Restoring your home is one of the last things that you want to think about when it comes to a crime scene happening in your home or your business. Everything is in some sort of disarray, and you probably won’t even know where to start.
Unfortunately, the responsibility of cleanup falls into the hands of the property owner because law enforcement officers and forensic teams aren’t equipped to handle it. The cleanup needs to be done as soon as possible so that you can move on from the initial trauma without adding to it. Trying to handle it on your own can cause more damage to your psyche.
Continue reading to learn why you should hire crime scene cleanup companies to handle the mess that comes with a crime scene on your property.
Why Leave It to the Pros?
Trying to clean up the scene of a crime can be damaging to your mental wellbeing. However, depending on the nature of the crime, you may end up exposed to some form of communicable disease without even realizing it.
The unknowns should be left to the professionals because you never know when you might come into contact with potentially hazardous materials. Exposure to biohazardous materials can pose a danger to your health.
The average person won’t have access to a biohazard facility, but crime scene cleanup companies do. It’s important to let the professionals handle these things because they know the OSHA and EPA requirements for dealing with bodily fluids, especially blood.
We can’t make everything better, but we can point you in the right direction. We can recommend someone who can help you cope with and work through the trauma and post-traumatic stress that comes afterward. We can also remove all traces of the crime scene in your home or business so that you don’t have to.
Every case will be handled with respect and discretion. Our actions will never impact homeowners or business owners. We understand that these times are difficult, and we respect that people are emotionally vulnerable and grieving during this time.
What Can Crime Scene Cleanup Companies Handle?
As a crime scene cleanup company, we can handle anything. It doesn’t matter if the crime involved a death or a meth lab. Our crime scene cleanup company can remove every trace of:
- Fingerprint powder (and other crime scene gathering chemicals)
- Bodily fluids and blood-borne pathogens
- Illegal drug residue (like methamphetamines)
Forensic investigations use a black graphite powder to check for fingerprints. The residue left behind can be a pain to get rid of after the crime scene gets cleared for cleanup.
There are certain OSHA and EPA requirements for dealing with bodily fluids. This includes blood due to the potential hazard of handling blood-borne pathogens.
Blood can carry several harmful illnesses that may negatively impact your life should you come into contact with it. This includes diseases like HIV and Hepatitis. Other bodily fluids, including cerebrospinal fluid, vaginal secretions, and saliva can also spread these diseases.
If the crime scene on your property involved drugs, there may be a residue left behind. The person who cleans up the mess must know what they are doing. A crime scene cleanup company is going to show up ready to take on anything thrown their way.
How Prepared Do the Technicians Need to Be?
OSHA and EPA regulations ensure that we are fully prepared to handle any situation. Our crime scene cleanup techs need to be prepared for anything thrown their way. We follow a protocol that allows us to:
- Identify the affected area
- Adorn proper PPE
- Remove contaminants and pathogens
- Dispose of biohazardous waste
- Remove porous materials
- Salvage items that can be saved
- Deodorize the area to return it to its previous state
We enter every crime scene in Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to protect them from potential biohazardous waste, including:
- Gloves
- Facemasks
- Respirators
- Eye protection
- Full body suits/gowns
It doesn’t matter if we find that nothing was hazardous. We will always take steps to make sure that no one gets exposed to the possibility.
Crime scene cleanup professionals have access to powerful solvents that are able to remove any stains left behind (even those invisible to the naked eye). We will also have the means to dispose of any waste from the crime scene in the appropriate manner. Certain things can be washed away, but other items will need to be taken to a biohazardous waste facility.
How Much Does Crime Scene Cleanup Cost?
The cost of cleanup depends on the specifics of the crime scene. Additional services may be necessary to restore the sense of calm in a home or business after the crime occurred.
Don’t worry about how to pay for it right away. The cost of a crime scene cleanup may be covered by:
- Homeowner’s insurance
- Automobile insurance policies
- Commercial property insurance
It’s possible, however, that your insurance policies won’t cover the costs, but it’s usually affordable. Wisconsin may even have financial assistance available to help pay for the costs when you are unable to pay for it.
Hire a Crime Scene Cleanup Company
We know how difficult it can be to face the aftermath of a crime scene. We highly recommend that you hire a cleanup company to handle it. Crime scene cleanup companies are fully equipped to handle the mess left behind after the forensics team is done with the crime scene.
Contact ZBM, Inc today with any questions that you might have about our Wisconsin-based services in Jefferson or Dodge counties.
