cleaning a crime scene, or other areas with biohazards, is an important way to keep contaminants and infectious materials from interfering with the health of humans and animals.